(WKBN) – Major League Baseball announced that former Cleveland Indians pitcher Luis Tiant has died at the age of 83. Tiant, who was affectionately known as “El Tiante,” spent 19 seasons in Major League baseball.

DETROIT — Baseball analyst Joe Garagiola had the perfect description of what Luis Tiant looked like on the mound. Garagiola, a former catcher, said Tiant would look every fan at the ballpark in the eye before he finished his corkscrew delivery to the plate.

Luis Tiant, the charismatic Cuban with a horseshoe mustache and mesmerizing windup who pitched the Red Sox to the brink of a World Series championship and himself to the doorstep of the Hall of Fame,

They were nine outs away from another celebration Thursday night and another record crowd at Comerica Park (44,923) was ready to party.

The Tigers and Guardians are taking their fight the distance. The AL Central rivals will meet in a decisive Game 5 of the Division Series on Saturday with the winner advancing to face the New York Yankees in the ALCS.

With a shutout loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, the Guardians are down 2-1 in the best-of-five series and facing elimination. Game 4 is set for a 6:08 p.m.