Luis Tiant: A Fond Farewell to a Boston Legend

Luis Tiant was an amazing human being. I met him at Fenway years ago. I had been a Red Sox season ticket holder for many years and saw him around the ballpark -- and at his Fenway food stand, El Tiante -- on occasion. When he heard I was running for Congress from the Lowell area, where he had been coaching for the Sox, he offered me both encouragement and a warning.

Acceptance, Luis told me, would be hard amongst the power brokers in the area -- something he had learned from years of being an outsider -- albeit a popular one. He told me about his experiences leaving for the Yankees when his heart was in Boston, a move powers more powerful than he had ordained.

His encouragement, by contrast, was more powerful. Loving America -- and wanting to serve as a Congressman from Massachusetts -- was something he thought was worthy of fighting for. Be strong, and stand tall, he told me in his jovial but powerful voice. I will, El Tiante, I will.

Rest in Peace.