Former Red Sox pitcher and two-time World Series winner Tim Wakefield has died at 57

VaselineMay 28, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Former Red Sox pitcher and two-time World Series winner Tim Wakefield has died at 57

Former MLB pitcher and two-time World Series winner Tim Wakefield died Sunday, the Boston Red Sox announced. He was 57 years old.

“Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his ball,” Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement. “Not only did he captivate us on the field, but he was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his genuine warmth and spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is deeply felt by all of us.”

Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield.

Wake embodied true kindness; a devoted husband, father and teammate, a beloved broadcaster and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation.

Our deepest love and thoughts are with… pic.twitter.com/ah5kV2Yt8j

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 1, 2023

Wakefield, a Florida native, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a third baseman in 1988. He began working on a knuckleball when he realized he wasn’t going to make it as a position player and officially converted to a pitcher in 1990. He made his major league debut in 1992 and had a fantastic season, but his career with the Pirates petered out by 1995 and they released him.

We are saddened by the loss of Tim Wakefield.

Tim began his Major League career with the Pirates and was a part of our baseball family for six years. He made his debut in 1992 and was a key addition to the pitching staff that helped propel the team to its third consecutive… pic.twitter.com/171nTWEyhC

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 1, 2023

He wasn’t a free agent for long, though. Wakefield signed with the Red Sox days later and became a mainstay of the franchise, wowing fans with his knuckleball and charity work with the team. He spent 17 seasons in Boston and was a part of the all-time hitting team that guided the 2004 World Series hurlers as well as the 2007 championship team. He holds the all-time Red Sox records with 430 starts and 3,006 innings pitched and ranks second in franchise all-time with 590 plate appearances and 2,046 hits, is the only player in franchise history to appear in a game at age 44 or older, and is the all-time hitter at Fenway Park, with 216 starts and 1,553 innings at the ballpark.

Wakefield joined the Red Sox as a broadcaster and special assistant after his retirement in 2012 and continued his charitable work as honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation. He helped revive a nonprofit therapeutic preschool program for children with special needs when it was struggling financially and held an auction and celebrity golf tournament each year to raise money. He worked closely with the Jimmy Fund both during and after his career, attending the annual radio telethon.

Wakefield is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their children, Trevor and Brianna.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Tim Wakefield announced his retirement during a press conference at the team's new spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., February 17, 2012. Wakefield, who had a career as a 19 years as a pitcher in Major League Baseball due to his completely unpredictable nature. knuckleball, announced his retirement from the Boston Red Sox on Friday. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (United States - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL) — The Red Sox announced that Tim Wakefield, who spent 17 years pitching for Boston, has died at the age of 57. (Reuters)

Wakefield was being treated for an unspecified illness

News of Wakefield’s death came as a shock, although reports of his health surfaced days ago after Curt Schilling, former Red Sox pitcher and Wakefield’s teammate from 2004 to ’07, disclosed his personal health information of the Wakefields without their permission.

On his podcast, Schilling said Wakefield had brain cancer and Wakefield’s wife, Stacy, has pancreatic cancer and asked people to pray for them and their children. Soon, the news was all over social media, and the Red Sox and many of Wakefield’s former teammates were furious that Schilling had shared the information without permission.

Curt Schilling said on his podcast that the Wakefields are battling cancer. Hard to imagine why he would do that, but he did. To say that the people with Sox and others around Tim and Stacy are furious is an understatement.

All the best to the Wakefields who are very nice people. https://t.co/Zn2g6YGsGp

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 28, 2023

The Red Sox later released a statement about the Wakefields, asking people to respect their privacy.

“We are aware of the statements and questions about Tim and Stacy Wakefield’s health. Unfortunately, this information was shared publicly without their permission. Their health is a deeply personal matter that they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to resolve it. this illness Tim and Stacy are grateful for the support and love they have always been given and respectfully request privacy at this time.

The Red Sox have not announced the cause of Tim Wakefield’s death. Schilling has yet to comment.

VaselineMay 28, 2024

0 3 minutes read