Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield — famously known for his iconic knuckleball-style pitching that helped the franchise win two World Series titles — died at age 57 on Sunday, the team announced.
Although an official cause of death was not immediately revealed, Wakefield reportedly had been undergoing treatment following a brain cancer diagnosis.
“Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield,” the team’s official X account posted. “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 hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield.
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… pic.twitter.com/ah5kV2Yt8j
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 1, 2023
Last week, Wakefield’s former teammate, Curt Schilling, faced backlash after revealing without permission that Wakefield had been diagnosed with brain cancer and asked for fans to respect his privacy.
The team issued a statement on Thursday with the consent of Wakefield and his wife, Stacy, saying, “Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission.”
“Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease,” Red Sox officials reportedly said. “Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has always been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”
Wakefield, who was born in Melbourne, Florida, on August 2, 1966, made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team had drafted him four years earlier as a first baseman to the minor leagues, where his career slowly launched until a Pirates coach saw him throwing a knuckleball while playing catch with a teammate.
“I was disappointed [the Pirates] were giving up on me that quick [as a hitter],” Wakefield said in his memoir, “Knuckler: My Life with Baseball’s Most Confounding Pitch,” according to ESPN. “But then, they basically told me, ‘You’re going to pitch or you’re going to go home.’ So I said, ‘OK, I’ll pitch.'”
The move immediately garnered Wakefield national attention after winning 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA and two more games during the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves. But after underperforming the following season, the team sent him back to the minors until ultimately releasing him.
The Boston Red Sox picked him up in 1995, where he found his permanent home for the rest of his professional career and pitched for 17 seasons.
He contributed to the team winning the World Series championship in 2004 against the St. Louis Cardinals to claim their first championship in 86 years. Wakefield scored another World Series title with the Red Sox after defeating the New York Yankees in 2007.
Wakefield retired in 2012 with 200 major league game victories under his belt — 186 with the Red Sox — reportedly placing him behind legendary baseball players Cy Young and Roger Clemens in the team’s history.
According to ESPN, he finished his career with a 4.41 ERA with 2,156 strikeouts — and 1,205 walks — in 3,226 2/3 innings pitched over 627 appearances (463 starts).
“There were some years there where I didn’t know if I was going to come back or not,” Wakefield said at his 2012 retirement news conference. “But I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to put this uniform on for such a long time, and win two World Series for this great city.”
Shortly after retiring, Wakefield began working as an analyst for the Red Sox broadcast network NESN. He also remained involved in Boston charities, including the Red Sox Foundation.
In 2016, the franchise inducted him into the Red Sox Hall of Fame to join former players, leadership, and staff members who have contributed to the team’s 120-year-plus history.
Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement on Sunday following Wakefield’s passing that “Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball.”
“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,” Henry said. “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.”
Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said, “It’s one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it’s another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both.”
“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,” Werner said. “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 is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their children, Trevor and Brianna.