Notes
CHAPTER 1: SHUTTING UP PETE ROSE
Red Sox underdogs in World Series, various sources including:
• Murray Chass, “Red Sox Appear Comfortable in Underdog Role for Series,” New York Times, Oct. 10, 1975.
Reds as favorites (official odds):
• “Reds 3-2 favorites,” Associated Press report from Harrah’s Tahoe Racebook, many papers including San Bernardino County Sun, Oct. 9, 1975.
Pete Rose excited to face Tiant and Red Sox, many sources including:
• Hal Bock, “It’ll be Gullet vs. Tiant,” Associated Press, San Bernardino County Sun, Oct. 10, 1975.
Rose on Tiant’s “spinning curve that never comes down”:
• Peter Gammons, “El Tiante elegente, Red Machine pffft…6-0,” Boston Globe, Oct. 12, 1975.
Details of Rose at-bat and atmosphere before game from NBC broadcast of Game One of 1975 World Series, YouTube.
CHAPTER 2: SEÑOR SKINNY
General sources for Luis E. Tiant’s life and baseball career:
• Luis E. Tiant file, National Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Rory Costello, “Luis E. Tiant,” Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Bioproject, sabr.org/bioproject.
• Callum Hughson, “Luis Tiant Sr. Bio,” Mop-Up Duty website, mopupduty.com.
• Cesar Brioso, “On this date: Luis Tiant—and not the one you’re thinking of, was born,” cubanbeisbol.com.
• Kyle McNary, “Luis Tiant Sr., Negro Leaguer of the Month,” Pitch Black Baseball website, pitchblackbaseball.com.
• Baseball-Reference.com (statistics).
New York Cubans information culled from various sources including:
• Negro League Baseball Players Association (NPPBA) website, nlbpa.com.
• Baseball-Reference.com.
• Negro League Baseball Museum “eMuseum” website.
• Negro League Baseball.com.
Luis E. Tiant striking out Babe Ruth and/or keeping him from homering, anecdote from many sources including:
• Steve Jacobson and Newsday, “Tiant wishes famous father had seen him in Yankee suit,” Washington Post, Feb. 25, 1979.
“Tiant’s only flaw…”:
• Peter J. Bjarkman, Diamonds around the Globe—The Encyclopedia of International Baseball, Greenwood Press, 2005, 10.
Luis E. Tiant beating Yankees and Cardinals in exhibition games and getting batter to swing at a phantom pitch:
• Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria, The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball, Oxford University Press, NY, 1999, 261.
Cool Papa Bell being “so fast he could flip the light switch…” attributed to Satchel Paige and told often, including in Bell’s Hall of Fame bio: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/bell-cool-papa.
Frank Forbes on Luis E. Tiant being so skinny he “looked like he had consumption,” biographical essay from Luis E. Tiant files, National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ted Page hit-by-pitch story:
• Rory Costello, Luis E. Tiant’s Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) biography article; originally by Brent Kelly, Voices from the Negro Leagues, Jefferson City, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 1998.
Details on Martin Dihigo’s career, including 1935 East-West All-Star game, from Dihigo’s SABR bio, by Peter C. Bjarkman.
Wilmer Fields quotes and reflections on Luis E. facing Buck Leonard:
• John Holway, “Will the Real Luis Tiant Please Stand Up,” Baseball Digest, Feb. 1976, 74–77.
John Holway records from white-black games, ibid.
Ted Page story about beaning by Luis E. Tiant, ibid.
Armando Vazquez quotes from Lost Son of Havana documentary film, director-screenwriter Jonathan Hock, producer Kris Meyer, executive producers Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly; Hock Films, 5-Hole Productions, 2009.
Monte Irvin quote on Luis E.:
• Luis Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante, New York, New York; Doubleday, 1976.
New York Cubans 1947 roster and statistics, Baseball-Reference.com.
Description of Cuban baseball in the 1930s and 40s:
• Steve Fainaru and Ray Sanchez, Duke of Havana: Baseball, Cuba, and the Search for the American Dream, New York, 2001, 17–18. (Some details, including Max Lanier getting money from gamblers, first appeared in The Pride of Havana.)
Cuban/Negro League baseball coverage in New York Times:
• Roscoe McGowen, “Brooklyn Takes Havana Game,” March 14, 1941.
• “Negro All-Star Game Listed for Tonight,” July 29, 1947.
• Louis Effrat, “Negro Star Game to American Loop,” July 30, 1947.
• “Negro Series to Start,” Sept. 19, 1947.
• “Buckeyes top Cubans in Negro Game, 10-7,” Sept. 22, 1947.
CHAPTER 3: CUBA DREAMS
General insights on Cuban Baseball in 1940s and 50s from:
• Peter C. Bjarkman, “Diamonds around the Globe—The Encyclopedia of International Baseball,” Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn., 2005.
• Adrian Burgos Jr., editor in chief, “La Vida Baseball” section of National Baseball Hall of Fame website, lavaidabaseball.com.
• Stephen R. Kenney, “Blurring the Color Line: How Cuban Baseball Players Led to the Racial Integration of Major League Baseball,” National Pastime—2016, Society of American Baseball Research (SABR).
Fight between Luis E. and Isabel Tiant about Luis C. trying out for Havana, and resulting tryout:
• Luis C. Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante: The Luis Tiant Story, Doubleday, NY, 1976, 11–13.
Tiant in 1960 Pan-American games, United Press International (UPI) coverage in Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
• Tiant beats Tulsa from article “Mexico Tigers Defeat Oilers,” May 12, 1960.
• Dick Hughes beats Tiant for championship from article “Tulsa Gets Title in Pan American,” Sept. 24, 1960.
CHAPTER 4: YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN
Details on Bobby Avila’s career from his SABR bio, by John Stahl.
Senators Scout Joe Cambria quote from Sporting News, March 23, 1960, 14.
Three Cubans make 1959 AL All-Star team, Baseball-Reference.com.
Fidel Castro’s ties to baseball, including myths on skills as pitcher:
• Peter C. Bjarkman, “Fidel Castro and Baseball,” Society of American Baseball Research.
Insights on Cuban League history:
• Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria, The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball, Oxford University Press, NY, 1999.
Castro says government will support Sugar Kings franchise:
• Jimmy Burns, “Maduro Ready to Sell; Castro Offers New Aid,” Sporting News, July 29, 1959, 32.
Castro pitches in exhibition game:
• International League notes, Sporting News, Aug. 5, 1959, 32.
Sources for Gran Stadium incident and aftermath:
• George Beahon, “Nightmare in Havana—Wings in Real Danger,” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, July 27, 1959. (Reprinted in edition of March 22, 2016).
• Peter C. Bjarkman, Diamonds Around the Globe, Greenwood Press, 2005, 13–15.
• Jimmy Burns, “Int Will Play Out Havana Sked, Despite Shooting, Shag Suggests,” Sporting News, Aug. 3, 1959, 9.
• “Last U.S. Baseball Team to Play in Havana before Embargo Had Bullets Rain Down on Them,” Fox News.com, Dec. 26. 2014.
• Bill Madden, “Orioles’ Cuba Trip Opens Old Wounds Havana Shooting Scarred Player,” New York Daily News, March 28, 1999.
• Tyler Maun, “The Minor Leagues’ Last Nights in Havana,” MILB.com, March 16, 2017.
• Evan Nagel, Beyond the Sports Page: Baseball, The Cuban Revolution, and Rochester, New York Newspapers, 1954-1960,” doctoral thesis by Evan Nagel, the University of Western Ontario, 2014.
• Travis Waldron, “Havana’s Forgotten Baseball Team Played Key Role in Cuba-U.S. Relations,” Huffington Post, March 19, 2016.
Tiant beats Mexican City Reds in both games of doubleheader:
• Roberto Hernandez, Mexican League notes column, Sporting News, July 5, 1961, 35.
Details on Julio Moreno from his SABR bio, by Rory Costello.
Overview of Bay of Pigs Invasion, The Learning Network, New York Times.
Pan-American All-Star Game, game coverage by John Trowbridge, Sporting News, Aug. 9, 1961, 39.
Dodgers and Cubs show interest in Tiant, Sporting News, Aug. 9, 1961, 41.
Overview/timeline of U.S.-Cuba relations, Suddath, Claire, Time.com, April 15, 2009.
Mexico City Tigers 1959-1961 statistics, Baseball-Reference.com.
CHAPTER 5: FROM THE BUSHES TO THE BRONX
Tiant in Puerto Rican League 1961-62, all coverage by Miguel Frau in Sporting News:
• “Puerto Rican League Roundup,” (sets league strikeout record), Jan. 17, 1962, 29.
• “Belters Beltran and Christopher Bomb Twirlers,” (duels Juan Pizzaro), Feb. 7, 1962, 35.
• “Santurce Club Gets Jump in Inter-American Series,” (gets playoff win), Feb. 14, 1962, 31.
• “Crabbers Cop Latin Title Fourth Time in 14 Years,” (faces Bob Gibson in championship), Feb. 21, 1962, 37.
First minor league win:
• “Charleston Hands York 7-1 Setback,” Springfield Union, April 27, 1962, 45.
Reflections from Luis about when Luis Jr. was born and first Christmas away from Cuba:
• Luis Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante, 33.
Eight straight wins in Puerto Rico:
“Tiant’s Arm, Beequer’s Bat set Hot Pace in Veracruz,” Sporting News, Dec. 29, 1962.
Reflections of Burlington teammate Barry Levinson from interviews for Lost Son of Havana documentary. (not in final film, included with permission of director)
Tiant reflects on racism in minor leagues, 1962-63:
• Pat James, “Unlike Knights protégé, Red Sox legend faced harsh racism. Then he had a revelation,” Charlotte Observer, April 19, 2017.
Minor league season at Burlington, including no-hitter, covered in Sporting News, April-September 1963.
Occidental League season coverage, 1963-64 by Olaf Dixon in Sporting News, including:
• “Lara Pegs Flag Bid on Six Tribe Farm Phenoms,” Nov. 2, 1963, 24.
• “Hill Lulus for Lara by Tiant and Bailey,” Nov. 16, 1963, 24.
• “Tiant and Torres Pushing Redbirds Off to Fast Start,” Nov. 23, 1963, 30.
• “Sanders’ One-Hit Gem Helps Lara Nab Playoff Lead—Tiant Runs Record to 7-0,” Dec. 21, 1963.
Nine straight wins over winter:
• Eduardo Moncada, “Tiant Toys With Batters—Five Runs in 79 Frames,” Sporting News, Jan. 11, 1964, 19.
Tiant left unprotected in 1963 MLB Draft:
• Hal Lebovitz’s Indians notes, Sporting News, Jan. 11, 1964, 7.
• Regis McAuley, “Tiant, Overlooked in 1963 Draft, Now Toast of Teepee,” Sporting News, Aug. 1, 1964, 9.
General insights on Indians in 1950s and 60s:
• David Bohmer, “Cleveland Indians Team Ownership History,” SABR Team Ownership Project.
Sam McDowell’s opinions on Tiant being a “can’t miss” pitcher:
• Gordon Cobbledick, “Plain Dealing,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 20, 1964.
Selected articles on Tiant’s 1964 season with Portland in Pacific Coast League:
• L. H. Gregory, “Tiant Thundering Toward Cleveland on Lightening Pitch,” Sporting News, June 20, 1964, 33.
• Don Fair, “Luis Tiant—A Surprise Even to Beaver Manager,” Oregonian, July 17, 1964, 5.
• “Tiant Wins PCL Player of Month Award by Topps,” (and sets record for best winning percentage in league history), Sporting News, Aug. 1, 1964, 28.
Selected articles on Tiant’s MLB debut, by Russell Schneider, Cleveland Plain Dealer:
• “Tiant to Join Tribe, Hurl Against Yanks,” July 18, 1964.
• “Tiant’s First Assignment—Beat the Yankees Today,” (includes Yogi Berra-Birdie
• Tebbetts conversation about Tiant starting), July 19, 1964.
• “Tiant Blanks Yanks on 4 Hits, 3-0,” July 20, 1964.
Additional coverage of debut:
• Leonard Koppett, “Bombers Win, 6-2, Before 3-0 Loss,” New York Times, July 20, 1964.
Cleveland minor league statistics and rosters for Charleston, Burlington, and Portland from Baseball-Reference.com.
Cleveland Indians-New York Yankees box scores, July 1964, Baseball-Reference.com.
CHAPTER 6: COMING OF AGE IN CLEVELAND
General insights on Indians in 1950s and 60s:
• David Bohmer, “Cleveland Indians Team Ownership History,” SABR Team Ownership Project.
Cleveland Browns attendance figures vs. Indians, Football-Reference.com box scores and Cleveland Plain Dealer game stories.
Indians owners consider moving team:
• Regis McAuley, “Mayor of Cleveland Leads All-Out Fight To Keep Franchise,” Sporting News, Sept. 26, 1964, 10.
Referred to as “Lightening Luis Tiant, the Indians pitching papoose,” Johnny Pesky on Tiant:
• Hal Liebowitz, “Sox Give Tiant ‘Little Bull’ Tag,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 25, 1964.
Tiant’s car troubles:
• Russell Schneider, “Batting Around” Indians notebook, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Aug. 19, 1964.
• Hal Lebowitz, “Luis Bought Car, See? Then Repair Bills Boomed, Si!,” Sporting News, April 9, 1966, 44.
Birdie Tebbetts as player and Indians manager, from various Cleveland Plain Dealer articles and Tebbetts’s SABR bio, by Tom Simon.
Al Smith as Indians player and coach, from various Cleveland Plain Dealer articles and his SABR bio, by Gary Livicari.
Tiant first to twenty wins in organized baseball:
• “Major Flashes,” Sporting News, Aug. 22, 1964, 27.
Roger Birtwell, “Indians Tiant, McDowell Baffle Red Sox, 5-0, 3-0,” Boston Globe, Oct. 1, 1964
Tiant at thirty-five wins, including winter ball:
• American League notebook, Sporting News, Oct. 3, 1964. (He won one more, to finish 36-6.)
Tiant, Indians stop Yankees from 100 wins:
• “Indians Topple Yanks, 2-1,” Plain Dealer Special, Oct. 5, 1964.
Indians set MLB record for strikeouts by pitching staff:
• Sporting News, Oct. 17, 1964, 12.
Tiant, Bob Chance of Indians make all All-Rookie Team:
• Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 27, 1964.
Indians pitchers in Puerto Rico League, all by Miguel Frau, Sporting News:
• “Lions Corral Tiant To Head Hill Staff; Swift to Pilot Tribe,” Oct. 10, 1964, 46.
• “Tiant, Siebert, McBean, Stamp Lipon’s Lions as ‘Club to Beat,’” Oct. 31, 1964, 27.
• “Latin Leaguers Tip Off Injuns On ’65 Outlook,” Jan. 23, 1965, 5.
Tommy John out, Rocky Colavito in:
• “Happy Rocky’s Return Raises Cleveland Hopes,” Sporting News, Feb. 4, 1965, 11.
Indians could be “surprise team of 1965”:
• Joseph Sheehan, MLB Preview, New York Times, Feb. 21, 1965.
Hurt in spring training:
• Russell Schneider, “Terry Earning Tip-Top Rating as Injun Hurler,” Sporting News, April 10, 1965, 19.
Tiant win at Boston gets Cleveland to first:
• “Indians Win 9-2, And Tie For First,” United Press International, New York Times, June 29, 1965.
Tiant earns spot in starting rotation:
• Russell Schneider, “Doubts Gone—Tiant Earns Major Spurs,” Sporting News, Sept. 18, 1965, 7.
Tiant success vs. Red Sox compiled from Baseball-Reference.com game logs.
Red Sox racial problems detailed in many sources, most notably in:
• Glenn Stout and Richard Johnson, Red Sox Century, Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2005.
• Howard Bryant, Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston, Beacon Press, Boston, 2003.
Tiant loses 2-0 four-hitter at Boston on no-hitter:
• Roger Birtwell, “Morehead Fires No-Hitter—Sox Fire Higgins,” Boston Globe, Sept. 17, 1965.
• Larry Claflin, “A Photo Finish to Morehead’s No-Hitter,” Sporting News, Oct. 2, 1965, 7.
• “Boston’s Morehead Pitches No-Hitter,” Associated Press, New York Times, Sept. 17, 1965.
Slims down for 1966, starts strong—stories by Russell Schneider for Sporting News:
• “Tiant Tantalizes Tribe by Cutting Down Weight,” March 12, 1966, 20.
• “I’m Skinny Lucky, Says Winner Luis,” May 28, 1966, 3.
“This could be the team to watch in 1966,” Baseball Preview, New York Times, April 10, 1966.
Cleveland’s record start in 1966, fueled by pitching:
• “Indians Tie Mark Beating A’s, 4-0,” Associated Press, New York Times, April 27, 1966.
• Leonard Koppett, “Indian Hurlers Put Sign on League,” New York Times, May 1, 1966.
• Gordon White Jr., “Cleveland Moves Into League Lead,” New York Times, May 4, 1966.
Tiant allows mammoth home run to Frank Robinson:
• Russell Schneider, “Birds Sweep 2, Tie Tribe for 1st,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 9, 1966.
• Doug Brown, “F. Robinson Powers First Drive Out of Oriole Park,” Sporting News, May 21, 1966, 27.
• George Vass, “Frank Robinson—The Game I’ll Never Forget,” Baseball Digest, September 1973.
• Mike Klingaman, “Remembering Frank Robinson’s historic, outside-the-park home run, 50 years later,” Baltimore Sun, May 6, 2016.
Frank Robinson batting “about .150” after his mammoth home run off Tiant, statistics verified in “pitcher vs. hitter” section of Tiant’s statistical pages on Baseball-Reference.com, which noted Robinson was 5-for-33 lifetime (.152) off Tiant. https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?pitchr=tiantlu01.
Winter League in Venezuela, 1966-67, by Eduardo Moncada, The Sporting News:
• “Looey’s Back—Better Beware Of the Sharks!” Nov. 19, 1966, 45.
• “Dietz Grabs Plane For Home in Wake of Missile Barrage,” Nov. 26, 1966, 42.
• “Lions Boast Terrific Twosome in T-Men Tartabull and Tiant,” Jan. 28, 1967, 39.
• “Tiant, Casanova Cook a Feast for Champion Lions,” Feb. 25, 1967, 33.
Appeals to Adcock:
• “Tiant Makes Starting Pitch,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 8, 1967.
Adcock says Luis is throwing “lollipops”:
• “Rocky Hits Homer; Indians Wins, 14-5,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 22, 1967.
Gary Bell sent to Red Sox:
• Russell Schneider, “Tribe Obtains Horton, Demeter for Bell,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 5, 1967.
Russell Schneider, “Tribe Drops Chisox 2 Behind,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 23, 1967.
Final week of 1967 season at Fenway Park:
• “We couldn’t hit him…” Rico Petrocelli interview, October 2016.
• Rico Petrocelli and Chaz Scoggins, “Tales From the 1967 Red Sox Dugout,” Sports Publishing, 2017.
• Russell Schneider, “Indians Drop Red Sox 1 Behind,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 27, 1967.
• Clif Keane, “Have to Eat, Too, Says Tribe’s Tiant,” Boston Globe, Sept. 27, 1967.
• Joseph Durso, “Homers by Hinton and Salmon Help Tiant Turn Back Boston,” New York Times, Sept. 28, 1967.
• Carl Yastrzemski with Gerald Eskenazi, Yaz: Fenway, The Wall, and Me, Doubleday, 1990, 172.
Major League Baseball box scores, statistics, and standings, 1964-67, Baseball-Reference.com.
CHAPTER 7: POOR MAN’S MCLAIN
Change in Managers, by Hal Lebovitz, Cleveland Plain Dealer:
• “Adcock Out; See Al Dark In,” Oct. 2, 1967.
• “Can Dark Make Tribe See Light?” Oct. 3, 1967. (Gonzalez says Marichal told him Dark is not racist.)
Dark “unlikely” to trade Tiant:
• Russell Schneider, “Dark Seeing Bright Spots in Wigwam,” Sporting News, Nov. 25, 1967, 43; repeated in Dec. 2, 1967 issue, 36.
Dark “worried about my weight…”:
• Russell Schneider, Indians notebook, Sporting News, Dec. 9, 1967, 40.
“I was determined to prove myself, and I did…” Final Venezuela League stats in Sporting News, Feb. 10, 1968, 39.
“Man, we’re all just floating…”
• Russell Schneider, “Indians Are ‘Floating’ After First Drill,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Feb. 27, 1968.
“Look at the way that guy is working…”:
• Russell Schneider, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 22, 1968.
Leon Wagner “came out flat”:
• Russell Schneider, “Daddy Wags Promises 40 HRs ‘If They Let Me Play,’” Sporting News, March 16, 1968, 26.
Photographer “gets cute” (batting donuts photo):
• “Luis to Zero In on O’s,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 13, 1968. (picture ran in many papers including Sporting News, May 25, 1968, 21.)
Tiant on “being a good teammate”:
• Chuck Heaton, “Chico Preserved One Shutout—Luis,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 18, 1968. (After shutout string ends at four.)
“We always had a hard time turning double plays…” Indians are ranked last in double plays in American League through May 19, stats from Sporting News, June 1, 1968, 27.
Focus on 1968 as “Year of the Pitcher” in MLB:
• Edgar Munzel, “Baseball Keeping Wary Eye on Hitters’ Poverty March,” Sporting News, June 8, 1968, 4.
• Si Burek, “Hat Blames Swat Dip on Little Loop,” Dayton Daily News, reprinted in Sporting News, June 8, 1968, 4. (Harry Walker blames Little League.)
• Henry Aaron on giving batters four strikes, Sporting News, June 8, 1968, 31.
• Matt Monagan, “Let’s travel back 50 years to the ‘Year of the Pitcher,’” April 12, 2018, on CUT 4, MLB.com.
• Rex Lardner, “The Pitchers Are Ruining The Game,” New York Times Magazine, June 16, 1968.
“For me, that edge was never bigger…” Details of nineteen-strikeout game:
• Russell Schneider, “Tiant Fans 19, Captures 13th,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 4, 1968.
• Russell Schneider, “‘My Finest Game,’ says Tiant After 19-Whiff Effort,” Sporting News, July 20, 1968, 11.
Tiant at 1968 All-Star Game:
• Hal Lebovitz, “Tiant Faces Drysdale Today,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 9, 1968.
• “N.L. Stars Win Again,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 10, 1968.
“Wait ’Til Next Time—Tiant” by Hal Lebovitz, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 10, 1968.
• Brendan Bingham, “The 1968 All-Star Game,” SABR, National Pastime, 2014.
• Stats and details on game from: Wells Twombley, “Show Time! All-Star Game in Astrodome,” Sporting News, July 13, 1968, 7.
Luis Tiant Jr. reflections on Cleveland Stadium, going on road trip in ’68, from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
“Little Luis gave me a big kiss”:
• “Looie Gets Last Word,” blurb and photo in Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 24, 1968.
McDowell quotes about pitchers competing with another, and Hank Peters on “the best-dressed pitchers in the league”:
• Terry Pluto, “The Curse of Rocky Colavito.”
Quotes on Tiant’s windup and delivery:
• “He’s the toughest pitcher in the league to follow,” (Mickey Mantle): Ray Robinson, “Luis Tiant—You Got to Be Luckee,” from “Baseball Stars of 1969,” edited by Ray Robinson, Pyramid Books, NY, 1969.
• Frank Howard on “nightmares” facing Tiant, and John Roseboro “I’ve never seen,” from Tim Wendel, “Summer of ’68,” 90–91.
• Leigh Montville, “Harper Compares Tiant to Marichal,” Boston Globe, June 30, 1968. (Montville describes how “Tiant uses the pitcher’s rubber like a swivel.”)
• Rico Petrocelli on Tiant’s delivery, from interview of Oct. 4, 2016.
• Sam McDowell SABR bio, by Joseph Wancho.
Further insights on McDowell:
• Pat Jordan, “Sam of 1,000 Ways,” Sports Illustrated, Aug. 17, 1970.
CHAPTER 8: DOWN AND (ALMOST) OUT
Al Dark/Gabe Paul say no winter ball for Tiant:
• Indians Notebook, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 27, 1968.
Russell Schneider, “Big Winner Tiant Takes Tribe’s Tip, Shuns Winter Ball,” Sporting News, Dec. 14, 1968, 39.
Russell Schneider, “Tiant Named Indians’ Man of Year,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 31, 1968.
Raise for Tiant:
• Russell Schneider, “Tiant Gets $52,000,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Feb. 24, 1969.
“Luis Tiant could be better…”:
• Chuck Heaton, “Dark Raises Goal to Top,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jan. 28, 1969.
Problems with stiff arm in ’69 spring training:
• Hal Lebovitz, “Indians Are Stopped at Nine in Row,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 20, 1969.
Juan Marichal offers gift of snake oil:
• Russell Schneider, Indians notebook, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 3, 1969.
Opening Day 1969 in Detroit:
• Russell Schneider, “McLain Stops Tribe on 3 Hits,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 9, 1969. (Also mentions Tiant’s problems with umpire Larry Napp.)
Umpire Larry Napp shows Tiant strike zone diagram:
• Russell Schneider notes, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 11, 1969.
Changes in Strike Zone for 1969 detailed in MLB chronology, “The Strike Zone: A historical timeline” on MLB.com.
“We really don’t know what is the matter…” Dark on Tiant’s slump:
• “Last Year’s Aces Are This Year’s Patsies,” Associated Press, Winona Daily News, Winona, Minn., May 8, 1969.
“No champagne” after first win in eight weeks, four days:
• Russell Schneider, “Tiant Tops Tigers, 5-2,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 12, 1969.
“I think Luis will come back…” Dark quoted after season:
• Chuck Heaton, “Plain Talk,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 3, 1969.
Coverage of Tiant’s trade to Twins:
• Overview: “Twins Send Chance to Indians in 6-Player Deal,” Associated Press, New York Times, Dec. 11, 1969.
• Overview: Russell Schneider, “For Tiant and Williams Tribe Gets…Chance, Uhlaender, Nettles and Bob Miller,” Cleveland Plain Dealer (CPD), Dec. 12, 1969.
• Chuck Heaton, “Don’t be surprised if Alvin Dark is indicted for theft,” CPD, Dec. 12, 1969, 5-F.
• Reactions of Al Dark, ibid.
• “Deal Okayed by Most Fans,” ibid.
• Stan Williams defending Tiant, from “Chance, 3 Others Traded for Tribe’s Williams, Tiant,” Minneapolis Star Tribune (MST), Dec. 12, 1969, 29.
• More Stan Williams praise, from Sid Hartman sports column, MST, Jan. 19, 1970, 30.
• Dean Chance reaction, from “Chance Happy to be Home,” United Press International, St. Cloud (Minnesota) Times, Dec. 13, 1969, 13.
• Tiant tells Twins writers he’s OK, from “Tiant Says He’s Lean, Arm is Fit,” MST, Dec. 14, 1969, 64.
Signs Twins contract:
• “Tiant signs, claims he still has fastball,” MST, Jan. 21, 1970, 55.
Meets Calvin Griffith, praised for thinness, pledges pennant:
• Sid Hartman column, MST, Feb. 23, 1970, 26.
Works with Bill Rigney and pitching coach Marv Grissom altering delivery, watching video:
• Jon Roe, “Tiant Sharp, But Dodgers Tip Twins 9-5,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 14, 1970.
• Sid Hartman column, Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 29, 1970.
Chance throwing better than Tiant (in Cleveland camp):
• Russell Schneider, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 27, 1970.
Grissom says Tiant is “sound physically”:
• Dick Cullum column, Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 12, 1970.
“Like with Indians, I kept things loose…”
• Mike Lamey, “Only showers dampen Tiant’s humor,” Minneapolis Star, May 19, 1970.
Tiant after 11-2 win, three hits, over Brewers:
• “Terrorizing teams with his bat as much as with his pitching,” Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, May 29, 1970.
Some details of shoulder injury and treatment, including insights of Dr. Phelan:
• Luis Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante, 1976.
Dave Boswell SABR bio, by Gregory H. Wolf.
CHAPTER 9: TWIN KILLINGS AND RED SOX
John Dewan, “Tommy John Surgery in Major League Baseball,” ACTA Sports, published on SABR.org, Sept. 14, 2018.
“Bert Blyleven took my spot…”:
• Tom Briere, “Blyleven Replaces Injured Tiant,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 2, 1970.
• “Twins Recall Blyleven to Replace Injured Luis Tiant,” Associated Press, Daily Journal, June 2, 1970.
• “Beat the Dutch? Blyleven Tames the Hottest Bats,” Sporting News, June 13, 1970, 39.
“The fracture is entirely healed…”:
• “Twins Face McDowell, McLain on Road,” Minneapolis Star, July 28, 1970.
“Home plate looked very far away…”:
• “Happy Tiant was edgy,” Minneapolis Star, Aug. 4, 1970.
“I was even more optimistic…”:
• “Tiant Registers After His Double,” New York Times, Aug. 9. 1970.
“Big Frank Howard…could tell the difference”:
• “Howard’s ‘dancing’ throws Tiant off-key,” Minneapolis Star, Aug. 13, 1970.
“I celebrated as hard as anyone…”:
• “Twins Win West Division Crown,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sept. 23, 1970.
“There is nothing wrong with me…”:
Russell Schneider, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 4, 1970.
Twins cut Tiant salary maximum from $60,000 to $48,000:
• Sid Hartman column, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Dec. 4, 1970, Jan. 6, 1971.
Tiant off-season trade rumors in various sources:
• Russell Schneider, “Schneider Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jan. 1, 1971.
“We decided to send Tiant a contract.” (Griffith):
• “Griffith optimistic about a comeback by Tiant,” Associated Press, Winona (Minn.) Daily News, Jan. 20, 1971.
“You can’t believe Luis Tiant.” (Rigney):
• “Tiant of old cheers Rigney,” Minneapolis Star, Feb. 18, 1971.
Tiant denied entry at two Florida golf courses:
• Minneapolis Tribune Staff Writer, “Orlando Golf Course Refusal Irks Tiant,” MST, Feb. 22, 1971.
• “Tiant Involved in Golf Dispute,” United Press International, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times, Feb. 23, 1971.
“He [Tiant] has thrown better in spring training than at any time last year.” (Rigney):
• Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 2, 1971.
“Tiant threw harder today than at any time last year.” (Griffith):
• Dan Stineking, Minneapolis Star, March 24, 1971.
“I was crushed…”:
• Jon Roe, “Cards Rip Tiant, Kaat in 13-2 Twins Loss,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 29, 1971.
How Twins “shit on Luis” with release at end of spring training, and how former teammates “work the phones” to find him a new team, from Stan Williams interview of Nov. 6, 2018.
Tiant released by Indians, picked up by Braves:
• “I’ve never seen the real Tiant” (Rigney): Griffith, “Tiant, Boswell, Cut by Twins,” Plain Dealer Special, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 1, 1971.
• “I tried to make a deal for both men,” (Griffith), ibid.
• “If a player is released outright his contract is terminated,” from Hal Lebovitz, “Ask Hal the Referee,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 4, 1971.
• Rob Fowler, “Griffith Back on Old Spot, Releasing Tiant, Boswell,” Sporting News, 15.
Braves give Tiant thirty-day trial, all stories by Jerry Lindquist, Richmond Times Dispatch:
• “Braves Ponder Tiant’s Status,” April 12, 1971. (“Nothing wrong with his arm”—Clyde King.)
• “Tiant Set as Richmond Starter,” April 13, 1971. (King puts him in rotation.)
• “R-Braves Get Third Win, Rip Hens, 3-1,” April 19, 1971. (“Very impressive”—Paul Richard, Braves GM.)
• “Weatherman Does It Again,” April 26, 1971. (Another rainout stops Tiant chance to pitch.)
• “Chiefs Check R-Braves, 6-3,” April 29, 1971. (Tiant falls to 1-2.)
• “Chiefs Clip R-Braves, 7-1,” May 5, 1971. (Tiant shelled, falls to 1-3.)
• “R-Braves Fritter Away Chances, Lose to Tides in 11th by 8-6,” May 11, 1971. (Tiant blows 4-0 lead, lets up grand slam to Jon Milner.)
• “Veteran Tiant Given Release by R-Braves,” May 16, 1971.
• “Released by Braves Saturday, Luis Tiant signed with Colonels,” May 18, 1971.
Red Sox give Tiant shot with Louisville Colonels:
• “Sox Sign Tiant for Louisville,” Boston Globe, May 18, 1971.
• “Tiant stands out in Colonels debut,” Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), May 19. 1971.
• “Tiant fans 13 batters,” Courier-Journal, May 23, 1971.
• “Catcher’s error gives Colonels split with Chiefs,” Courier-Journal, May 28, 1971.
• “We’ve had good reports on him [Tiant]” (Kasko): Ray Fitzgerald, Boston Globe, May 31, 1971.
• “Tiant hurls Louisville to 10-0 win.” Boston Globe, June 2, 1971. (Haywood Sullivan in stands, tells Tiant next morning he’s getting called up to Boston.)
Maria encourages Luis not to be discouraged, keep eyes open, chin up, Maria Tiant interviews of 2017-2018.
CHAPTER 10: REBIRTH IN BOSTON
Will McDonough, “Sox add Tiant to roster, option Nagy to Louisville,” Boston Globe, June 4, 1971.
“My arm is fine…”:
• George Sullivan, “Can Tiant pitch? Sox to See Tonight,” Boston Herald, June 11, 1971.
“The initial investment…”:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant fails, Royals sink Red Sox, 6-3,” Boston Globe, June 12, 1971.
Clif Keane, “Yaz fined; White’s homer spoils Tiant 3-hitter, 2-1,” Boston Globe, July 4, 1971.
Ray Fitzgerald, “Walks take toll on Tiant,” Boston Globe, July 8, 1971.
“I was still angry at Minnesota…”:
• Dave O’Hara, “Petrocelli’s Game-Winning Sock Helps Soothe Unnerved Bosox,” Associated Press, Paducah (KY) Sun, July 16, 1971.
Larry Claflin, “Pitching Collapse Ends Red Sox Flag Search,” Sporting News, Aug. 28, 1971.
Tiant’s first win for Red Sox:
• Jack McCarthy, “Yaz Single in 9th Tops Orioles, 4-3,” Boston Herald, Sept. 1, 1971.
“Today, my arm is not really hurt…”:
• Eduardo Moncada, “Tovar Swinging Torrid Bat in Venezuela,” Sporting News, Dec. 4, 1971, 55 (Tiant no-hitter at Caracas.)
“Another Pitcher, Luis Tiant, launches what he hopes will be a strong comeback season today…”:
• Bill Kipouras, Spring Training notes, Boston Herald, March 1, 1972.
“I did my best to prove myself…”:
• Bill Liston, “Hose Pitching Pleases Kasko,” Boston Herald, March 28, 1972. (Gives up Mike Jorgensen grand slam, but Kasko supportive.)
Sonny Siebert SABR bio, by Joseph Wancho.
Bill Liston, “Yanks’ Cater to Red Sox for Lyle,” Boston Herald, March 23, 1972.
Baseball Strike:
• Denee Freeman, “Strike Halts Baseball Today,” Associated Press, April 1, 1972.
• Bill Liston, “Sox Players to Decide Own Fate,” Boston Herald, April 1, 1972.
• “Bosox camp in turmoil; players given ultimatum,” Associated Press, Lowell Sun, April 1, 1972.
• Jim Sarni, “Sox get workout at Harvard,” Boston Globe, April 5, 1972.
• Peter Gammons, “There must be a story,” ibid.
• Clif Keane, “Clubs may drop spring training if new player problems develop,” Boston Globe, April 15, 1972.
Goes back to old wind-up, with a twist:
• “If I do good, maybe I’ll start my act again…” Peter Gammons, “Sox eye rerun of Tiant Show,” Boston Globe, April 24, 1972.
• “I’m going to try something different…” Bob Ryan, “Tiant steals show as Sox win, 5-3,” Boston Globe, June 29, 1972.
• Fred Ciampa, “Red Sox Cage Tigers, 5-3,” Boston Herald, June 30, 1972.
• “Back To Old Motion, Says Luis,” Associated Press, Rome (GA) News Tribune, June 29, 1972.
“The name of the game is to win…”:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant, Sox beat Twins, rain, 8-2,” July 4, 1972.
Jou Giuliotti, “Luis Tiant Finds The Groove,” Boston Herald, July 4, 1972.
“Siebert was scheduled to start that night…”:
• Clif Keane, “Petrocelli goes ‘batty,’ drives O’s crazy, 6-3,” Boston Globe, Aug. 6, 1972.
Fred Ciampa, “Lucky Blast, Says Rico,” Boston Herald, Aug. 6, 1972.
Tim Horgan, “Luis Tiant’s No. 1 rooter is Tom Yawkey,” Boston Herald, Aug. 10, 1972.
“Tiant was all kicks and twists…”:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant’s 3-hitter gives Sox split,” Boston Globe, Aug. 13, 1972.
Third-base ump Art Frantz talks to Rico:
• Postgame Notes, Boston Globe, Aug. 12, 1972.
Two-hit shutout over White Sox:
• “Zip Job Eludes Tiant,” United Press International, Aug. 20, 1972.
“I think he’s as good as any right-hander in the American League…” (Chuck Tanner):
• Ken Rappoport, “Boston’s Luis Tiant, ’72 ‘Mr. Excitement,’” Associated Press, Aug. 30, 1972.
Yaz lifts elbow higher at bat, gets first homer in nearly a (calendar) year:
• “Yaz’s New Style Helps Red Sox,” San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 30, 1972.
“Both were broken up on September 8…” (shutout and scoreless innings streak):
• “Tiant, Sox Roll On,” Boston Herald, Sept. 9, 1972.
“They gave me a standing ovation when I came up to bat…”:
• Peter Gammons, “Red Sox romp, 9-1, 4-0; lead by full game,” Boston Globe, Sept. 21, 1972.
“We finally put the Orioles and the Yankees away…”:
• Fred Ciampa, “Yaz, Tiant Tandem Poison for Sox Foes,” Boston Herald, Sept. 30, 1972.
Playoff tickets would go on sale at Fenway…”:
• Joe Trimble, “Chipper Bosox Look Hungrily at Tigers,” New York Daily News, Oct. 1, 1972.
Steve Buckley on getting playoff tickets, interview of Oct. 18, 2018.
“Aparicio stumbled…”:
• Harold Kaese, “Sox hoping for one last, big rebound,” Boston Globe, Oct. 3, 1972.
Tigers beat Tiant, Red Sox on last weekend:
• Clif Keane, “Tigers eliminate Red Sox, 3-1, win AL East title,” Boston Globe, Oct. 4, 1972.
• Ray Fitzgerald, “Sox learn Kaline Tiger in the clutch,” ibid.
• Larry Claflin, “Detroit Crushes Red Sox Hopes 3-1,” Boston Herald, Oct. 4, 1972.
• Fred Ciampa, “Yaz Weeps Openly as Sox Fall,” ibid.
• Dave O’Hara, “Sox Have no Alibis—Kasko,” Associated Press, Oct. 4, 1972.
• “Whatever fate awaits Tiant next year…” Larry Claflin, Boston Herald, Oct. 6, 1972.
CHAPTER 11: PUDGE AND ME
Fisk and Tiant “briefly played against one another in spring training…”:
• “All-Stars Fall to Hose, 5-1,” Boston Herald, March 7, 1971. (Red Sox beat team of players from several clubs.)
Kasko says Fisk has “a long way to go,” Boston Herald, March 14, 1971.
Assorted quotes, insights on Tiant from Carlton Fisk interview of Jan. 21, 2017.
“He has a chance to be one of the best…” (Yawkey on Fisk):
• Boston Herald, Sept. 28, 1971.
“Luis has only four basic pitches…”:
• Tim Horgan interview with Fisk, Boston Herald, Sept. 27, 1972.
Kevin Vahey on Tiant, from interview of Oct. 25, 2018.
Assorted details from Fisk’s SABR bio, by Brian Stevens.
Assorted details from Fisk interview:
• Herb Crehan, Red Sox Heroes of Yesteryear, Rounder Books, Cambridge, MA, 2005.
Fisk’s Hall of Fame induction speech on YouTube (link from National Baseball Hall of Fame website, mentions Tiant at 11:50 mark).
CHAPTER 12: HEART AND SOUL
Bernie Carbo on Tiant, from interview of Oct. 27, 2016.
Memories of Tiant clubhouse pranks, nicknames:
• Carl Yastrzemski with Greg Eskenazi, Yaz: Baseball, The Wall, and Me, Doubleday, New York, 1990.
Some also from Yastrzemski interview of March 14, 2017.
Nickname memories from John Kennedy, interview of October 2017.
Origins of “Mullion!” as baseball nickname for “ugly person” found in Dickson Baseball Dictionary, by Paul Dickson, Harcourt Brace & Co., New York, 1999.
Cepeda is the talk of 1973 camp:
• Clif Keane, “What about Cepeda?” Boston Globe, March 3, 1973.
“After Eddie Kasko named me the Opening Day starter…”:
• Peter Gammons, “Moret, all sweetness and light, No. 5 starter,” Boston Globe, March 27, 1973.
Opening Day 1973—Tiant first to face a designated hitter (Ron Blomberg):
• Murray Chass, “Fisk’s 2 Homers Set Boston Pace-Blomber’s ‘dh’ Bat Goes to Hall of Fame,” New York Times, April 7, 1973.
• Larry Burke and Peter Thomas Fornatale, with Jim Baker, “Change Up: An Oral History of 8 Key Events that Shaped Modern Baseball,” Rodale, NY, 2008.
• Steve Wulf, “Distinguished History,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1993.
Cepeda hits his first Green Monster homer:
• Deane McGowan, “Roundup: Cepeda, Tiant Up to Their Old Tricks,” New York Times, April 9, 1973.
Mike Andrews reflections on batting versus Tiant, from interview of April 4, 2017.
On getting 20th win: “I had brought this cigar with me to Detroit…”:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant, Harper, Sox reach goals,” Boston Globe, Sept. 29, 1973.
New manager shocks the team:
• Bill Liston, “Aparicio, Cepeda Released by Red Sox; Johnson Blasted,” Boston Herald, March 27, 1974.
Another bad Opening Day start:
• Peter Gammons, “Sox rough around edges, but win on Yaz HR, 9-8,” Boston Globe, April 6, 1974.
Getting boost from hometown fans:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant three-hitter cools Yanks, 2-0,” Boston Globe, May 10, 1974.
Fifteen-inning start vs. Angels and Nolan Ryan:
• Clif Keane, “Angels shade Sox in 15th after Ryan strikes out 19,” Boston Globe, June 15, 1974.
• Bill Liston, “Doyle’s Hit Foils Tiant, Sox in 15th, 4-3,” Boston Herald, June 15, 1974.
• Bill Liston, “Didn’t Tire, Says Tiant,” Boston Herald, June 16, 1974.
• “Ryan Whiffs 19—Angel Hurler Sets One LA Mark, Not Second,” Associated Press, Sacramento Bee, June 16, 1974.
• Matt Snyder, “Happy 40th Anniversary: Nolan Ryan vs. Luis Tiant,” CBSSports.com, June 14, 2014.
“The electricity in the ballpark was amazing…”:
• Joe Giuliotti, “35,866 Watch Tiant Whitewash A’s for 20th, 3-0,” Boston Herald, Aug. 24, 1974.
“Naturally, I’m happy…”:
• “Tiant Slays A’s, 3-0,” Associated Press, Springfield (MA) Times, Aug. 24, 1974.
Darrell Johnson: “Tiant should be the Most Valuable Player in the American League,” ibid.
Peter Gammons, “Some say Jackson or Yaz for MVP; here’s vote for Tiant,” Boston Globe, Sept. 1, 1974.
Robbery story:
• Larry Claflin’s column, Boston Herald, Sept. 5, 1974.
Some details of Maria Tiant and kids coming to Boston, and family going to Milton home for first time:
• Luis Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, captured first in El Tiante, 1976.
CHAPTER 13: RACE AND REUNION
Overview on Busing Crisis in Boston:
• Peter Balonon-Rosen, “Boston School Desegregation and Busing: A Timeline of Events,” Learning Lab, Sept. 5, 2014.
• Bruce Gellerman, “Busting Left Deep Scars on Boston, Its Students,” WBUR News, Sept. 5, 2014.
• “It was Like A War Zone: Busing in Boston,” ibid.
• Mike Barnicle, “Joe Timilty’s campaign pits ‘us’ against ‘them,’” Boston Campaign Watch, Boston Globe, Oct. 12, 1975.
• David Rogers, “Thousands in antibusing march, rally,” Boston Globe, Oct. 28, 1975.
• Walter V. Robinson, “NAACP to ask Garrity to close S. Boston High,” Boston Globe, Nov. 16, 1975.
• Arthur Jones and Paul Kneeland, “Two leaders rap Meany’s busing stand,” ibid.
Luis Tiant Jr. memories of Milton, from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
On changes to coaching staff:
• Bill Liston, “Pesky, Williams New Sox Coaches,” Boston Herald, Nov. 11, 1974.
“That summer ride, a right-handed hitter…” (homer past flag pole):
• Clif Keane, “Rice (wham!) Yaz homer; Sox roll, 9-3,” Boston Globe, July 19, 1975.
“The Yankees outbid several other teams and signed…”:
• Murray Chass, “Yankees Sign Up Catfish Hunter In Estimated $3.75-Million Deal,” New York Times, Jan. 1, 1975.
“The average big-league salary in 1975 would be $44,676”:
• Kurt Badenhausen “Average Baseball Salary Up 20,700% Since First CBA in 1968,” Forbes, April 7, 2016.
Reflecting on how great it would have been to have Hunter:
• “Sox give up on Hunter ‘as matter of principle,’” Associated Press, Boston Globe, Dec. 31, 1974.
“Luis resented the feelings they had about black folks in some parts of Florida…” restaurant story told by Stan Williams, from interview of Nov. 6, 2018.
Joe Fitzgerald, “How much longer?” Boston Herald, Nov. 6, 1983.
Text from Sen. Edward Brooke’s letter to Fidel Castro taken from reproduction of letter in El Tiante, by Luis Tiant and Ray Fitzgerald, 1976.
“He [Castro] was late for the meeting…” Text of interview with Sen. George McGovern regarding trip to Cuba and appeal to Fidel Castro (through Brooke’s letter) to allow Luis Sr. and Isabel Tiant come to Boston, appearing in Lost Son of Havana documentary film, used with permission of writer-director and producers.
“My dream appeared to finally be coming true…” (Castro will let his parents visit):
• James Ayres, “McGovern says Castro favors thaw through sports exchanges,” Boston Globe, May 9, 1975.
Beat Yankees in mid-season to move into first place:
• “Pitch good enough with the stuff you have on any given day…” Greg Erion, “June 26: 1975: Tiant checks Yankees; Fisk homers,” from book “’75: The Red Sox Team That Saved Baseball,” Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), 2015.
• “Fisk hit his first home run of the year…”(to beat Yankees): Larry Whiteside, “Sox take charge in Round One,” Boston Globe, June 27, 1975.
• Murray Chass, “Yankees Defeated, 6-1, On 7-Hitter by Tiant,” New York Times, June 27, 1975.
• “I feel as good as ever…” “Tiant motion dazzles,” Associated Press, Morning Record, Meridan-Wallingford, CT.
Jeff Anderson on Tiant’s importance to people of color, from interview of Oct. 17, 2018.
“When Luis came to Boston, he probably didn’t realize…” Boston TV reporter Jorge Quiroga on Tiant’s importance to the city’s Latino community, from interview used in video shown at ceremony for Tiant’s Lifetime Achievement Award from El Mundo newspaper, 2017.
Opponents’ batting average versus Tiant during mid-season slump courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
Luis Sr. and Isabel Tiant (Luis’s mother) leave Cuba and come to Boston:
• “Tiant’s parents en route to Boston from Cuba for reunion,” Boston Globe, Aug. 19, 1975.
• Joe Pilati, “Tiant’s parents due here today,” Boston Globe, Aug. 22, 1975.
• Anne Kirchheimer, “Tiants finally reunited; dad, at 69, ready to pitch,” Boston Globe, Aug. 22, 1975.
• Clif Keane, “The King enjoys good health,” (Tiant Sr. goes to doctor), Boston Globe, Aug. 23, 1975.
• Mike Lupica, “At Last Tiant Sr. Has a Chance To See if Jr. Can Pitch Like Dad,” Special to the Washington Star, Aug. 25, 1975.
• Frank Brown, “Father-and-Son Night on the Mound,” Associated Press, New York Post, Aug. 27, 1975.
• Peter Gammons, “After one warmup, Tiant Sr. on beam,” Boston Globe, Aug. 27, 1975.
• Deane McGowan, “Tiant’s Best Fans See Him Lose,” New York Times, Aug. 27, 1975.
• Joe Gergen, “Tiant & Son: Baseball Pitchers,” New York Newsday, September 1975.
• Additional details captured first by Luis Tiant and Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante, 1976.
On watching film of his delivery with Stan Williams:
• Ray Fitzgerald, Boston Globe, Sept. 1, 1975.
“I felt great…”:
• Larry Whiteside, “Tiant sings in rain: no pain,” Boston Globe, Sept. 13, 1975.
“I had a no-hitter until the inning…”:
• Clif Keane, “Tiant loses no-hitter in 8thth, but wins, 3-1,” Boston Globe, Sept. 12, 1975.
Beats Jim Palmer of Baltimore in big game down stretch:
• “Tiant, Red Sox Top Orioles, 2-0,” MLB roundup, New York Times, Sept. 17, 1975.
• Ray Fitzgerald, “TV missed the jewel,” Boston Globe, Sept. 17, 1975.
• Larry Claflin, “Tiant Was His Best in Biggest Game,” Boston Herald, Sept. 18, 1975.
• Peter Gammons, “Tiant Terrific—And Bosox Fans Let Him Know it,” Sporting News, Oct. 4, 1975, 19.
“Luis pitched better in big games…” Fred Lynn reflections, from interview of Sept. 19, 2016.
“The thing about pitching is that it’s a blank canvas.” Jim Palmer reflections, from interview of April 5, 2018.
“At the height of the busing crisis…” Dick Johnson reflections, from interview of Dec. 1, 2017.
“Thank you Mr. Yawkey…”:
• Peter Gammons, “A super season…and a low-key ending,” Boston Globe, Sept. 29, 1975.
CHAPTER 14: THE WORLD IS WATCHING
“Tiant’s loved ones…” described at postseason games from World Series broadcasts on NBC (viewed on YouTube), October 1975.
Matraca—Mexican musical instrument / noisemaker played by Maria Tiant and others at World Series games, defined on EcuRed.cu.
Lois Landis, “Maria Tiant’s ‘Noise’ Noisy But To Luis It’s Beautiful Music,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 16, 1975.
“Luis knows how big the game is to all of us…” (Yaz):
Larry Claflin, Boston Herald, Oct. 4, 1975.
“That lever came up from that gate.” (Dwight Evans):
• Bruce Shalin, “Oddballs,” Penguin, 1989, 170.
“A man can’t pitch any better than that…” (Darrell Johnson after ALCS Game One):
• Joe Giuliotti, “Fans Really Stirred Me Up—Tiant,” Boston Herald, Oct. 5, 1975.
“The way he has been these last few starts…” Fisk after ALCS Game One:
• Peter Gammons, “Act I: Tiant struts on Fenway stage,” Boston Globe, Oct. 5, 1975.
“This is Louie’s palace…” (Yaz after ALCS Game One):
• Will McDonough, “For the Fenway faithful, it’s ‘Long live King Looie,’” Boston Globe, Oct. 5, 1975.
“Louis, you were beautiful out there today…” Al Dark after ALCS Game One, ibid.
“Luis Tiant is the Fred Astaire of baseball” (Reggie Jackson):
• Roger Angell, Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion, Simon & Schuster, NY, 1977.
“SEVEN WINS IN OCTOBER” on clubhouse bulletin board:
• Joe Giuliotti, “It’s Official—Yaz Will Star in Left, Cooper at 1B,” Boston Herald, Oct. 3, 1975.
“I can play left field in my sleep,” Carl Yastrzemski after ALCS Game Two:
• Chaz Scoggins, “LCS Memories,” 2004 League Championship Series Official Program.
“Shake and Bake those National Leaguers…” (Bando to Tiant):
• Peter Gammons, “Wise, Yaz lead the way as Sox humble A’s, 5-3,” Boston Globe, Oct. 8, 1975.
“I played for the Sugar Kings’ team…” (Tiant on not getting signed by Reds in Cuba):
• Pat Hanlon, “Luis Tiant: Boston’s Favorite Player?” Cincinnati Post, Oct. 4, 1975.
“By its simplest definition, a balk occurs when…” balk definition on MLB.com.
Reds stolen base proficiency, from Baseball-Reference.com.
“Thanks to him, all or part of this excerpt…” rule 8.05 of 1975 baseball rules (on balks), New York Times, Oct. 11, 1975.
“He couldn’t play in the National League in 1975…” (Sparky Anderson on Tiant move to first base):
• Joseph Durso, “Series Opens in Boston Today; Reds UP Against Wall and Tiant,” New York Times, Oct. 11, 1975.
“Now the drama starts…” NBC broadcast dialogue from 1975 World Series Game One, found on YouTube.
Description and dialogue of 1975 World Series action from NBC broadcasts of games, found on YouTube.
“Tiant has zero…” Pete Rose, Boston Globe, Oct. 12, 1975.
“We must have hit fifteen line drives…” Pete Rose after Game One, ibid.
“You forget how to do things…” Luis on baserunning:
• Chaz Scoggins, Game of My Life: Boston Red Sox, Sports Publishing Inc., IL, 2006, 102.
“One of the things that I admired about Luis…” Bernie Carbo on Luis Tiant Sr. and Jr. relationship, from interview of Oct. 27, 2016.
“On one pitch, he checked the position…”:
• Phil Pepe, “These Guys Didn’t Win Cars,” New York Daily News, Oct. 25, 1975.
“Then there was Roger Angell…”:
• Roger Angell, Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion, by Roger Angell, Simon & Schuster, NY, 1977, 293–295 (paperback edition).
Luis Sr. said it was “his greatest day too…”:
• Russell Schneider, “Tiant’s terrific,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 12, 1975.
Bob Parajon on young Cuban pride watching Tiant pitch, from interview of Dec. 7, 2017.
“Of course he interfered with me…” Fisk on Armbrister:
• Kevin Paul Dupont, “Trip Down Memory Lane,” Boston Globe, Oct. 13, 2013.
“Collision? I thought it was collusion…” Darrell Johnson on Fisk-Armbrister, New York Times, Oct. 19, 1975.
“In that game at Cincinnati…” Petrocelli on Game Four of World Series, from interview of Oct. 4, 2016.
“Tiant was his own closer…” (Don Zimmer):
• Don Zimmer with Bill Madden, Zim: A Baseball Life, Contemporary Books/McGraw-Hill, NY, 2001.
“Luis absolutely loved his defense…” Fred Lynn on Game Four of World Series, from interview of Sept. 29, 2016.
“I went out to talk to Luis…” Darrell Johnson after Game Four:
• Joseph Durso, “Red Sox Triumph, 5-4, Tying Series,” New York Times, Oct. 16, 1975.
“The pitch I hit for the last out is the best one Tiant threw me all night…”:
• Joe Morgan, “Bosox Square Series,” United Press International, Oct. 16, 1975.
“Guts, Guts, Guts…” Yaz on Tiant after Game Four, ibid.
“Yaz was a pretty good battler himself…” Yastrzemski referenced his shoulder injury during 1975, and impact on his first/second half performance:
Carl Castrzemski, Yastrzemski: Icons of Major League Baseball, Rugged Land Books, 2007.
“Before we even left the dugout…” On NBC broadcast of Game Four, at very end of tape, you can see Tony Conigliaro talking to Luis with a microphone in dugout before Luis leaves to go to clubhouse.
“I don’t care if it’s 3,000,” Tiant on how many pitches he made in Game Four:
Peter Gammons, “Tiant ready for 7th game? Of course!” Boston Globe, Oct. 16, 1975.
“Johnson should have let me pitch Game Six and Luis Game Seven…” Bill Lee on World Series pitching decisions by manager, from interview of Oct. 31, 2016.
“It was a contest between Middle America…” Boston Globe editorial on 1975 World Series, Oct. 23, 1975.
CHAPTER 15: DAMN YANKEES
Babe Ruth Award (first time to player on losing team), Baseball-almanac.com.
Description of Milton parade for Tiants:
• Bob Keeley, “El Miltone proves it loves El Tiante,” Boston Herald, Nov. 3, 1975.
• Joe Pilati, “Milton touches all bases for Looo-eee,” Boston Globe, Nov. 3, 1975.
• Prayer to “bless our favorite right-hander” from parade, ibid.
“You told me there were no guys on three-year deals…”:
• Bill Liston, “Tiant claims he’s a holdout,” Boston Herald, March 19, 1976.
“The next day, I stood across from Mr. Yawkey…” (new contract):
• Bill Liston, “Yawkey placates Tiant,” Boston Herald, March 20, 1976.
“Darrell Johnson said he was worried I’d be out of shape…”:
• Peter Gammons, “Johnson ogles his shapely Sox—particularly El Tiante,” Boston Globe, March 22, 1976.
“Three of our key guys—Fisk, Burleson, and Lynn…” (seeking new contracts):
• Peter Gammons, “Kapstein says no for Red Sox trio,” Boston Globe, May 18, 1976.
“On Friday, May 20, we went into New York…”:
• Peter Gammons, “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BRAWL GAME—Lee may be able to throw in 6 weeks,” Boston Globe, May 21, 1976.
Lou Piniella reflections on his play at home, fight with Fisk:
• Lou Piniella Maury Allen, Sweet Lou, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, NY, 1986.
Carlton Fisk on play at home, fight with Piniella on Red Sox 1976 highlight film from WSBK TV-38 (found on YouTube).
Luis Tiant Jr. memories of playing pool with grandfather, from interview of Sept. 17, 1918.
“On Sept. 22, with Dad in the stands…”:
• Joe Giuliotti, “Tiant flirts with no-hitter, wins 20th as Sox split,” Boston Herald, Sept. 22, 1976.
Luis Tiant Sr. and Isabel Tiant (father and mother) pass away:
• “Luis Tiant, pitcher’s father,” by Ken O. Botwright, Boston Globe, Dec. 12, 1976.
• “Luis E. Tiant,” Associated Press, New York Times, Dec. 12, 1976.
• “Tiant’s mother dies three days after husband,” Boston Globe, Dec. 13, 1976.
• “Both of Tiant’s Parents Die Over a 3-Day Period,” Associated Press, New York Times, Dec. 14, 1976.
• Tiant funeral coverage (no headline), by Shelly Cohen, Associated Press, Dec. 15, 1976.
• “Tiant’s Parents Eulogized as Peace Symbols,” Associated Press, New York Times, Dec. 15, 1976.
• “Luis Tiant’s Reunion Ends,” by Joseph Durso, New York Times, Dec. 16, 1976.
“The team fulfilled Mr. Yawkey’s promise…”:
• Will McDonough, “Sox butter up Tiant—to tune of $25,000,” Boston Globe, Sept. 29, 1976.
“My twelve victories, 4.53 ERA, and three complete games (in thirty-two starts)…”:
• Ray Fitzgerald, “5 frustrations hindered Sox,” Boston Globe, Sept. 25, 1977.
CHAPTER 16: OVER MY DEAD BODY
Luis Jr.’s memories of racial challenges faced in teenage years from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
“What’s done is done…”:
• Joe Fitzgerald, “Tiant’s New Year’s resolution simple: Forget ’77,” Boston Herald, Jan. 17, 1978.
“Luis is going to pitch winning ball this year…” (Zimmer):
• Bill Liston, “Tiant, Cleveland don’t tame Tigers,” Boston Herald, March 14, 1978.
“I expect Tiant will be back in the groove this year.” (Fisk):
• Jim Morse, “Fisk has suggestion: ‘I’ll play first base,’” Boston Herald, Jan. 9, 1978.
“I think he can still be a big winner.” (Yaz):
• Bill Liston, “Yaz—casts his vote for Evans,” Boston Herald, Nov. 10, 1977.
“I think Luis (Tiant) and Bill Lee are going to come back and have big years.” (Evans):
• Bill Liston, “Evans feels he and Sox will be back in running,” Boston Herald, Feb. 3, 1978.
“One player Zimmer had talked about getting for a while…”:
• Leo Monahan, “Remy gives us edge in close games—Zimmer,” Boston Herald, Jan. 27, 1978.
“Our last move was the biggest.” (Eck trade):
• Joe Giuliotti, “Red Sox land man they want—Eckersley,” Boston Herald, March 31, 1978.
“My finger hurt so bad at first, I thought it was broken”:
• Bill Liston, “Tiant dislocates finger, could return for opener,” Boston Herald, March 18, 1978.
“Tiant loses bid for a no-hitter,” Boston Herald, April 29, 1978.
“My twelve victories, 4.53 ERA, and three complete games (in thirty-two starts)…”:
• Ray Fitzgerald, “5 frustrations hindered Sox,” Boston Globe, Sept. 25, 1977.
Deane McGowen, “It’s close but no cigar for Tiant,” (cracks on age, saying he “admits to being 36 years old”), New York Times, April 21, 1978.
“Yes We Can, Red Sox Say,” by Gerald Eskenazi, New York Times, April 10, 1978.
Luck goes bad:
• Joe Fitzgerald, “Tiant takes a fall, but Stanley rises to the occasion,” Boston Herald, May 9, 1978.
“I had felt something back there last week”:
• Larry Whiteside, “Greetings Mr. Hrabosky,” Boston Globe, May 9. 1978.
Jim Rice on Tiant staying in games, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
“It’s no longer a question of his coming back.” (Zimmer):
• Peter Gammons, “Sox hit-and-run, bunt, steal game,” Boston Globe, June 11, 1978.
“He’s as good as he’s ever been.” (Fisk):
• Will McDonough, “Now it’s 6 straight victories for Sox, Luis,” Boston Globe, June 15, 1978.
Peter Gammons, “Red Sox-Yankees ‘Like World Series Every Day,’” Boston Globe, June 18, 1978.
“This is the best team I’ve ever played with”:
• Joe Giuliotti, “It’s perfectly (7-0) clear: Tiant, Sox too much,” Boston Herald, June 25, 1978.
TV stats for Sox-Yanks game:
• Peter Gammons “Red Sox Notebook,” Boston Globe, June 30, 1978.
“Right now this team is the closest I’ve ever seen a Red Sox team.” (Yaz):
• Paul Zimmerman, “Harsh words—but did Rice say them?” New York Post, June 21, 1978.
Fan recommends Tiant pitch once weekly:
• “Fans Speak Out,” Boston Globe, July 3, 1977.
“A cripple and an old man.” (Fisk on Yaz/Tiant):
• Peter Gammons, “Old Reliables (Tiant, Yaz) stop Sox slide, 2-0,” Boston Globe, Sept. 7, 1978.
This is as big a win as we could ask for,” (Yaz), ibid.
“It was a big win for me, a big win for everybody,” ibid.
“All right, you guys, let’s go.” (clubhouse speech vs. Yanks):
• Joe Giuliotti, “Tiant Wakes up Red Sox Wake,” Boston Herald, Sept. 9, 1978.
“He was in more trouble than a Middle East border guard.” (Gammons on Tiant):
• Peter Gammons, “Red Sox 3-1—trail Yankees by 1,” Boston Globe, Sept. 24, 1978.
“You knew when you went out there and got Luis two or three runs,” Jim Rice, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
“This team has proven something.” (win over Tigers):
• Peter Gammons, “Tiant, Scott take over, keep Red Sox alive, 5-2,” Boston Globe, Sept. 28, 1978.
“You wanted Tiant to have the ball in those big games,” Dan Shaughnessy, from interview of Feb. 7, 2019.
“We had a radio in the bullpen…” Tom Burgmeier, from interview of Oct. 30, 2016.
“They would not lose that day,” Dick Johnson, from interview of Dec. 1, 2017.
Micky Rivers on his bat given to Bucky Dent being corked, 14 Back documentary, 2018.
“When people think back to the 1978 season…” (Goose Gossage):
• Tim Horgan, “KC anticlimax for Yanks,” Boston Herald, Oct. 4, 1978.
CHAPTER 17: PINSTRIPES AND PLATANEROS
“Yankee Frank” ads recalled in “Accent on Greatness,” Roberto Gonzalez and Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant, Dec. 13, 2000.
Will McDonough, “Luis Tiant will replace Billy Martin as the new spokesman for Yankee Franks,” Jan. 31, 1979.
Will McDonough, “It’s official—Tiant enters free agent market,” Boston Globe, Oct. 24, 1978.
“El Tiante is one of our institutions…”:
• Tim Horgan, “Will Sox come through for Tiant?” Boston Herald, Nov. 3, 1978.
Sullivan admits Sox will not give Tiant more than a one-year contact:
• Bill Liston, “Sox get their men; will men get money?” Boston Herald, Nov. 5, 1978.
“Nobody tells me when to retire…”:
• Murray Chass, “Yanks Sign Tiant, 38, to Pitch Two Years for $500,000; Gura Stays With the Royals,” New York Times, Nov. 14, 1978.
“In my eighteen years with the Red Sox, he was the best…” (Yaz on Tiant):
• Larry Whiteside, “Yaz, Fisk upset; Scott shocked; LeRoux sorry,” Boston Globe, Nov. 14, 1978.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s how good you are,” (Fisk on Tiant), ibid.
“How could they let that happen?” (Fisk on Tiant leaving):
• Peter Gammons, “A lot has happened, but not much has changed,” Boston Globe, Feb. 2, 1979.
“Just like old wine, Luis gets better…” (Al Rosen):
• Bill Liston, Boston Herald, Nov. 14, 1978.
“Security for my family…” (contract details):
• Steve Cady, “Tiant, 38, Is Grateful and Ready to Serve Yankees,” New York Times, Feb. 12, 1979.
“I’m gonna get my social security…”:
• “Tiant Adding Special Zest to Yankees,” New York Times, Feb. 20, 1979.
Luis Tiant Jr., memories of Yankees, Yankee Stadium, and almost knocking out Tommy John from a ballgame before it started, from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
“He plays a game with hitters now…”:
• Phil Pepe, “Tiant uses brain and little smoke,” New York Newsday, March 10, 1979.
Hunter, Tiant, and Kaat all two-hundred-game winners on Yanks:
• Peter Gammons, Boston Globe, May 13, 1979.
Tiant talks to Bob Lemon about getting more work:
• Murray Chass, New York Times, May 2, 1979.
Yastrzemski/Tiant exchange from first Red Sox Yankee game:
• Peter Gammons, Boston Globe, July 1, 1979.
“Fossils can hit fossils…” (Lynn on Tiant):
• Murray Chass, New York Times, July 1, 1979.
“I can pitch as long as I can get somebody out.” (after shutout vs. A’s):
• Murray Chass, “Tiant Pitches One-Hit Victory,” New York Times, July 9, 1979.
Details from first game after Thurman Munson’s death drawn from television broadcast of game, found on YouTube, as well as interview with Scott McGregor, Dec. 10. 2017.
Other details on Munson, Munson/Fisk relationship, and Munson’s flying:
• Marty Appel, “Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain,” Doubleday, NY, 2009.
“I think that people understood…” Dan Shaughnessy on Boston fans accepting Tiant back as a Yankee and not booing him like Clemens or Boggs, from interview of Feb. 7, 2019.
“That’s the most I can fine him without going into the [grievance] courts.” (Howser):
• George Vescey, “Yanks Win, Impose Fine of $500 on Tiant,” New York Times, May 31, 1980.
“I don’t want this to happen.” (on fight with Howser):
• “Tiant throws spat after being relieved,” United Press International, Salina (Kan.) Journal, June 1, 1980.
“Since his last victory on June 20, he [Tiant] has lost six straight games, in which the Yankees scored a total of only eight runs”:
• Jane Gross, “Yankees lose, 1-0,” New York Times, Sept. 1, 1980.
Stan Williams memories of year coaching Tiant on Yankees, from interview of Nov. 6, 2018.
Signed by Pirates, sent to Triple-A Portland, then back up with Pirates:
• Bill Madden, “Tiant Goes To Portland,” New York Daily News, Feb. 24, 1981.
• “Tiant Takes a Step on the Road Back,” (no-hitter vs. Spokane), Associated Press, New York Times, April 19, 1981.
• “I’ve never seen him throw that hard” (Ted Cox, last out of no-hitter), “Tiant no-hits ‘minor’ foe,” Associated Press, April 20, 1981.
• “Tiant Just Misses No-Hitter,” (beats Spokane again in next start), Associated Press, New York Times, April 26, 1981.
• Jack McCallum, “El Tiante makes his peetch,” Sports Illustrated, April 27, 1981.
• “Portland’s Tiant Easter for Major Move,” New York Times, July 2, 1981.
• Phil Musick, “Tiant Sets New Goals at the Top,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 13, 1981.
• Terrance Moore, “Tiant plans to ‘fool them all,’” (back up with Pirates), San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 18, 1981.
“His arm is back, as good as it’s been.” (Cookie Rojas, Angels scout):
• “Tiant Signed By Angels,” Associated Press, New York Times, Aug. 2, 1982.
“I’m the happiest man on earth today.” (signed by Angels from Mexican League):
• “Angels Acquire Veteran Pitcher Tiant,” San Diego Union News Service, Aug. 3, 1982.
Beating Red Sox for last MLB win:
• Peter Gammons, “Rejuvenated Tiant sends Red Sox a message,” Boston Globe, Aug. 18, 1982.
CHAPTER 18: FINALLY BACK AT FENWAY
Scott McGregor on Tiant giving him injury advice, from interview of Dec. 10, 2017.
“He was the best influence on young players we ever had there.” (David Hirsch of Portland):
• Peter Gammons, “Yankees hire Tiant as Class A coach,” Boston Globe, Jan. 11, 1984.
Coaching at Red Sox Fantasy Camp:
• Tim Horgan, “The Sox Exchange: It’s a fantasy trip,” Boston Herald, Jan. 27, 1985.
Reflections of Paul Medici, Fantasy Camp participant, from interview of December 2018.
Playing himself on the TV show Cheers:
• Fred Rothenberg, “Toasting A Classy Series: ‘Cheers,’” San Diego Union, Feb. 10, 1983.
Appearing in “Less filling! Tastes great!” ads for Miller Lite:
• “SPORTS PEOPLE; Hasn’t Lost Touch,” New York Times, Dec. 17, 1985.
Pitching in Equitable Old Timer’s Series:
• Wayne Worcester, “Louie serves a last call to grand old gang at Fenway,” Providence Journal-Bulletin, May 18, 1986.
Mike Dunn memories of playing catch with Tiant, from interview of Oct. 27, 2018.
Getting job with State Treasurer Robert Q. Crane:
• Mark Muro, “The return of Luis Tiant,” Boston Globe, Nov. 9, 1987.
“You never forget it; there’s nothing like the big league.” (joins Senior Professional Baseball Association):
• Jeff Schmalz, “Extra Innings for Some Veterans,” New York Times, Oct. 23, 1989.
Part of a very strange baseball transaction:
• “Teddy Bear—Tiant Trade,” Associated Press baseball notes, Oct. 9, 1989.
Minor league instructor for Dodgers: Luis Tiant biography in 2002 Red Sox media guide.
“They won’t tolerate discrimination…” (coaching with Dodgers):
• Gordon Edes, “Tiant’s A Kid Again, At Least By Association,” Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 21, 1991.
On helping Tommy Lasorda communicate with Rich Linares:
• “Si habla Espanol,” Arizona Republic, Feb. 27, 1995.
Pedro Martinez on Tiant and his brother Jesus, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
Pitching coach for Team Nicaragua at 1996 Atlanta Olympics:
• Kevin Paul Dupont, “Familiar face on right-hand man,” Boston Globe, Aug. 3, 1996.
Elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame:
• Marvin Pave, “It’s not a ticket to Cooperstown, but…Sox give Tiant Hall space,” Boston Globe, Aug. 9, 1997.
Luis Jr. on he and father coaching at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
Danny Tiant on his father’s popularity at SCAD, from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
Tony Blankenship and Bradley Hesser memories of playing for Tiant at SCAD, from interviews of October 2018.
Johnny Papile memories of “adoption” by Tiant family, meeting his wife while with Luis, from interview of November 2018.
Uri Berenguer memories of doing Spanish Radio games with Tiant, from interview of February 2019.
Larry Lucchino on Tiant’s return to Red Sox, from interview of February 2019.
Lenny DiNardo on learning from Tiant as a young Red Sox pitcher, from interview of Oct. 15, 2018.
Andrew Benintendi on getting hitting insights from Tiant, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
Eduardo Rodriguez on connecting with Latino pitching greats Tiant and Pedro Martinez, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
Mike Lowell on impact Tiant had on him as a young ballplayer with Cuban roots, from interview of May 27, 2018.
Danny Tiant cigar stories, from interview of Sept. 17, 2018.
Jim Rice on Tiant’s ability to make everyone feel good, from interview of Jan. 19, 2019.
Steve Buckley on Tiant’s Cooperstown credentials, from interview of Oct. 18, 2018.
Rico Petrocelli on Tiant’s Cooperstown credentials, from interview of Oct. 4, 2016.
Excerpts of “Prime: The Luis Tiant Story,” printed with permission of Professor Albert DeCiccio.
Stan Williams on Tiant’s Cooperstown credentials, from interview of Nov. 6, 2018.
CHAPTER 19: HOME TO HAVANA
Tiant-Kris Meyer conversation at Fenway:
• John Kelly, “Documentary on Luis Tiant’s return to Cuba premieres,” WickedLocal.com, April 23, 2009.
Tiant family dialogue from 2007 trip to Cuba, as well as dialogue between Luis Tiant and others visited in Miami and Cuba during trip, excerpted from Lost Son of Havana documentary film, with permission of writer-director Jonathan Hock and producers Kris Meyer and Peter and Bobby Farrelly.
Selected articles on Lost Son of Havana documentary:
• “Returning Hero,” (premiere in Somerville) from “Names,” Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein, Boston Globe, April 27, 2009.
• Geoff Edgers, “Tracking Tiant’s painful homecoming,” Boston Globe, July 10, 2009.
• Michael Judge, “Stealing Home,” ESPN.com (movie review), Aug. 11, 2009.
• Christian Red, “Where are they now? Former Yankee pitcher Luis Tiant goes home again,” New York Daily News, April 27, 2009.
Selected articles from MLB trip to Cuba (March 2016), Fidel Castro’s Death (Nov. 2016):
• Peter Abraham, “Luis Tiant says Cubans thrilled with MLB’s return,” Boston Globe, March 24, 2016.
• Anthony McCarron, “Cuban aces Luis Tiant, Pedro Luis Lazo will throw out first pitch before MLB exhibition game in Havana,” New York Daily News, March 20, 2016.
• Peter Orsi, “With presidents Obama, Castro watching, Rays beat Cuban team,” Associated Press, March 23, 2016.
• Marly Rivera, “Luis Tiant: Castro’s Cuba ‘took away the freedom, the happiness, the dream,’” ESPN.com, Nov. 26, 2016.
• Jose Pagliery and Ahiza Garcia, “The Cuban baseball smuggling machine behind MLB,” CNN.com, Dec. 15, 2016.
• Joe Fitzgerald, “Fidel Castro no hero for Luis Tiant,” Boston Herald, Nov. 30, 2016.