Tim Wakefield was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox whose unorthodox knuckleball made him an integral part of the squad that broke the team’s 86-year World Series “curse of the Bambino.”
- Died: October 1, 2023 (Who else died on October 1?)
- Details of death: Died in Satellite Beach, Florida, of brain cancer at the age of 57.
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Tim Wakefield’s legacy
Wakefield became a Red Sox legend on the strength of his knuckleball, but he wasn’t always a pitcher. During his college days with the Florida Tech Panthers, he was a first baseman with a potent bat, setting team records for home runs and being named team MVP. He was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates as a position player but struggled in the minor leagues. Willing to try anything to keep playing, Wakefield began practicing the knuckleball, a quirky and rarely thrown type of pitch, and by 1990 he had converted to a full-time pitcher.
Wakefield made his major league debut with the Pirates, but floundered and was sent back to the minors. After a trade to the Boston Red Sox, he came into his own as one of the most dependable starters on the team. In 2004, he helped cement his and the Red Sox’s place in history as part of the squad that broke an 86-year-old World Series drought, ending the so-called “curse of the Bambino” that began when the team traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees.
Wakefield continued to pitch into his 40s. He secured his 200th win that year and finished third in career wins by a Boston pitcher, surpassed only by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. He started more games at Fenway Park than any other pitcher, was the oldest Red Sox player to win a game, and at 42 became the second oldest first-time All-Star ever. In 2011, at 44, he became the oldest player to appear in a Red Sox uniform.
Off the field, Wakefield was heavily involved in philanthropy, earning eight Roberto Clemente Award nominations. He worked with the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, New England’s Pitching in for Kids organization, the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, the Touch ‘Em All Foundation founded by Garth Brooks, and many others.
Tributes to Tim Wakefield
Full obituary: ESPN
