Sports Then and Now

The baseball world lost one of its most charismatic and skilled pitchers on October 8, 2024, when Luis Tiant passed away at the age of 83. Known for his unorthodox delivery, fierce competitive spirit, and ability to excel in high-pressure situations, Tiant was a beloved figure both on and off the field. His career spanned from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, with stints on teams like the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and others. However, it was with the Boston Red Sox that Tiant made his most lasting impact, becoming a fan favorite and a symbol of perseverance.

From his early days in Cuba to his rise as one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, Tiant’s journey through the baseball world is a story of talent, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude. This article will look back on the remarkable career of Luis Tiant, highlighting his most significant achievements, his unique style, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Early Life and Journey to the Major Leagues

Luis Clemente Tiant was born on November 23, 1940, in Marianao, Cuba, into a baseball family. His father, Luis Tiant Sr., had been a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues, known for his grace and dominance on the mound. Young Luis followed in his father’s footsteps, showing a natural talent for pitching from an early age. He played in various Cuban leagues before catching the attention of Major League scouts, and in 1961, he signed with the Cleveland Indians organization.

Leroy “Satchel” Paige is one of the most iconic and legendary figures in baseball history. His career spanned five decades, from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball, and his influence on the game transcended the confines of the ballpark. Known for his unparalleled skill on the mound, his charismatic personality, and his trailblazing role in the integration of baseball, Paige’s story is one of triumph, resilience, and a deep love for the game.

Early Life and Entry into Baseball

Though for many years the exact date of his birth was a mystery he liked to propel, it is now well documented that Leroy Robert Paige was born on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Alabama. Growing up in a segregated South, Paige faced the harsh realities of racism and poverty. As a child, he earned the nickname “Satchel” after working at a train station, where he ingeniously crafted a device to carry multiple bags at once, earning extra money for his family. The nickname stuck, and soon “Satchel” Paige became known for his inventive spirit both on and off the field.

Paige discovered his love for baseball at a young age, honing his skills in local sandlots and semi-professional teams. His natural talent as a pitcher quickly became evident, and by his teenage years, he had developed a reputation as a formidable force on the mound. His unique pitching style, characterized by a high leg kick, a blazing fastball, and a variety of deceptive off-speed pitches, made him nearly unhittable.

In 1926, at the age of 20, Paige made his professional debut with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts, a Negro Southern League team. His performance was electrifying, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of the top Negro League teams.

Dominance in the Negro Leagues

Satchel Paige’s time in the Negro Leagues solidified his status as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Over the next two decades, Paige played for several teams, including the Birmingham Black Barons, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Kansas City Monarchs. His dominance on the mound was unparalleled, and he became the biggest draw in the Negro Leagues, with fans flocking to see him pitch.

Paige’s pitching repertoire was legendary. His fastball was said to be so fast that “it looked like a pea” to hitters, and he could make the ball “hop” with a wicked late break. But it was his off-speed pitches and pinpoint control that truly set him apart. Paige was a master of deception, using his wit and baseball intelligence to outthink and outmaneuver hitters. He famously named his pitches—such as “The Bee Ball” (“it be where I want it to be”) and “The Hesitation Pitch,” which baffled batters with its unexpected timing.

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month pitched in four decades, was a veteran of World War II and is one of only two pitchers to finish with exactly 300 career victories.

Hall of Famer Early Wynn began his career as a 19-year old in 1939 by pitching three games for the Washington Senators. After spending the 1940 season in the minors, he went 3-1 with a 1.58 ERA in a brief stint in the majors in 1941.

Sudden Sam McDowell

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month was a hard-throwing lefthander who often led Major League Baseball in both strikeouts and walks. His off-the-field story also made him the prototype for a famed television character.

Sudden Sam McDowell made his Major League debut for the Cleveland Indians a week before his 19th birthday and pitched in the majors for 15 seasons. Read the rest of this entry →

Corey Kluber is trying to become the first pitcher since Mickey Lolich in 1968 to start and win three World Series games.

It is certainly fitting that a “World Series for the Ages” between two teams trying to break generational streaks of disappointments would culminate in a winner-take-all seventh game. Regardless of whether the Chicago Cubs or Cleveland Indians come out victorious, the 2016 World Series will go down in baseball annals as one of the most memorable World Series of all-time.

This marks the 37th time that a World Series champion will be crowned in a seventh game. Of the previous 36, 14 have been one-run games and four were decided in extra innings.

The last time a game seven went to extra innings was in 1997 when the Cleveland Indians could not close the game despite a one-run lead in the ninth inning and ultimately lost in the eleventh inning on a game-winning hit by Edgar Renteria.

While the closer for the Indians in 1997 was the shaky Jose Mesa, if Cleveland enters the final innings of this seventh game with a lead they have the strength of a bullpen that has been lights out during the 2016 postseason.

The only game seven appearance for the Chicago Cubs was during the 1945 World Series. The game seven starter for the Cubs that year was Hank Bowry, who had lost game five and then pitched four innings of relief to win game six 8-7 in 12 innings. He didn’t make it out of the first inning of game seven as the Detroit Tigers scored five runs on their way to a 9-3 victory.

This time the Cubs have the luxury of pitching a likely Cy Young Award winner who is working on regular rest after starting game three.

Though Kyle Hendricks did not allow a run before being lifted in the fifth inning of game three, the Cubs ultimately lost that game 1-0. Hendricks will certainly be trying to duplicate his performance in game six of the National League Championship Series when he allowed only two hits in 7.1 innings.

His adversary for this game seven is looking to become the first pitcher since Mickey Lolich in 1968 to win three games in a World Series and first since Bob Gibson in 1967 to win games 1, 4 and 7 in the same series. Just for the record, Lolich recorded complete game victories in games two, five and seven in 1968. Read the rest of this entry →

The Chicago Cubs got to celebrate their first National League pennant in 71 years. Will they have another celebration following the World Series?

With just two weeks remaining in one of the bitterest presidential elections of all time, the Baseball Gods have provided a much needed national distraction that has been a combined 176 years in the making.

While many Americans likely cannot name the last five World Series Champions, even casual sports fans are already aware that the Cubs and Indians will be playing in a World Series for all ages.

After all, these are not just any two Major League teams, these are two teams with epic histories of finding new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. There have been movies, songs, poems and books chronicling the failures and collapses of these two storied franchises.

What we do know, is that within the next 10 days either the 68 year streak of futility for the Indians or the 108 year streak for the Cubs will be over.

How we get from here to that moment is a compelling story that seems likely to shift at least some of the Facebook and Twitter focus from the Trump-Clinton election to America’s pastime.

The Cubs are not only making their first World Series appearance since 1945, but they finished the regular season with the best record in baseball for the first time since they lost that dramatic seven game series to the Detroit Tigers 71 years ago. Their 103 victories is the most in a season for the Cubs since winning 100 games in 1935 (they lost that series in six games to the Tigers).

Though the Indians have made three World Series appearances since last winning a championship in 1948, until the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship earlier this year to end the 52-year championship drought for the city of Cleveland, their burden seemed just as daunting as that of the Cubs.

However, now that the pressure of a city has been lifted from their shoulders, it almost seems like the Indians are playing with house money. While their 68 year World Series drought is certainly significant, it pales in comparison to that of the Cubs and the national fan base that watched much of their misery over the last several decades thanks to the WGN super-cable network. Read the rest of this entry →