Monday, February 24

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the iconic Luis Tiant died four months ago at the age of 83, it left a void in the collective heart of Red Sox Nation.

His absence is particularly noted during Spring Training, a time of year he was most visible the last couple of decades as the team’s unofficial ambassador.

Want a challenge? Find a Red Sox fan who never took a photo with Tiant or interacted with him in some capacity.

With that in mind, the Red Sox found a fitting way to honor the legend this spring.

At the entrance to the Fenway South practice fields is a golf cart with a paneled photo of Tiant attached to the top of it that says, “Thank you, LUIS.” There is room for fans to sign it with tributes or messages to Tiant.

As anyone who has frequented a Red Sox Spring Training knows, Tiant would spend his weeks at camp riding around in a golf cart, talking to players, coaches and fans. Usually, he would be accompanied by his former teammate Jim Rice, a Hall of Famer.

Together, they would motor around the complex, making each other laugh all day.

Prior to Sunday’s Grapefruit League home opener against the Blue Jays, a moment of silence was held in honor of Tiant.

Tiant’s wife Maria threw out the first pitch with son Dan, daughter Isabel and granddaughter Gia also on the field for the ceremonies. The first poster board of messages -- already full -- was handed to the family as a keepsake. There are backup posters available for fans to sign who swing by the golf cart in the coming days.

“Really cool way to honor him and for people to just write their memories of dad,” said Dan Tiant. “It’s one of those things I noticed that people have vivid memories of when they met my dad. And it could be five years ago, a year ago or 40 years ago. And that to me says a lot about who my dad was.”

Without question, Spring Training is quieter this year without El Tiante, the former Red Sox ace with the contorted delivery who commanded the attention of baseball fans everywhere with his performance and charisma in the 1975 World Series against Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine.

While his legacy is as one of the big-game pitchers of his era, his big personality is what stuck out to those who spoke to him for any length of time.

“He would talk your ear off,” said Dan Tiant. “That was always his thing. If you wanted to listen, he would sit there and talk to you. He was great to listen to.”

Dating back to his time as a player with the Red Sox and the past few years as manager, Alex Cora always enjoyed seeing Luis around.

“It’s a lot different. Obviously last year he wasn’t around that much. And he’s one we miss,” said Cora. “You saw him with the fans interacting and all that stuff. It was cool for him to go in there in the training room and [talk trash] to the players. That's what they really liked. Obviously a guy who performed at the highest level. He was amazing. I think as a person he was awesome. He lifted a lot of people in that clubhouse, not only here but in Boston. We miss him.”

It was Shawn Smith, the general manager of Florida operations for the Red Sox at JetBlue Park and Fenway South, who came up with the idea of the golf cart with the poster board. Smith had a longstanding relationship dating back to his time with the Lowell Spinners, where Tiant had a brief stint as the pitching coach.

“I was at Luis’ funeral this year,” said Smith. “I thought how sad it is that the fans don't really get a chance to say goodbye like we're getting a chance to say goodbye. And when you have someone that's meant so much to so many for so many reasons, for so long, it’s just a simple way that we can connect our fans with him. It's kind of like a love letter to Luis on behalf of fans.”

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.”

Sunday was a day for the Red Sox to show off their biggest acquisitions of the offseason.

Prized free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman mauled a two-run homer over the Green Monster in his second at-bat. This, after he belted a single in his first plate appearance of Spring Training.

Garrett Crochet, projected as the team’s ace, fired 1 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out four. Of his 27 pitches, 17 were for strikes.

Trevor Story, Triston Casas and top prospect Roman Anthony (No. 2 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100), were also in the starting lineup, creating a sense of excitement at JetBlue Park.

"It was cool, it was special, especially with the guys that were playing behind me," said Crochet. "Obviously, Bregman kind of showed today why we wanted him over here. So it was really cool.”

The Red Sox will hold their first two theme days of Spring Training this week. Wednesday’s game against the Rays will be Pickleball Day. Each ticket purchased through this special offer (Code is PICKLEBALL) will receive a Franklin Sports USA Pickleball (USAPA) approved Red Sox pickleball paddle.

Saturday's game versus the Twins is Margaritaville Day in honor of the late Jimmy Buffett. All ticket holders who purchase through that special offer (CODE is BUFFETT) will receive a Margaritaville T-shirt with custom artwork featuring the Red Sox and JetBlue Park! T-shirts will be available in sizes Adult S-XL, with sizes distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

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