Former MLB pitcher and broadcaster Tim Wakefield passed away today of brain cancer. He was only 57.
Wakefield's death comes only days after his cancer diagnosis was revealed against his wishes by his former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling much to the ire of the Red Sox organization, former teammates and their families and humanity in general.
In the course of this breach, Schilling also disclosed that Wakefield's wife Stacy is battling pancreatic cancer. As contemptible as Schilling's behavior was here, it is sad to know that Trevor and Brianna Wakefield might soon be without both their mother and their father.
As for Tim Wakefield, he leaves a remarkable legacy both on and off the field. Originally drafted as an infielder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988, Wakefield reinvented himself as a knuckleball pitcher and when he came up in 1992, he was nearly unhittable going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 13 starts and winning two games in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves and would finish third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Eric Karros and Moises Alou.
However, in 1993, Wakefield lost his mojo and would end up being sent back to the minor leagues where he spent all of the 1994 season before being released by the Bucs. Signed days later by the Red Sox, Wakefield would go on a 14-1 run before finishing 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA as the team would win the AL East title in 1995.
Wakefield would spend the next 17 seasons with the Bosox in bad times and in good. He is remembered for giving up the walk off HR to Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the New York Yankees. But Wakefield is also remembered for earning two World Series rings with the Red Sox in both 2004 and 2007 working both in the starting rotation and out of the bullpen.
When he finished his career in 2011, Wakefield had 200 big league wins, 186 of which were in a Red Sox uniform. Only Cy Young and Roger Clemens had more wins with Boston. Wakefield's 3006 inning pitched for the Red Sox are the most in franchise history. He would remain a familiar sight to Red Sox fans with his appearances as a color commentator as well as during the team's pre-game and post-game shows.
Wakefield was also known for his philanthropic efforts off the field particularly with Franciscan Hospital and the Jimmy Fund which earned him the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010. Following his career, Wakefield was the honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation.
Wakefield was as selfless in his everyday life as he was in the clubhouse and the dugout. When he retired after the 2011 season at the age of 45, he was seven wins away from tying Young and Clemens for the Red Sox franchise record for wins. When asked about it, Wakefield stated, "And to be honest with you, seven wins isn’t going to make me a different person or a better man.” That is a fitting epitaph to Tim Wakefield's career and his life. R.I.P.
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