Luis Tiant Sr.

Luis Eleuterio Tiant Sr.
(Lefty, Sir Skinny)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 150 lb.

• Debut 1930
• Final Game 1947
• Born August 27, 1906 in Havana, Cuba
• Died December 10, 1976 in Milton, MA USA

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Biographical Information

The father of Luís Tiant, Luis Tiant Sr. played in the Negro Leagues from 1930 to 1947. Tiant Sr. played for the Cuban Stars (West) (1930-1932), the Cuban House of David (1934), and the New York Cubans (1935-1936, 1939-1940, 1943, 1945-1947). In 1975, after not having seen his son for 15 years, Tiant Sr. was allowed by Fidel Castro to leave Cuba with his wife to see Luis Jr. pitch in the World Series.

Tiant Sr. began pitching in Cuba in 1926 with the Almendares Blues, and pitched on the 1929 champion Cienfuegos team. He began his Negro National League career in 1930 with a 4-10 record. In 1937, Tiant Sr. left the Cubans to pitch for the Aguilas Cibaenas in Santo Domingo with Martin Dihigo. He returned to the Cubans but left again in 1941 to pitch in the Mexican League with Aguila.

After retiring in 1947, Tiant Sr. bought a truck with his brother-in-law and became a furniture mover.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time NNL All-Star (1935 & 1947)
• NNL Winning Percentage Leader (1947)
• 2 times NNL Saves Leader (1935 & 1945)
• NNL Strikeouts Leader (1935)
• NNL Shutouts Leader (1935)
• Won one Negro World Series with the New York Cubans in 1947

Related Sites

• Luis E. Tiant at the SABR Bio Project