The Red Sox pitching staff lost a valuable member today as Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse, passed away at the age of 57. Despite a difficult end to the 2003 playoffs when he gave up a season-ending home run to the Yankees, Wakefield bounced back and played a pivotal role in helping Boston win their curse-busting World Series title the following year. The AP confirmed his death, and former teammate Curt Schilling revealed that Wakefield had been battling brain cancer in a recent podcast. The Red Sox had acknowledged an illness but respected Wakefield’s request for privacy.
Tim Wakefield started his career as a first baseman and set home run records in college. However, he made the switch to pitcher after mastering the knuckleball in the minor leagues. Utilizing this old-timey pitch, which had fallen out of favor, Wakefield went on to win 200 major league games, with 186 of those wins coming with the Red Sox. His impressive record with Boston places him behind only Cy Young and Roger Clemens in franchise history. However, it wasn’t just his numbers that made Wakefield a fan favorite; it was his contributions to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry of the early 2000s.
In the memorable 2003 AL Championship Series, Wakefield came in as a relief pitcher in the 11th inning of Game 7. On his first pitch, Aaron Boone hit a walkoff home run, ending Boston’s season and prolonging their World Series drought. Nonetheless, Wakefield and the Red Sox weren’t discouraged. The following October, during Game 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Wakefield got nine outs in extra innings, setting the stage for David Ortiz to win the game in the 14th inning. This victory propelled the Red Sox to complete their historic comeback from a three-games-to-none deficit against the Yankees and eventually sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, securing their first championship in 86 years. Wakefield also contributed to the Red Sox winning the World Series again in 2007.
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Wakefield had a standout season in 2009, earning his only All-Star Game selection. At the age of 45, he became the second-oldest player (after Satchel Paige) ever chosen for his first All-Star Game. Wakefield continued to excel as he earned his 200th win in September 2011, making him the oldest player in baseball at the time. He retired after retiring his final six batters in that game. Although he fell short of breaking the franchise record for wins held by Clemens and Young, Wakefield announced his retirement the following spring training. He stated that while he is still a competitor, he believes retiring is in the best interest of the Red Sox and his family. Wakefield recognized that seven wins wouldn’t define him as a person or improve him as a man, and he prioritized being there for his family.
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