Tim Wakefield – The team acknowledged in a statement earlier this week that the former pitcher was fighting a “disease,” but they did not provide a cause of death. Instead, they asked for privacy for the Wakefield family. The Red Sox wrote on X on Sunday, “We are devastated by Tim Wakefield’s passing. “Wake was a loving broadcaster, a devoted husband, father, and teammate, and the epitome of a community leader. He embodied true goodness.” He invested so much in Red Sox Nation and the game. At Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, around 1975, Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles watches before a Major League Baseball game begins. Legendary Baltimore Orioles player and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson passes away at the age of 86. The Red Sox great and Hall of Famer David Ortiz shared a picture of himself hugging Wakefield on Instagram along with the caption, “It’s hard for me to put into words how much you mean to my family and me. My heart is broken right now, knowing that I will never be able to replace a brother and friend like you.” “He was authentic. He exuded class. Longtime Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan stated on X that “this is truly horrible news.”
After his college career faltered, Wakefield turned to a pitch that is seldom thrown in order to break into the major leagues. Wakefield was drafted as a first baseman. During his career, Wakefield won 200 games as a right-handed starting pitcher. He was one of the few major league pitchers to use a knuckleball. Wakefield spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the Red Sox for a 17-year tenure. He was a part of the Red Sox that won two World Series titles: the team’s 2004 victory in the ALCS following an incredible comeback, and their 2007 MLB title.
Melbourne, Florida native Wakefield started playing baseball professionally in the 1980s. He was originally selected in the 1998 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first baseman. Later, he turned to pitching and worked to perfect the rarely seen knuckleball. He pitched for two minor league teams before the Pirates called him up to the majors in 1992. After three years, he was free to sign with the Red Sox as a free agent. He pitched for the team for 17 seasons, retiring at the age of 45 to become the oldest player still playing in Major League Baseball at that time. The Red Sox won two World Series during his tenure there, the most recent one being in 2007. They won the World Series for the first time since 1918 when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 championship game, ending the myth known as the “Curse of the Bambino,” which was attributed to MLB great Babe Ruth, who was traded from Boston to the team’s bitter rival, the New York Yankees. Wakefield was elected into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2016 after being named an All-Star in 2009.
The Children’s Hospital, Tim Wakefield (2018)
Getty Images/Darren McCollester in support of Boston Children’s Hospital .Apart from his athletic prowess, Wakefield was renowned for his generosity. In addition to his involvement with the New England non-profit organization Pitching in for Kids, he was also involved with the annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, which has raised over $60 million for cancer research, according to the Red Sox. Additionally, he hosted meetings and batting practice at Fenway Park for patients from the Jimmy Fund and Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston as part of his “Wakefield Warriors” program. Wakefield received the Roberto Clemente Award from MLB in 2010 in recognition of his philanthropic endeavors. “Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. stated on behalf of Major League Baseball, saying, “I extend my deepest condolences to Tim’s family, his friends and teammates across the game, and Red Sox fans everywhere.” In honor of Tim and everyone fighting cancer, we will keep up our support for our partners at Stand Up To Cancer.” Tim embodied the finest qualities as a teammate, a competitor, and a caring man,” the Major League Baseball wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wakefield family and all who knew and loved Tim.”