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Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Sox closer paying tribute to late Luis Tiant with unique entrance video at Fenway
BOSTON — Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has a new, very unique entrance video at Fenway Park — and it includes a tribute to the late Luis Tiant, a fellow Cuba native. As Chapman ran in from the bullpen to take the mound in the top of the ninth inning Friday, Tiant appeared on the Fenway video boards, lighting and smoking his signature cigar for a period of about 15 seconds. As Celia Cruz's 'La Vida Es Un Carnival' plays, a puff of white smoke from Tiant's cigar serves a transition to a quick clip of Chapman holding the Cuban flag before a montage of his highlights in a Red Sox uniform in concert with salsa dancers performing to the song. In total, the clip lasts about 75 seconds. Advertisement At the beginning of the season, the Red Sox used stock video from spring training as Chapman entered games. Then, with some footage of regular season highlights in the bank, the Red Sox Productions team got to work before the third homestand of the season. The video, which debuted May 7 when Chapman faced the Rangers, is a way for the club and Chapman to honor 'El Tiante,' who died on October 8 at age 83. And while Tiant's inclusion was the team's idea, Chapman — who met Tiant and went to dinner with the Red Sox Hall of Famer while visiting Boston as a free agent after defecting from Cuba in 2009 — was fully on board. 'For all the Cuban baseball players who had the pleasure to meet him, it's a great example for all of us,' Chapman said Sunday, though translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. 'He's one of the best Cuban pitchers who has been in the league and it was a pleasure I got to meet him." Tiant, a Marianao, Cuba native, pitched eight seasons in Boston, logging a 3.36 ERA in 274 appearances (238 starts) between 1971 and 1978. After his playing days, he was omni-present around the Red Sox, with whom he spent 31 years in the organization as a player, coach, broadcaster, and special assignment instructor. The Red Sox honored Tiant before the home opener and have an 'El Tiante' tribute sign on one of the light towers over the Green Monster this season. The late Red Sox Hall of Famer has been on Chapman's mind throughout the year. Advertisement 'Thank God, I'm lucky to be in this uniform for this year,' Chapman said. 'Every time you go out there, you want to have that kind of career he had. Every Cuban player, every pitcher that comes through this league, they have a small piece of the career he had in the big leagues. It's something to make you proud of.' Chapman has paid homage to Tiant with dominance on the mound, too. The former Yankee has exceeded preseason expectations after signing a one-year, $10.75 million contract in December, posting a 2.12 ERA, striking out 25 batters and converting all six save chances in 19 appearances for Boston so far this season. Chapman's success has been predicated on a walk rate that has dropped from a career average of 4.6 BB/9 (and 5.7 last season in Pittsburgh) to 3.7 this year and a fastball that, despite Chapman being 37 years old, has averaged 99.3 mph and maxed out at 103.8 mph. ''Because of strike-throwing,' Cora said when asked why Chapman has been so succesful. 'It's not about the other stuff. We knew that, about the teammate and the work ethic. 'He has been solid. He's going to go through stretches where he's going to struggle, like everybody else, but I think the strike-throwing is something we were hoping was going to happen and the group has done an amazing job with him. He has bought into the concept, he has bought into what we believe, and he has been solid.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A fitting tribute to the 1975 Red Sox precedes the start of a season of hope at Fenway Park
The players who were on hand at Fenway for Friday's event were Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Rico Petrocelli, Cecil Cooper, Rick Burleson, Bill Lee, Bernie Carbo, Butch Hobson, Rick Kreuger, Jim Willoughby, Dick Pole, Buddy Hunter, Kim Andrew, Steve Dillard, Tim Blackwell, Rick Miller, and Bob Montgomery. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement As Aerosmith's 'Sweet Emotion' played over the Fenway Park loudspeakers, the '75 Red Sox emerged from left field and made their way to the mound — with Yastrzemski, 85, delivering the first pitch to Cora. They taught us to believe in miracles. Yaz & the 1975 — NESN (@NESN) As part of the ceremony, the Red Sox also memorialized the life of legendary pitcher and '75 ace Luis Tiant, Tiant was among those honored during the team's in memoriam video, alongside other Red Sox players who passed away during the offseason: Rickey Henderson, Charlie Maxwell, Bob Veale, Felix Mantilla, and Scott Sauerbeck. Advertisement A moment for those we lost ahead of the home opener. Forever in the hearts of — NESN (@NESN) 'I miss Luis. We all do,' said Evans, Tiant's teammate. 'But I try to take something from everybody I'm around and live around. And with him, just his love for people. ... He loved people. He really did.' Tiant endeared himself to Red Sox fans over eight seasons with his unorthodox corkscrew windup, desperado mustache, and cigar-smoking gusto making him a beloved player. The Cuban-born righty pushed Boston to the brink of a World Series title in 1975. After tossing a complete game shutout in Game 1 of the Fall Classic against the Reds, he threw a whopping 155 pitches in another complete-game effort against Cincy just four days later. Boston won all three of his starts in the '75 World Series, but still came up short in the seven-game series. One of the light stanchions rooted atop the Green Monster featured a custom 'El Tiante' sign — etched against a blue heart background — while Tiant's family was tasked with bellowing 'Play Ball!' to close out the event. For El Tiante... PLAY BALL!! ⚾ ❤️ — NESN (@NESN) 'Luis is a guy that we miss,' Cora said. 'Spring training was kind of empty in that aspect, right? He was always talking to the guys, teaching the guys how it used to be. And what it means to be a Red Sox. And we miss him. 'I actually miss him here the most because he was always joking around with [the players], kind of like when they were down a little bit, he'll go down there and talk [expletive] to them in a very unique way … He was a proud individual. He knew where he came from and it wasn't easy — the road to be in the big leagues. And for him to perform the way he did, I tip my hat to him. It's amazing.' Advertisement The event began with the entire Red Sox roster, coaching staff, and clubhouse personnel taking the field — with both newcomers and promising youngsters in Garrett Crochet and Kristian Campbell drawing the loudest ovations among this reworked roster. Related : As a giant U.S.A. flag cascaded down the Green Monster and enveloped the famed wall in left field, the nation's colors were presented by the 1st Battalion and 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard, the 66th Air Base Group out of Hanscom Air Force Base, and members of the 1st Coast Guard District. The Boston Arts Academy 'Treble Allstars' performed the 'Star-Spangled Banner' — with their rendition of the national anthem punctuated by a fly-over of two F-35 jets flown by the 134th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont Air National Guard, along with one KC-46 plane from the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing. Another season at Fenway Park was officially ushered in at 2:20 p.m. with Sox starter Walker Buehler delivering a fastball against Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar. 'It's always a good vibe. It's always a good vibe when you come here and it's Fenway Park. ... It's a good feeling,' Cora said. 'Like I said in spring training, we have a good baseball team. We've just got to keep working hard to keep gaining momentum, playing better baseball. We're going to grow as a team. 'It's different in the clubhouse. It's a very mature team, in a sense. We brought some guys that have been around, from winning teams and playing in October a lot, so that's going to help the rest of the group. And we're going to keep getting better.' Advertisement The American flag was displayed during the national anthem on Friday. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Conor Ryan can be reached at
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Red Sox honor 1975 AL Championship team and honor one who was missing: Luis Tiant
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1975 AL championship team before their home opener on Friday, with special attention paid to pitcher Luis Tiant, who died this offseason. 'I miss Luis. We all do,' said former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans, who played with Tiant in Boston for seven seasons. 'I try to take something from everybody I'm around. And with him, it's just his love for people.' Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski threw out the ceremonial first pitch to current manager Alex Cora before Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals; Bill 'Spaceman' Lee took the mound and hammed it up. Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn were also among more than a dozen other members of the '75 team who took part in the ceremony. Tiant, who followed an All-Star career with decades of as a Red Sox instructor and ambassador, died in October at the age of 83. A banner with a heart bearing his nickname -- 'El Tiante' – was displayed on one of the light stanchions above the Green Monster, and a 'moment of reflection' honored those who'd played for the team and died since last season: Tiant, Rickey Henderson, Felix Mantilla, Bob Veale and Scott Sauerbeck. Tiant's family made the ceremonial call of 'Play ball!' 'Luis is a guy that we miss,' Cora said. 'He was always teaching the guys how it used to be. And what it means to be a Red Sox. … He'll go down there and talk to them, in a very unique way. Always with a smile.' Asked what was unique about it, Cora said with a laugh, 'I would not talk to my kids that way.' Tiant started the '75 opener at Fenway – and pitched one of his 187 career complete games to beat a Milwaukee Brewers team that included Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. 'I'm sure Luis was emotional about it,' Lynn said. 'He loved pitching here. He just loved pitching, period. And he was such a competitor, and I feel honored to have played behind him as much as I did.' Lynn, who would win the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year awards, said he remembered seeing Tiant's unusual pitching windup from his position in center field. 'That's the first time I'm behind Luis. So, I'm watching him wind up like everybody else,' Lynn said, thinking: ''Man, that's different. I wouldn't want to have to hit against him, especially as a right-handed hitter.'' The '75 Red Sox finished April in fifth place in the AL East but wound up winning the division by 4 ½ games over the Baltimore Orioles. They swept the Oakland A's in the AL Championship Series and then faced Cincinnati's Big Red Machine in a World Series that is still considered one of the greatest of all time — with Fisk's arm-waving, 12th-inning homer to win Game 6 before the Reds won it in seven games and prolonged Boston's championship drought. Lynn batted .331 with 21 homers and 105 RBIs, and Rice finished third in the MVP voting; Yastrzemski and shortstop Rick Burleson also received MVP votes. Tiant was 18-14 with a 4.02 ERA – a humdrum season for the pitcher who previously led the league in ERA twice. 'Everybody knows the talent. Everybody knows his story,' Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said. But I don't think people who didn't spend time with him … know he was such an incredible person. 'He loves this franchise. Loved the team. And we're just so grateful for what he meant to so many of us. He sort of set the standard for it meant to put that uniform on. He appreciated it each and every day. And we appreciated having him around for all those years.' ___
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Fenway unveils new food, fan promotions ahead of 2025 home opener
Red Sox staff led media on a tour of the ballpark Wednesday, offering a taste of the new menu and a walk onto the freshly manicured field as workers hurried to prepare for Friday's game. Opening Day Advertisement The pregame ceremonies for Friday's opener will honor the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Red Sox American League championship win and recognize Tiant, the Red Sox Hall of Famer, who 'We're welcoming back the 1975 team, which Luis was such an integral part of in their trip to the championship,' said McKenna. Gates will open at 12:10 p.m. and fans should be seated by 1:30 p.m. for the pregame ceremonies. Before the game, the colors will be presented by members of the Massachusetts National Guard, Air Force, and Coast Guard. McKenna said she expects the Red Sox to come out on top against St. Louis on Friday: 'We're going to do great because we'll have all the Fenway fans behind us, welcoming our guys back to Boston.' Advertisement What's new on the menu A smorgasbord of new food and beverage options will debut at Friday's game for the 2025 season, brought in by Fenway concessionaire Aramark. New items include Krispy Krunchy Chicken tenders and sandwiches at the Kids Concourse, Gate E Concessions, and Truly Terrace; and the indulgent Cowboy Up! Burger — topped with brisket, bacon, and onion rings — at Truly Terrace and Homeplate Concessions. The new Fenway Soup Shack at Homeplate Concessions will offer soup served in bread bowls, along with the PIG MAC sandwich: pulled pork, mac and cheese, and bacon on sourdough. Green Monster Fries — topped with jalapeños — will be sold at Homeplate Concessions and in the Aura Pavilion. Other additions include a Kayem Pineapple Bacon Sausage on the Ketel One Vodka 3rd Base Deck, a grilled chicken sandwich on a pretzel roll on the Sam Deck, and new pork carnitas tacos from Bleacher Bowls at Centerfield Concessions. Other events in April McKenna also announced that current Red Sox players and coaches will help distribute Red Sox hats at Gardner Pilot Academy in Boston alongside Mayor Michelle Wu and Red Sox president Sam Kennedy on April 7 — the first of 40,000 hats being handed out to students and teachers across all Boston Public Schools serving kindergarten through 8th grade. 'It's fantastic — get those kids some Red Sox gear, remind them to come out to games,' said McKenna. Other events for kids this month include Little League Opening Day on April 12, Kids Run the Bases events on April 5 and 24, and On-Field Photo Day on April 20, offering fans the chance to take photos with Red Sox players and coaches. Advertisement There will also be giveaway items for the first 7,500 fans on April 7, 21, and 24, and five pop culture–themed nights throughout the month featuring exclusive merchandise. More information is available at Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
