The MLB community is mourning the loss of former pitching great Luis Tiant, who died at the age of 83 on Tuesday.
Tiant was among the top pitchers in the league during the 1960s and 1970s, playing for the Cleveland Guardians (formerly known as the Indians) from his MLB debut in 1964 until 1969.
He earned an All-Star selection in 1968, a standout season in which he won 21 games and recorded a 1.60 ERA over 258.1 innings. That year, he also finished fifth in the American League MVP voting.
During his six seasons with the Guardians, Tiant boasted an impressive 2.84 ERA and secured 75 victories.
He later became a baseball legend with the Boston Red Sox in the 1970s and also had spells with Minnesota, New York, Pittsburgh, and California.
While Tiant was undeniably a talented pitcher, it’s crucial to recognize that he began his career in America with the Guardians. The franchise can take pride in contributing to the rise of one of the most celebrated pitchers of the 1960s and 1970s.
As noted by MLB Trade Rumors, Tiant is regarded as one of the greatest players never to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“After 15 years on the BBWAA ballot, he never garnered enough support to reach the 75% threshold required for election. He has since fallen short on multiple committee ballots. Although he did not win any major awards and only received three All-Star selections during his career, modern metrics illustrate how underappreciated Tiant was during his era,” they stated.
Tiant remains one of the most skilled pitchers to have ever represented the Guardians.
