Selfless teammate, ‘extraordinary human’ Tim Wakefield passes away

BALTIMORE — Tim Wakefield, who used his darting knuckleball to change into the third winningest pitcher in Red Sox historical past, died from mind most cancers on the age of 57 on Sunday, the Red Sox introduced.

“We are deeply saddened by the lack of Tim Wakefield, one of the distinctive pitchers of his technology and a key a part of probably the most profitable period within the historical past 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 started a 17-year tenure in Boston, the place he made a mark that might be remembered perpetually. Tim was greater than only a versatile and dependable All-Star pitcher, a extremely revered teammate, and a two-time World Series Champion. In 2010, Tim was named the Roberto Clemente Award winner for the devoted work he and his household 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.”

“Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball,” mentioned Red Sox principal proprietor John Henry. “He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine 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 very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us.”

News that Wakefield was battling mind most cancers surfaced publicly simply three days earlier than his dying.

A few weeks in the past, Wakefield underwent surgical procedure to struggle the aggressive type of most cancers he was coping with.

“It’s one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it’s another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both,” mentioned Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. “He was a role model on and off the field, giving endlessly to the Red Sox Foundation and being a force for good for everyone he encountered. I felt fortunate to call him a close friend and along with all of us in Red Sox Nation, I know the world was made better because he was in it.”

Wakefield, a core member of two World Series championship groups in Boston, is survived by his spouse Stacy, son Trevor and daughter Brianna.

Winner of 200 video games within the Major Leagues, Wakefield notched 186 of these victories for Boston, putting him solely behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who each had 192 wins for the Red Sox.

Wakefield was often called a selfless teammate and the consummate skilled and was an energetic group member in his enjoying days and simply as a lot following his retirement from baseball within the spring of 2012.

“It’s a rare occurrence for a two-time World Series Champion’s extraordinary personality to shine even brighter than their illustrious career,” mentioned Red Sox president & CEO Sam Kennedy. “Tim was undeniably an exceptional pitcher, but what truly set him apart was the ease with which he connected with people. He was an extraordinary pitcher, an incredible broadcaster, and someone who exemplified every humanitarian quality in the dictionary. I will miss my friend more than anything and can only aspire to live as genuinely and honorably as he did.”

Indicated into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2016, it was gorgeous to see all Wakefield completed given the place he was at in his profession when he was signed by the crew.

The righty, who starred for the Pirates within the 1992 National League Championship Series in opposition to the Braves, was launched by the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 20, 1995. Any crew might have picked him up.

The Red Sox, led by common supervisor Dan Duquette, signed him six days later. After regaining his groove within the Minor Leagues for a few months, Wakefield began his tenure with the Red Sox with one of the dazzling runs in crew historical past.

In his first 17 begins for Boston, Wakefield went 14-1 with a 1.65 ERA for a crew that received the American League East. He confirmed he was a special breed proper out of the gate, pitching seven magnificent innings in his debut for the crew in Anaheim, after which coming again for 7 1/3 shutout innings at Oakland simply three days later.

Wakefield pitched 19 Major League seasons, 17 of them for the Red Sox.

In 2009, Wakefield grew to become an All-Star for the primary time when he was chosen to the crew by then-Rays supervisor Joe Maddon.

Wakefield was a member of 9 postseason groups throughout his time with the Red Sox, most notably for the 2004 and ’07 World Series champs.

While the historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit within the 2004 AL Championship Series in opposition to the Yankees will at all times be remembered for the steal by Dave Roberts in Game 4 and the nonstop heroics from David Ortiz, supervisor Terry Francona has at all times mentioned that the comeback began with a selfless act by Wakefield.

As the Red Sox had been in the midst of taking a 19-8 beatdown in Game 3, Wakefield selflessly put his spikes on and gave up his scheduled Game 4 begin to protect the remainder of the bullpen.

Two days later, Wakefield got here out of the bullpen for a high-leverage state of affairs and blanked the Yankees for the ultimate three innings of a 14-inning traditional to earn the victory as Boston despatched the collection again to New York with a pulsating 5-4 win.

During the celebration of Boston’s blowout win in Game 7, Wakefield was instructed by some teammates to return to the mound of Yankee Stadium and simply take it in. One 12 months earlier, Wakefield had given up a walk-off homer to Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the ALCS that despatched the Yankees to the World Series.

“Tim was a great player in his day and a guy that’s really well-respected and well-liked and loved around the baseball world and our baseball fraternity,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned a few days in the past when Wakefield’s prognosis got here to mild.

When Wakefield made his first public look after Boone’s homer on the annual Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America dinner in January, the gang gave him a loud standing ovation.

Upon being elected into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2016, Wakefield mentioned, “It’s an enormous honor. I’m over-the-moon enthusiastic about it.”

After beginning his skilled profession as a light-hitting first baseman within the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, Wakefield developed a knuckleball.

The pitch saved Wakefield’s profession.

With tutelage from a few of the greatest knuckleballers in historical past, together with Charlie Hough and the Niekro brothers (Phil and Joe), Wakefield leveraged the distinctive pitch to a memorable profession.

Aside from his on-field heroics, Wakefield was additionally a pillar of power locally, each throughout his enjoying profession and in retirement.

You’d be hard-pressed to discover a Red Sox participant who immersed himself extra into the cancer-fighting Jimmy Fund than Wakefield. In retirement, he was honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation.

Wakefield was nominated by the Red Sox eight instances for the celebrated Roberto Clemente Award and received it in 2010. That award is given yearly to the participant in MLB who greatest represents baseball via extraordinary character, group involvement, philanthropy and optimistic contributions, each on and off the sector.