When the legendary Luis Tiant passed away four months ago at the age of 83, it left a deep void in the hearts of Red Sox fans.
His absence is especially felt during Spring Training, where he was a familiar presence over the past few decades, serving as the team’s unofficial ambassador.
Finding a Red Sox fan who never had a photo with Tiant or interacted with him in some way would be a challenge.
To honor his memory, the Red Sox created a meaningful tribute this spring. At the entrance to the Fenway South practice fields, a golf cart features a large photo of Tiant with the words “Thank you, LUIS.” Fans are encouraged to leave messages and tributes on the cart.
Tiant was known for spending Spring Training riding around in a golf cart, chatting with players, coaches, and fans, often alongside his former teammate and Hall of Famer Jim Rice. The two would cruise the complex, sharing laughs and stories throughout the day.
Before Sunday’s Grapefruit League home opener against the Blue Jays, the Red Sox held a moment of silence in Tiant’s honor. His wife, Maria, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, joined on the field by their son Dan, daughter Isabel, and granddaughter Gia. A message board, already filled with heartfelt notes, was presented to the family as a keepsake, with additional boards available for fans to sign in the coming days.
“It’s such a great way to honor him and for people to share their memories of Dad,” said Dan Tiant. “What’s amazing is how vividly people remember meeting him—whether it was five years ago, last year, or even 40 years ago. That says a lot about who he was.”
Spring Training feels noticeably quieter without “El Tiante,” the charismatic former Red Sox ace known for his unorthodox delivery and electrifying performance in the 1975 World Series against Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine.
While he was one of the most dominant big-game pitchers of his era, it was his personality that truly made an impression on those who spoke with him.
“He would talk your ear off,” Dan Tiant recalled. “If you were willing to listen, he would sit and chat for as long as you wanted. He was an incredible storyteller.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who had enjoyed Tiant’s presence both as a player and in recent years, noted how much he is missed.
“It feels different. Last year, he wasn’t around as much, but he’s someone we really miss,” Cora said. “He loved interacting with the fans, hanging out in the clubhouse, and playfully talking trash with the players. They loved that. He was a remarkable player and an even better person. He lifted so many people up, both here and in Boston.”
The idea for the tribute golf cart came from Shawn Smith, the general manager of Florida operations for the Red Sox at JetBlue Park and Fenway South. Having known Tiant since his time with the Lowell Spinners, where he briefly coached, Smith wanted to give fans a way to say goodbye.
“I attended Luis’ funeral this year, and it struck me how sad it was that fans never really got a chance to say farewell,” Smith said. “He meant so much to so many people for so many years. This is just a small way to connect the fans with him—like a love letter to Luis on their behalf.”
For the Tiant family, Sunday was certainly bittersweet.
“It was a staple of just being here at Spring Training, my dad and Jim Rice in that golf cart,” said Dan Tiant. “Now it’s just gonna be odd coming out to Spring Training and not seeing my dad in that golf cart, because he would take me around everywhere in Spring Training. It’s a big void.”
