Tag: Luis Tiant

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: El Tiante “El Unico”

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The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) interviewing former Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant in 1977 (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

El Tiante “El Unico”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As a kid, my father Joaquin would take me to Estadio de El Cerro in Havana to watch the Cuban Winter Professional League. Considered the premier professional baseball in Latin America (1878-1961), many American Major League Stars would travel to Cuba after their regular season here in the US and go to the largest island in the Caribbean.

Bill Werle, ex-major league pitcher who pitched for the Tigres de Marianao in Cuba, was a scout here in the United States when he told me, “Many of us that were not superstars in the major leagues traveled to Cuba because that was the best level of baseball and we got to paid very well.”

My memories are filled with great games at Estadio de El Cerro, now called Estadio Latino Americano. Leones del Habana (Havana Lions) was our team in my family. There, I remember an older man named Adolfo Luque managing the team. Havana Lions.

The same Luque that In 1923, was a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1923 he ended the season with 27-8 and a 1.93 ERA, starting 37 games and completing 27 of those. The Cy Young Award was given in 1956, 33 years after Luque’s 27 wins.

One of Luque’s pitcher was Luis Tiant, aka El Tiante. He would spin like a top on the mound, the hitter ciould see Tiante’s number on his Red and White Leones del Habana uniforme before he took a cut and missed.

Tiant was one of my favorite pitchers since I was a kid in Cuba; also, other pitchers like Cuban-born Camilo Pascual, who I knew for many years here in the US, Jim Bunning, and others, not all pitchers but position players like Jackie Brandt, Bob Allison, Al Spangler, Marvin Breeding and my all-time US Hall of Famer, Brooks Robinson who I remember as a skinny third baseman for the Elefantes del Cienfuegos(Cienfuegos Elephants) and many others. Cubans and Americans.

One of my dreams came true in the 1970s when I first met one of my boyhood idols, Luis Tiant. This time, he was in Oakland, as he was coming with the Boston team to play the Athletics. Talking to Tiant was one of my biggest treats as a Major League reporter and broadcaster.

Luis was always happy and enjoyed every minute of talking baseball, especially when I told him I was 10 years old the first time I watched him pitch in Cuba, and yes, that I was Cubano also.

Mexican Major Leaguer and third baseman Aurelio Rodríguez once ruined a no-hitter that Tiant was throwing after 7 2/3 innings. Tiant was always honest and talkative when he spoke regarding the Rodríguez hit that ended his no-no; “It was not a lucky hit; the man hit the ball pretty well.”

As a member of SABR, I have written about Luis Tiant, but when I heard of his death at 83 last year, I was shaken up bad; although we were not family, he felt like family to me.

A great man who is now pitching as a baseball Angel in heaven. Tiant’s heart was bigger than life. He loved to go to Cuba and take goods for the people there who lacked everything and specially giving chocolates to the kids.

He was never a friend or sympathizer of Fidel Castro or the communists in Cuba, but Luis Tiant was “cien por ciento Cubano”- ‘one hundred percent Cuban’—and loved his motherland.

One of my favorite Tiant quote: “The fastball is the best pitch in baseball.It’s like having five pitches, if you move it around” – Spanish: La bola de velocidad es el mejor lanzamiento en béisbol, es como tener cinco lanzamientos, si la lanzas por diferentes lados” -Luis Tiant. ‘ If you don’t speak Spanish, my title in this column, El Unico” means The Only One”

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 to 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: El Tiante visiting Oakland in 1974

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The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) interviews Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant (right) in the Red Sox dugout at the Oakland Coliseum in 1974 (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

El Tiante visiting Oakland in 1974

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Cuban-born Luis Tiant was one of history’s most unique and charismatic pitchers. He hypnotized hitters with his windup, spinning like a top on the mound, as hitters usually saw his number on his back before the ball came to the plate. He owned a vibrant personality and, for years, at Fenway Park, had his popular Cuban Food kiosk. He could be seen eating lunch with fans, signing autographs, and taking pictures, especially with Red Sox Nation fans.

El Tiante was born in Marianao, Habana, Cuba, on November 23, 1940, and died on October 8, 2024, in Wells, Maine. He was 83 years old. As a kid in Havana, I had memories, along with my father, of the pleasure of seeing him pitch in the old Cuban Winter League for the Leones del Habana.

Decades later, I met him as a pitcher in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox. He also pitched for the Havana Sugar Kings of the old International League from 1959 to 1962. Mexico City Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, and his favorite organization, the Boston Red Sox.

His 19-year career began in 1964 and ended in 1982, with 229 games won and 172 lost, an earned run average of 3.30, 3,486 innings pitched, 2,416 strikeouts, and 49 shutouts.

Tiant led the American League in ERA in 1968 and 1972; historically, his 1.60 ERA in 1968 was the best in the American League in 50 years. In 1972, he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year. He was selected to the All-Star Game three times and won 20 or more games. He led the American League in shutouts in 1966, 1968, and 1974. Previously, early in his career, in 1967, he led the American League in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

He had a great career worthy of the Hall of Fame, but he never received serious consideration. He was mentioned on ballots more than 30% of the time only once, in his first year of eligibility in 1988. He was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in 2002 and in 1997 into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, in 2009 the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Pitched in Venezuela from 1963-1982 for the Leones del Caracas teams that won two championships and a no-hitter in 1971. Luis Tiant should be in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, I have hope that he might still make it on the Veterans Committee.

Time will tell, but El Tiante was another gem produced by the country of Cuba a pioneer in the history of baseball in Latin America. During his 19-year career, Tiant pitched for six major league teams and cemented his place in New England baseball with his 1975 World Series performance for the Red Sox.

The day Tiant passed, former Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn and others paid tribute to Tiant on social media. “Today is a very sad day, Lynn wrote on X along with a picture of himself and Tiant. “My friend and teammate, Luis Tiant, passed away.”

A Big game pitcher, a funny genuine guy who loved his family and baseball. Luis Tiant (like most Cuban players who left their country) did not sympathized with the Fidel Castro communist dictatorship, but his love for Cuba and the Cuban people never waned.

Luis Tiant told ESPN “Castro’s Cuba ‘took away the freedom, the happiness, the dreams”. In 2007 El Tiante visited Cuba, almost 50 years after he was unable to return home due to political reasons. During that trip he visited family and friends and took a lot of American goodies, food candy all the good stuff that brought happiness to his compatriots.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez podcasts That’s Amaury News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com every Tuesday

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Luis Tiant -“Solo hubo Uno” -There was only One

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant (left) signs autographs at the Manchester NH Fire Firefighters Department with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (right) who was running for president smiles and looks on Mon, May 7, 2007. Tiant passed away on Tue Oct 8, 2024 at age 83 (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Luis Tiant -“Solo hubo Uno” -There was only One-

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Solo hubo Uno -There was only One

Born in Cuba in 1940, he passed away on October 8, 2024 he was 83. This Cuban-born pitcher was a great and funny guy who approached life really ‘one day at a time.’ He could lose a game and be okay with it, although he didn’t like it. He would say, “Esta bien,voy a lanzar otra vez en cuatro —trans: “That is okay, I will pitch again in four days.”

When I was a kid in La Habana, my father, Joaquin, would take me to the Cuban Winter League games. I saw him pitch, with the Leones del Habana, and he was a dandy, a fan favorite. Later, in the Major Leagues, he was an outstanding pitcher with great character.

Luis Tiant’s father was also a good pitcher, and he pitched for the New York Cubans of the Negro Leagues, but because he was black, he never pitched in the Major Leagues. Oh yes, the ex-MLB star always had that incredible delivery when he threw the ball, one of the most distinctive in history. Some great Latino pitchers, i.e., Dominican Juan Marichal, with that high-leg kick, had those traits that generations of fans remember.

During his visits to Oakland, I interviewed Luis. He was wearing the Boston Red Sox uniform in the late 1970s. He was funny but a friendly, genuine, typical Cuban player (of the old days). He loved a cafecito Cubano (Cuban coffee) and then an authentic Habano, a Cuban cigar, but he truly loved to talk baseball.

After retiring from a career of close to 20 years in the Major Leagues, he was seen signing autographs at Fenway Park, especially near his Cuban Sandwich stand and beloved by Red Sox fans, El Tiante, who also left Cuba (like many Cuban players) because of the strict restrictions imposed on Cuban citizens by a communist system that nationalized all sports and owned the players.

Tiant remained active with the Red Sox in spring training and was visible around Fenway Park, often signing autographs to anybody who asked before the game at the ballpark’s El Tiante Cuban Sandwich stand; it was an authentic Cuban sandwich, none of the imitations that we often see all over the place today, which the only thing Cuban on the sandwich is the name. Although nominated but never inducted into MLB Hall of Fame he is in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Luis-Tiant

Descansa en Paz hermano… Rest in Peace brother.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Jackie Robinson Legacy is International

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Jackie Robinson who broke the color line in Major League Baseball in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers takes a swing at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn (jackierobinson.com file photo)

Jackie Robinson Legacy is International

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

April 15,2020 marks the 73rd Anniversary of Jackie Robinson as the first African-American player in MLB,with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. His legacy and career was honored and his uniform number 42 retired by Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bud Selig 33 years ago on April 15,1997.

Robinson’s #42 was the first and only number retired by all MLB 30 teams. Generally people focus on African Americans who followed Robinson into baseball,but the great pioneer also opened the door for Black Latino players.

Jackie Robinson’s legacy goes beyond US borders.  Because of Robinson, Latino players of dark skin were also able to come and play in the big leagues with their American brothers.

Today almost 33 percent of all players in MLB are born in Latin America(higher percentage in the minor leagues)and after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier,some great Latino black players,like Cuban-born Orestes(Minnie) Miñoso who signed as a rookie in 1949 with the Cleveland Indians, before becoming the last player in baseball history to play for five (50 years) different decades.

Minnie played from 1949 until 1980. The Cuban-born Miñoso was the first unquestionable black Latin American in the major leagues, although some others with some black ancestry had played in MLB. By early 1950’s other Latino’s of black skin included, Luis Márquez(Puerto Rico)signed by the Boston Braves and Cuban catcher Rafael(Ray)Noble with the New York Giants as well as Ozzie Virgil Sr.from the Dominican Republic.

According to SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) in 1947; 98.3 perfect of players were white,0.9 percent African-American, 0.7 percent Latinos and 0.0 percent Asian. Decades later, especially in the mid 1950’s the great Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico) and 1960’s many more came from Latin America, like Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Manny Mota, Felipe, Jesús and Mateo Alou, Tony Oliva, Luis Tiant, Leonardo(Leo) Cárdenas, Tony González, Francisco(Panchón)Herrera, José Cardenal, Dagoberto(Campy)Campaneris and more not mentioned.

Some of these Latino players are remembered with statues in the cities where they played,the one and only Roberto Clemente not only with a Statue at PNC Park but with the Roberto Clemente Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh over the Allegheny River.

Today all baseball fans around the world honor the great #42 Jackie Robinson,because he is also a historic figure in countries like Cuba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panamá, Puerto Rico, México,Nicaragua,Venezuela, Jamaica and all countries where baseball is a major sport, not to mention in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

“I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect” -Jackie Robinson.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball — ¿Qué Pasa?

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By; Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

I remember the old Cuban winter league in the late 1950’s as a kid. My father would take me every Sunday to watch the four teams that made that league. Leones del Habana (Havana Lions), Alacranes (Scorpions) del Almendares, Tigres (Tigers) del Marianao, and Elefantes (Elephants) del Cienfuegos.

Every Sunday, there was always a double-header. The first game Cienfuegos vs. Marianao, and then in the second game, the “eternos rivales” (eternal rivals, sort of like the Yankees and Red Sox), which was the Havana Lions vs. the Scorpions del Almendares.

There was a plethora of Cuban-born and American players: Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso, Brooks Robinson, Jackie Brandt, Lew Burdette, Bob Skinner, Bob Shaw, Miguel “Mike” Cuellar, Camino Pascual, Al Spangler, George Altman, Pedro Ramos,Sandalio “Sandy” Consuegra, Jim Bunning, Mike Fornieles, Luis Tiant, and dozens more,which I remember. After the season ended, they went to Cuba during the winter.

William “Bill” Werle a left handed Major League pitcher, born in Oakland, California, who pitched for the Pirates, Cardinals and Red Sox in the mid-1950’s. He also pitched for the Marianao Tigers in Cuba in 1956. That was the last time that team won the Cuban Professional Winter League title.

As a Major League scout later in life, Bill told me: “Most of the Major League players, we went to Cuba, not only because of the proximity to the US, but because they paid the best in all Latin America.”

Back then, players did not have the strong union like they have today, so they had other jobs to supplement their income after the regular MLB season.

Back then,there was a lot of speed and a lot of strategy deployed by managers. Pitchers went nine innings and more. The guys in the bullpen where mediocre pitchers than didn’t have the talent to be starters. There were professional pinch-hitters, stolen bases, lots of speed, hit and run, bunts galore and even the suicide squeeze was evident in close games when one run was all that you need it.When a player struck out, it was shameful and fans would boo, and yes, games were under three hours with frequency.

Today, it is 2019 and a totally different type of game.

– The game is all about power
– The Home-run is king,there is less creativity
– Strike outs are common,on way to record
– The Hit and Run is an endangered play
-A Bunt is “Breaking News”
-The Professional Pinch Hitter doesn’t exist (not even in the National League,where there is no DH)
-Intentional Walks continue to diminish each year
-The pitchers throw harder and ‘bat speed’ was replaced years ago by ‘launch angle’
-Tampa Bay was the first team to use the now popular “opener,” a guy whose mission is to pitch the first inning

As of today,we are on a pace to hit over 6.000 home-runs for first time in a season. The Oakland Athletics recently became the first team in their franchise history to have 10 players with 10 or more home runs.

If Bill Werle came back to life today, he would see this game and would not recognize it.

It is what it is. Today’s technology has replaced strategy. Baseball still a great game ,but those of us who witnessed the “old school” style of baseball, that was the way it was meant to be played. I actually miss all the strategy and gamesmanship in the greatest game ever invented by humans.

¿Que Pasa?=What’s happening? Answer: Pasa mucho.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play announcer on KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com