Posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame would be bittersweet for Luis Tiant's family

Tiant died on October 8 after previously missing 21 chances to be inducted. From 1988 to 2002 he took part in the BBWAA election 15 times, receiving 30.9 percent of the vote.

He was subsequently examined in six meetings of the former Veterans Committee from 2005 to 2018 and never managed to be accepted into baseball's most exclusive club.

Now Tiant is one of eight players being considered by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. A 16-member panel will vote on Dec. 8, with 12 votes needed to convene.

Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Steve Garvey, Tommy John and Dave Parker are also on the ballot, along with former Negro League stars John Donaldson and Vic Harris.

Only Garvey, John and Parker are still alive.

When it comes to the Hall of Fame, passions always run high. Red Sox fans who remember Tiante's tilt-a-whirl performance and consistent excellence are convinced he should be in Cooperstown.

Tiant was a powerful starter who won 229 games and twice had the lowest earned run average in the American League. He won more than 20 games four times and played 187 complete games, including 49 shutouts.

He also had a certain charisma that filled the ballpark on the days he pitched. El Tiante has always been among the league's top performers when it comes to being worth the price of admission.

But Philadelphia sees Allen the same way, and Pittsburgh sees Parker. Allen failed by one vote in two previous committee votes.

Over the years, I have spoken to Tiant many times about the Hall of Fame. He knew there were some gaps in his resume, but he was also tired of being rejected so often.

Imagine applying for the same job 21 times, always getting rejected, but being told there would be another chance one day?

Late in his life, Tiant insisted that if he were inducted posthumously, his family should not attend the ceremony.

“What good would that do?” he said. “Not good.”

He hoped to be there if that day ever came. Tiant planned to take a trip to Cooperstown last month with his son Dan to meet some of the officials there and get a behind-the-scenes look at the museum.

Tiant did not go there to lobby the hall. It was meant to be a gentle reminder that he was still there.

Unfortunately he died a week before the trip.

“It’s bittersweet,” Dan Tiant said Monday after Parliament announced who was on the ballot. “I would love for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and have that plaque. It would mean a lot to the family, especially the grandchildren. But I don’t know how I feel.”

In 2022 it was fun to be in Cooperstown to witness the recording of Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva and David Ortiz.

The Sox threw a party for Ortiz and the Twins did the same for Kaat and Oliva. Her joy knew no bounds.

This was also the year that Gil Hodges, Buck O'Neill and Minnie Miñoso arrived long after their deaths.

Hodges died in 1972 and for his family it was a seemingly endless process as he voted in different elections 22 times. They looked like people who had walked 1,000 miles to get to Cooperstown. It seemed more like a relief than a joy.

Dan Tiant doesn't know what his family would do if his father was chosen.

“Dad was never afraid of his feelings,” Tiant said. “He didn’t want us to participate. He thought it was unfair. Now he's back on the ballot and that's reopening some old wounds.

“Should we enjoy this? I just don’t know.”

As a child watching the 1975 series, it has been a pleasure getting to know Luis over the last 15 years. He was a character in every good way. It would have been great to see him on that stage in Cooperstown.

“If you ask me, he’s one of them,” Oliva said when he was admitted. “I know what he meant to the game.”

But in the end it's not about a ceremony or a party. It's about people 10, 20 or 50 years from now walking through a museum and learning who Tiant was and celebrating his memory.

The call didn't come in time. But hopefully it will come.

Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.