LUIS TIANT/FERNANDO VALENZUELA IN OUR HEARTS: TRUE HALL OF FAMERS
BY ISMAEL NUNEZ
As this reporter was enjoying the MLB playoffs, then the sad announcement, former Baseball pitching star Luis Tiant (November 23, 1940 – October 8, 2024) passed away, he was 83. Then as the Los Angeles Dodgers are now setting their sites for a ring, beloved player/broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela November 1, 1960 – October 22, 2024) just passed away.
As wikipedia.org wrote/reported “Tiant compiled a 229–172 record with 2416 strikeouts, a 3.30 earned run average (ERA), 187 complete games, and 49 shutouts in 3481⁄3 innings. He was an All-Star for three seasons and 20-game winner for four seasons. He was the American League (AL) ERA leader in 1968 and 1972. He also was the AL leader in strikeouts per nine innings pitched in 1967 and the AL leader in shutouts in 1966, 1968, and 1974. Tiant fell short of being Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame yet many (like yours truly) feel he belongs with his fellow brothers Martin Dihigo, Jose Mendez, Tony Perez, Cristobal Torriente, Tony Oliva, Orestes Minnie Minoso,and Baseball Executive Alex Pompez.
Here’s the opinion of some: In an article By reporter Cesar Brioso from USA Today published October 9. 2024. He reported and got quotes from two indiviuals. “Fifteen times Tiant was on the BBWAA ballot, never garnering more than the 30.9% of the votes he received in his first year of eligibility in 1988.
“Luis Tiant’s omission from the Hall of Fame is ludicrous,” longtime Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan posted Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter. Fellow Cuban Tony Perez in the same article added “I always said he should be in the Hall of Fame because of the numbers he had and his career, above all with the Red Sox,” Hall of Famer Tony Pérez told Our Esquina Tuesday. “It was impressive. He would give you his back, make all kinds of gestures to get you out.” Perez knows this well when playing for the Cincinnati Reds against the Boston Red Sox in 1975 World Series. Tony Oliva who inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this past 2022 stated proudly in his induction speech “Luis Tiant belongs in the Hall of Fame.” He added during festivities prior to Hall of Fame Ceremony “[Tiant] should be here! Everybody knows who played baseball, all those ballplayers, they know Luis Tiant was at least in numbers 1 through 5 [one of the] best pitchers in the 60s and 70s. He was a top-five pitcher.” He was so right!
Long before these Latin Americans made a name in Boston: Pedro Martinez who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame 2015, Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz who was elected 2022 there was Luis Tiant! In almost every game before the start of the game to the last inning you can hear the chant “LOUIE, LOUIE!
Fernando Valenzuela, no one can ever forget that rookie season of 1981. True there was a strike, yet Fernando’s season would bring joy to the game. His rookie season ranks on tops along with Jackie Robinson who won in 1947, Ichiro Suzuki who won in 2001, Dwight Gooden who won in 1984, Fred Lynn who won in 1975.
MLB issued a statement that was on Facebook:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela.
“Fernandomania” swept through baseball in 1981 when the 20-year old rookie sensation began the season 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA. The lefthander capped off his incredible year by winning both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards while helping lead Los Angeles to a World Series title.
Valenzuela pitched 17 Major League seasons, was a 6-time All-Star, and has the most wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) of any Mexican-born pitcher.
He spent the last 22 years as a Spanish language broadcaster for the Dodgers, who retired his No. 34 in 2023.
Gabriel Tito Avila Jr. is the President of the HISPANIC HERTIAGE BASEBALL MUSEUM AND HALL of Fame, and he stated this proudly, “Truly a great man I will miss him. We met on several occasions. Truly a professional and a humanitarian. Always was in good spirits with me as we became friends.”
The positive about both TIANT/VALENZUELA is that they both had a smile for everyone! Never to shy away from fans. Both in their hearts/minds to many Latin Americans everywhere they are true Hall of Famers. Tiant stated this like a true Latino, “My Hall of Fame is my Family” Both demonstrated this so well. R.I.P TIANT/VALENZUELA
