Luis Tiant, the Cuban pitcher who had a legendary 19-year Major League Baseball career, passed away today at age 83. In the cigar world, Tiant was not only known for his incredible career but also as a cigar enthusiast and brand owner.

Tiant was born November 23, 1940, in Marianao, Cuba, outside Havana. At age 16, Tiant was playing in the Cuban Juvenile League and made the All-Star team in 1957. Recommended by Cleveland Indians All-Star Bobby Ávila, a scout, he went to the Mexico City Tigers of the Mexican League. For the next three years, he divided his time between the Tigers and the Havana Sugar Kings in the International League. In 1961, he made his way into the Cleveland Indians system and was called up in 1964. Tiant would pitch for the Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates, and Angels. He is remembered for his 21-9 season, where his 1.60 ERA was the lowest since Walter Johnson’s 1.49 in 1919.

When the Indians purchased Tiant’s contract in 1961, tensions between the U.S. and Cuba were high. As a result, Tiant could not see his parents in Cuba for 14 years. They were finally allowed to travel to the U.S. to see their son pitch in the 1975 World Series.

This author’s memory of Tiant is his memorable pitching performance on July 4, 1979, at Yankee Stadium. That day, he won the game over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Additionally, Tiant was for many years known as a cigar enthusiast. He eventually formed his El Tiante (named for his nickname) brand, partnering with his son Dan Tiant. First, the cigars were made with Victor Calvo, then with the Garcia Family. Over the years, Tiant and his son were popular not only with cigar enthusiasts but also with many people in the cigar industry.

Tiant finished his career with a 229-172 record with a 3.30 ERA and 2,416 strikeouts. His exclusion from the Baseball Hall of Fame has been controversial. He is up again for eligibility in 2025 by the Classic Baseball ERA committee.

Photo Attribution: Public Domain