Looking back at Luis Tiant's postseason brilliance and memorable windup
On Tiant's birthday, let's look back at his career
Luis Tiant turns 74 on Sunday.
The Cuban-born pitcher put together a fantastic 19-year career with the Indians, Yankees, Pirates, Angels and most notably, the Red Sox. He compiled 229 wins, a 3.30 ERA and 2,416 strikeouts -- leading the league in shutouts three separate times and in ERA, twice. In perhaps his best season in 1968, Tiant went 21-8 (19 complete games) with a 1.60 ERA and 264 strikeouts -- garnering a fifth-place finish in the AL MVP vote.
But, as we mentioned, he was most remembered for his time in Boston. Not just for that incredible 'stache:
Or wonderful windup:
But for his postseason brilliance.
In 1975, the right-hander beat the defending-champion A's in Game 1 of the ALCS with a complete game three-hitter. He then shut out the Reds in World Series Game 1, allowing just five hits over nine innings with his dad (a Negro Leagues legend) watching for the first time. He notched another complete game, 173-pitch win in Game 4 and took a no-decision in Carlton Fisk's Game 6.
A member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, Tiant will be up for election to Cooperstown on this year's Golden Era ballot.
Happy Birthday, Luis!