On This Date in Sports July 19, 1964: El Tiante's Debut

In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com

Luis Tiant of the Cleveland Indians makes a big first impression, by pitching a four-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The 23-year-old from Cuba would outpitch Whitey Ford to earn the win in his major league debut, pitching the second game of a doubleheader. Titan would go on to spend 19 seasons in the majors, posting a record of 229-172.

Luis Titan Jr. was on November 23, 1940, in Mariano, Cuba. His father Luis Titan Sr. was an excellent pitcher in his own right, a star for years in Cuba, the elder Titan made name for himself pitching in the 1930s in the Negro Leagues with the New York Cubans. By the time Jackie Robinson, made his debut, Titan was finishing his career and never had a chance to play in the majors.

Luis Titan followed in his father’s footsteps and soon began pitching in Cuba where he caught the eyes of professional scouts. This enabled him to get a chance to pitch in the Mexican League at the recommendation of Indians scout Bobby Avalia. This recommendation would end up paying off professionally for Tiant but it came at a personal loss, as he was in Mexico at the time of the Bay of Pigs invasion when the United States and Cuba cut off diplomatic ties. It allowed him to escape the Castro regime, but he cut off from his parents for the next 14 years.

Luis Titan eventually was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1962 and worked his way up through their minor league system. After posting a 15-1 record at AAA Portland, he was called up and made his debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the vaunted New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees had Whitey Ford on the mound starting opposite the rookie from Cuba, Ford had entered the game with a 12-2 record for the Yankees managed by his former catcher Yogi Berra. The Indians meanwhile had recently made a managerial change with Birdie Tebbets taking over for George Strickland as they held a record of 38-50 after losing the opener of the doubleheader 6-2.

Luis Tiant did not have to face Mickey Mantle in his debut, as Yankees star took the second game off after playing in the opener in the Sunday Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. The Indians got a first-inning run, as Ford struggled with control walking Larry Brown with the bases loaded. As the Indians added a run in the fourth and a home run by Leon Wagner in the fifth, the Yankees remained tied up by the young Cuban with the funky delivery. The Yankees, in the end, were able to manage just four singles and four walks against Titan, who went the distance, striking out 11 to earn the win in his debut.

Luis Tiant would go 10-4 over the last half of the 1964 season, posting an ERA of 2.83. Pitching for a second division Indians team hurt Titan from becoming a big star in the majors, but he did manage a breakout season in 1968, winning 21 games as the led the American League with a 1.60 ERA. The following year he suffered a major setback and lost 20 games and was traded to the Minnesota Twins. After a lackluster season in Minnesota, Luis Titan moved on the Boston Red Sox in 1971, where he had a record of 1-7 out of the bullpen.

In 1972, Luis Titan found himself again among the top pitchers in the American League as he led the league with a 1.91. Tiant followed up the 1972 season by winning 20 games in three of the next four seasons as he became the ace of the Boston Red Sox staff, helping them reach the World Series in 1975. That year his parents were finally granted permission to leave Cuba and visit their son.

In 1979, Luis Tiant stunned Red Sox fans by signing with the archrival New York Yankees, doing a commercial for Yankee Franks, saying it’s “Great to be with a Weiner” which in his thick accent sounded like a backhand shot at Boston. After two seasons with the Yankees, El Tiante spent a season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels, before retiring following the 1982 season. Luis Tiant finished his career with a record of 229-172, with a 3.30 ERA, recording 2,41 strikeouts. In recent years there has been a push to get Tiant inducted in the Hall of Fame as he had similar numbers to Catfish Hunter who was inducted in 1987.