Tim Wakefield, a former knuckleball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, passed away at the age of 57 from brain cancer.
” The loss of Tim Wakefield has broken our hearts. Wake was the epitome of goodness; he was a loving husband, father, and teammate, as well as the greatest community leader. He contributed greatly to Red Sox Nation as a whole as well as the game. The Red Sox said in a statement on Sunday,” Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna, and the Wakefield family.”
The loss of Tim Wakefield has broken our hearts.
Wake was the epitome of goodness — a devoted husband, father, teammate, adored broadcaster, and the pinnacle of the neighborhood. He contributed greatly to Red Sox Nation as a whole as well as the game.
Our most sincere love and prayers are with … pic. twitter.com / ah5kV2Yt8j
Red Sox(@ RedSox) October 1, 2023
With the Red Sox, the original All-Star won two World Series, including the record-breaking 2004 championship game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
On September 13, 2011, Wakefield won his 200th game in a career. He is third in Red Sox franchise history( 186 ), behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens. He is the all-time leader in innings pitched by a Red Sox pitcher, with 3, 006, having surpassed Clemens’s total of 2, 777 on June 8, 2010, according to Wikipedia. He comes in second place overall for wins at Fenway Park with 97, just behind his 100.
Wakefield won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 in addition to being named an All-Star in 2009.
We reflect on the life and legacy of Tim Wakefield in this image. JWGNvlgnCv on Twitter
— NESN( at NSN) October 1, 2023
Curt Schilling, a previous Wakefield teammate, unintentionally made his illness public last month on the podcast, according to ESPN.
According to ESPN,” The Red Sox at the time confirmed an illness but did not elaborate, claiming Wakefield had requested privacy.”
Tim Wakefield, a former Boston Red Sox pitcher, was given the diagnosis of” very serious, very intense form of brain cancer ,” according to Curt Schilling’s podcast. t.co / s3UGpXS4CK
— September 28, 2023, NEWSMAX(@ NEWSMAx )
ESPN:
Wakefield, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a second baseman who broke home run records in college, later switched to pitcher after mastering the slight leagues’ knuckleball and receiving instruction from his father.
When Wakefield and his father, Steve, played catch in their backyard at home in Melbourne, Florida, he claimed to have learned the pitch as a young boy.
Wakefield next remarked,” It was something to fundamentally tire me out.”
He went on to win 200 major league games, including 186 with the Red Sox, using the antiquated pitch that had largely fallen out of use, trailing just Cy Young and Roger Clemens in franchise history.
Wakefield was a Red Sox nominee seven times and won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 for sportsmanship and community service. He served as the team’s second Jimmy Fund captain, visiting patients and soliciting donations for the Red Sox Foundation, as well as honourable chairman.
The Pirates remarked,” He was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.”
However, Wakefield became a fan favorite whose influence went way beyond his stature thanks to his involvement in the early 2000s Red Sox-Yanks rivalry.
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Aaron Boone hit his second pitch for a walk-off home run in the 11th inning of the 2003 American League Championship Series, bringing an end to Boston’s season and extending the World Series drought that lasted until 1918 after New York rallied to tie Game 7.
I really became Bill Buckner, Wakefield said at the time.
The following October, when Boston’s season was once more in jeopardy against the Yankees in the ALCS, Wakefield scored nine runs in excess Game 5 innings, helping David Ortiz win it on the 14th. The Red Sox then defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series to win their first championship in 86 years after making their comeback from a 3 – 0 series deficit.
RIP, Mr. Tim Wakefield. pic. twitter.com / bmSAfQta1m
— October 1, 2023, Boston Strong(@ BostonStrong _ 34 )
Tim Wakefield, a former Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitching Tim Wakefield, died at the age 57 of brain cancer.
“Our hearts are broken by the loss of Tim Wakefield. Wakefield was a true example of goodness. He was devoted as a husband, father and teammate. He also loved broadcasting and he led the community. He gave so much of himself to the game and Red Sox Nation. Stacy, Trevor and Brianna Wakefield and their families are in our hearts and minds.
We are deeply saddened by the death of Tim Wakefield.
Wake was a true example of goodness. He was a loving husband, father and teammate. He also worked as a broadcaster and was regarded as ‘the ultimate community leader’. He gave so much of himself to the game and the Red Sox Nation.
Our deepest love and thoughts are with… pic.twitter.com/ah5kV2Yt8j
Red Sox (@RedSox), October 1, 2023
The former All-Star won the 2004 World Series against the Cardinals, which was a curse-busting victory for the Red Sox.
Wakefield won his 200th game in his career on September 13, 2011. He ranks third in career victories in Red Sox history (186), behind Cy Young, and Roger Clemens. Wikipedia says that Wakefield is second all-time in Fenway Park wins with 97 behind Clemens’s 100. He is also the all-time leader for innings pitched by Red Sox pitchers with 3,006, surpassing Clemens’s 2,777 total on June 8, 2010.
Wakefield, who was also named an All-Star in 2009, won the Roberto Clemente award in 2010.
We look back on the life and legacy of Tim Wakefield pic.twitter.com/jwGNvlgnCv
NESN (@NESN), October 1, 2023
ESPN reports that Wakefield’s ex-teammate Curt Schilling disclosed his illness in a podcast without permission last month.
ESPN reported that “the Red Sox confirmed a sickness at the time, but did not elaborate on it, saying Wakefield requested privacy.”
Curt Schilling, a former teammate of Wakefield’s, announced the diagnosis on his podcast. https://t.co/s3UGpXS4CK
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) September 28, 2023
From ESPN:
Wakefield was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1999 as a first-baseman. He had set home run records during his college years. Wakefield then converted to a pitching position after mastering the knuckleball. He learned the pitch from father when he was a child.
Wakefield told ESPN that in 2011, he learned to pitch from his father Steve when they played catch in their backyard in Melbourne, Florida.
Wakefield said, “It was a thing that basically tired me out.”
He won 200 major league games with the Red Sox, including 186 of them, and is the only Red Sox player to have ever won more than 186 games.
Wakefield was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 for sportsmanship, community involvement and the Red Sox seven other times. He was the first Jimmy Fund Captain, visiting patients and raising money for the childhood cancer charity. He is also the honorary chairman of Red Sox Foundation.
Pirates: “He was an amazing man who will be missed dearly.”
Wakefield’s impact on the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry in the early 2000s went beyond his numbers.
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Wakefield, who had been brought in to relieve Aaron Boone in the 11th innings of Game 7 in the 2003 American League Championship Series after New York tied the game, hit a walk-off single on his first pitch to end Boston’s year and extend the World Series drought dating back to 1918.
Wakefield said at the time, “I just became Bill Buckner.”
Wakefield’s nine outs during the extra innings of the Game 5 in the ALCS against the Yankees, in October, saved Boston’s season from being ruined again. David Ortiz won the game in the 14th inning. The Red Sox completed their comeback after a 3-0 deficit in the series and then swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first championship in over 86 years.
RIP Tim Wakefield. pic.twitter.com/bmSAfQta1m
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) October 1, 2023
