Monthly Archives: October 2023

Tim Wakefield

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ESPN 

The Red Sox announced his death in a statement Sunday. Wakefield had brain cancer, according to former teammate Curt Schilling, who disclosed the illness on a podcast last week without Wakefield’s consent. The Red Sox confirmed an illness at the time but did not elaborate, saying Wakefield had requested privacy.

Relying on the old-timey pitch that had largely fallen into disuse, he went on to win 200 major league games, including 186 with the Red Sox — behind only Cy Young and Roger Clemens in franchise history.

After New York rallied to tie Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, Wakefield came on in relief in the 11th inning and Aaron Boone hit his first pitch for a walk-off home run to end Boston’s season and extend a World Series drought that stretched back to 1918.

Said Wakefield at the time: “I just became Bill Buckner.”

The following October, with Boston’s season again at risk against the Yankees in the ALCS, Wakefield got nine outs in extra innings of Game 5, setting up David Ortiz to win it in the 14th. The Red Sox went on to complete their comeback from a 3-0 series deficit and then sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series to claim their first championship in 86 years.

The Red Sox — and Wakefield — won it all again in 2007.

Wakefield was 11-3 when he made his only All-Star Game in 2009, becoming the second-oldest player (Satchel Paige was the oldest) ever selected to his first Midsummer Classic. Wakefield was the oldest player in baseball at 45 when he earned his 200th win in September 2011, retiring the final six batters he faced.

Only three others played longer for the Red Sox — Carl Yastrzemski (23), Ted Williams (19) and Dwight Evans (19). His 186 wins as a pitcher for the Red Sox ranks second in franchise history only to Roger Clemens (192).

Wakefield was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2016.