Red Sox Hall of Famer Luis Tiant, known as “El Tiante,” dies at 83

Luis Tiant, who played for six teams during his 19-year MLB career, has died. He was 83.

“El Tiante” was a three-time All-Star and won 229 games with the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels.

Tiant was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.

The four-time 20-game winner was born in Cuba and came into the Indians organization in 1961 thanks to former MLB player and scout Bobby Ávila. After several seasons in the minors, Tiant made his major league debut in 1964. He struck out 11 and allowed just four hits while shutting out the Yankees.

Before joining the Red Sox in 1971, Tiant signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves and changed his pitching motion to rotate his body away from home plate during his throw.

Tiant won double-digit games in seven consecutive seasons in Boston and started Game 1 of the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, where he pitched a complete five-hit shutout. He pitched another complete game in Game 4, a 5-4 Red Sox victory, and went undecided in Game 6, which ended with Carlton Fisk’s famous walk-off home run in the 12th inning.

After his time in Boston, Tiant finished his career with two seasons with the Yankees before spending 1981 with the Pirates and his final season with the Angels in 1982.

Tiant finished his MLB career with 187 complete games and 49 shutouts.