Former Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield, who shot to fame with his knuckleball delivery, has passed away at the age of 57.
The former World Series champion had been quietly fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer the team announced. Former teammate, Curt Schilling, disclosed that Wakefield was ill without his consent in a recent interview, alerting fans that the hurler wasn’t doing well.
Tributes from former teammates and players around the league poured in following the announcement that Wakefield had passed.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tim Wakefield, one of the most unique pitchers of his generation and a key part of the most successful era in the history of the Boston Red Sox,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Tim’s knuckleball allowed him to excel as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. In 1995, he began a 17-year tenure in Boston, where he made a mark that will be remembered forever. Tim was more than just a versatile and reliable All-Star pitcher, a highly respected teammate, and a two-time World Series Champion. In 2010, Tim was named the Roberto Clemente Award winner for the dedicated work he and his family did serving the communities of New England.”
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Tim’s family, his friends and teammates across the game, and Red Sox fans everywhere. We will continue to support our partners at Stand Up To Cancer in the memory of Tim and all those who are in the fight against this disease.”
A 2x World Series champion, Wakefield retired with a 200-180 record, 4.41 ERA, and 2,156 career strikeouts. The 2009 All-Star was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award which is given annually to the player that “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team”.
A beloved figure in the New England community, Wakefield is survived by his wife Stacy, and two children Trevor and Brianna.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Waldo Jaquith. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.