Red Sox Legend Tim Wakefield Passes Away at 57

By James Kirk

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

October 1, 2023

Boston Red Sox Legend Tim Wakefield passed away at the age of 57 after battling brain cancer. Wakefield, known for his dancing knuckleball, pitched for 19 years in the Majors. He finished with a 200–180 record for the Pirates and Red Sox. The team released a statement:

“Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation.

Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna, and the Wakefield family”

Drafted as a First baseman

Wakefield was drafted as a first baseman by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988. He made the switch to pitcher and developed a signature knuckleball on the advice of a scout. He threw a complete game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals with 10 strikeouts on 146 pitches. Wakefield ended up going 8–1 with a 2.15 ERA. He struggled in his sophomore season for the Bucs finishing 6–15 with a 5.61 ERA. He was released by the team in April 1995.

A Beantown Legend is Born

Six days later he was signed by the Red Sox. The team had him along with Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. They developed his Knuckleball as an outpitch and Wakefield now ranks second All-Time in wins at Fenway Park behind Roger Clemens with 97. He won the Comeback Player of the Year in 1995 going 16-8 with 2.95 ERA in Boston. That year, he started the season 14–1 with a sub 2 ERA. In 1999, injuries forced the Red Sox to move Wakefield to the bullpen where he became their closer.

He recorded 15 saves for the team in that stretch. He bounced between the bullpen and rotation over the next few years before returning full time to the rotation in 2002. Wakefield was very good for the team over the next several years winning an average of 12 games a year, with a career high of 17 in his age 40 season.

Retired at 44

Wakefield retired after the 2011 season after 19 seasons. He finished 200–180, with a 4.41 ERA and 2156 K’s. He threw his signature Knuckleball at about 60 mph, a fastball that topped out at 75 and a curveball at 61 mph.