On Wednesday, I had a pretty incredible experience. I went to the Vatican for an event at St. Peter&#8217;s Square that’s held every Wednesday when the Pope holds a general audience.
It’s an amazing event. There are tens of thousands of people — divided by country of origin — who gather in St. Peter&#8217;s Square from all over the world. It&#8217;s a reminder that godly, Biblical values are the guiding force for billions of people around the world. The world seems like a very dark place from time to time, but the reality is that if you stick to eternal values, it does make the world a brighter place.
The Pope came in his vehicle, drove around, greeted the entire audience, and then he came up in the center of St. Peter&#8217;s Square, right in front of the basilica, and gave an address about the Bible which was read out loud in a variety of different languages.
I got to sit up there near where the Pope was. What the Pope said was quite beautiful. He quoted from the Book of John, the story about the Pool of Bethesda, in which Jesus goes to the Pool of Bethesda, where there are people who are ill and people who are paralyzed. There&#8217;s a man there who&#8217;s been sick and infirm for 38 years. And Jesus goes to that man and he tells him that he ought to get up, take his mat with him, and walk.
And the Pope said we should all reflect on Jesus&#8217; statement. At that moment when we feel stuck and trapped in a dead end, instead of allowing that to become an excuse for others to take care of us, we should not allow this to become a justification to avoid making decisions about our lives. Instead, we should get away from fatalism and embrace personal responsibility.
It is these kinds of messages that are implicit in the Biblical narrative that the Pope is spreading, and that is a wonderful thing for our civilization.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2220-member-exclusive?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=The+Ben+Shapiro+Show&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Carousel">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
I&#8217;ve talked about this before — I&#8217;m an Orthodox Jew. Obviously. I don&#8217;t have a dog in the fight when it comes to internal battles over doctrine in Catholicism, except to the extent that the Catholic Church remains a lodestone for Western civilization, a great spreader of Biblical values to humanity.
In the same way, there are Protestant churches that do the same. People of God, people of the book, people of the Bible are spreading eternal values. It is worth acknowledging that and honoring that.
That&#8217;s actually what I said to the Pope when I had an opportunity to meet him. I handed him a letter asking for an interview and introduced myself. You&#8217;re supposed to bring the Pope a gift.
I explained who I was. (Obviously, he has a lot of things to do, so I doubt he&#8217;s a regular listener to my show.) At this point, I explained to him that I was there to pay honor to the fact that he was representative of biblical values in the world. Then I added, “I happen to have been a devout White Sox fan since the time I was a child.”
Of course, Pope Leo is a White Sox fan. He recently spoke at Comiskey Park via video to some 30,000 people.
I told him that while he is Catholic and I am Jewish, one of the miracles that we can agree on is the 2005 White Sox winning the World Series. I brought with me from my personal collection a 2005 World Series White Sox baseball signed by the entire team, and gave it to him.
He seemed a little bit surprised, not by the fact that I was giving a gift, but because it was a gift and not just me showing him something cool, I suppose. You could see him crack a bit of a smile as he received it. He was pretty delighted by it.
So it was really a terrific experience. Honestly, the entire event was amazing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It was an honor to meet His Holiness, <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pontifex</a> in Vatican City today, and to thank him for standing up for Biblical values in a chaotic world…and to present him with a signed 2005 White Sox World Series baseball I had in my collection (we’re both fans). <a href="https://t.co/hxlhUnKU7F">pic.twitter.com/hxlhUnKU7F</a>
&mdash; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1935350580458733762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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My impression of him is that Pope Leo seems to be a man who has enmeshed himself in the office. And when you meet the Pope, you can see he’s a deeply humble man. You can tell that right away just from meeting him. And you could see the sheer joy that he had, I think, from getting the baseball, which is such a small thing for this man who has the weight of the spiritual fate of over a billion people on his shoulders.
I share that because there are a lot of moments in the political world that are not uplifting. There are a lot of moments that are fraught, that feel as though darkness is encroaching.
And so, there needs to be a meeting of the minds between all of us who believe in Biblical values, and that those Biblical values ought to be purveyed. It&#8217;s one of the reasons why I have encouraged people who are Catholic to go to church, people who are Protestant to go to church, and Jews to go to synagogue and relearn their traditions and engage with those traditions.
I&#8217;m very much in favor of the strengthening of the Catholic Church and the strengthening of Protestant churches all over the United States and the rest of the West.
I&#8217;m very much in favor of people reengaging with the values that made the West what it was in the first place.

Pope Leo XIV Arrives To Lead His Weekly General Audience At St Peter’s Square In The Vatican On June 18, 2025.

I Met The Pope. It Was Amazing.

Ben Shapiro

Bible

Catholic Church

Catholics

Italy

Major League Baseball

Opinion

Pope Leo

The Vatican

Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw added a subtle change to his Pride Night cap, printing &#8220;GEN 9:12-16&#8221; next to the rainbow-colored team logo.
Leading Report (@leadingreport) shared the news via X along with a photo of Kershaw&#8217;s cap and the text of the verses the pitcher was referencing — verses that reference God&#8217;s promise to Noah, when He sent the rainbow as a sign that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw wrote “Genesis 9:12-16” on his ‘pride’ hat.
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 
13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and… <a href="https://t.co/mPU94lYPxk">pic.twitter.com/mPU94lYPxk</a>
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeadingReport/status/1934018900221423971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;BREAKING: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw wrote &#8216;Genesis 9:12-16&#8242; on his ‘pride’ hat. 12 And God said, &#8216;This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.&#8217; Genesis 9:12-16 ESV,&#8221; the post read.
Kershaw, a Christian, also <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-displays-bible-passage-hat-during-pride-night">spoke out</a> in 2023 when the team planned to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a group of &#8220;queer and trans nuns&#8221; who combine drag and religious imagery — by announcing the team&#8217;s faith and family night early.
&#8220;I think we were always going to do Christian Faith Day this year, but I think the timing of our announcement was sped up,&#8221; Kershaw said. &#8220;Picking a date and doing those different things was part of it as well. Yes, it was in response to the highlighting of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence [by the Dodgers].&#8221;
Kershaw said at the time that his objection was specifically to the Sisters and that he did not plan to boycott Pride Night, &#8220;I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions. It has nothing to do with anything other than that. I just don’t think that, no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody else’s religion. So, that’s something that I definitely don’t agree with.&#8221;

Los Angeles Dodgers v St. Louis Cardinals

Dodgers Ace Clayton Kershaw Adds Bible Reference To Rainbow Hat For Pride Night

Baseball

Los Angeles Dodgers

Politics

Pride Month

In a historic decision, Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Tuesday that any punishment of people banned from the game ends with their deaths, leaving open the possibility that the legendary slugger &#8220;Shoeless&#8221; Joe Jackson and the all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, could be elected to the baseball Hall of fame.
&#8220;Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game. Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve. &#8230; Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list,” Manfred wrote to attorney Jeffrey M. Lenkov, who had been trying for a decade to get Rose reinstated. Lenkov asked Manfred to remove Rose from the list in January, just four months after Rose died.
“Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame, said Manfred&#8217;s decision will allow Rose, Jackson and others to be considered by the Historical Overview Committee, which will ‘develop the ballot of eight names for the Classic Baseball Era Committee &#8230; to vote on when it meets next in December 2027,’” ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45115659/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-players-reinstated-mlb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;This has been a long journey,&#8221; Lenkov said. &#8220;On behalf of the family, they are very proud and pleased and know that their father would have been overjoyed at this decision today.&#8221;
Rose, a 17-time All-Star who retired from the game with 4,256 hits, was banned from the game by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in August 1989, after an investigation found he had bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds late in his career. He played the game with a relentless intensity that reminded fans of Ty Cobb, who was generally regarded as the most intense player to have ever played. Rose used to run to first base after a walk, prompting Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to nickname him “Charlie Hustle.” Rose said, “My dad said the quicker you get to first base, the quicker you go around the bases. I played the way I was supposed to play.&#8221;
Rose, a switch-hitter who won three batting titles, was the emotional leader of the Cincinnati Reds’ Big Red Machine that was one of the greatest teams to have ever played, winning the World Series in 1975 in a legendary seven-game series with the Boston Red Sox and then again in 1976, dominating the New York Yankees. He later helped the Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series in 1980.
On Wednesday night, at Pete Rose Night at Cincinnati&#8217;s Great American Ball Park, Lenkov and Rose’s family will attend. &#8220;Reds Nation will not only be able to celebrate Pete&#8217;s legacy, but now optimistically be able to look forward to the possibility that Pete will join other baseball immortals,&#8221; Lenkov said. &#8220;Pete Rose would have for sure been overjoyed at the outpouring of support from all.&#8221;
Jackson, who had a career batting average of .356, the fourth highest in MLB history, after Ty Cobb (.366), Oscar Charleston (.365), and Rogers Hornsby (.358), was copied by his admirer Babe Ruth, who imitated Jackson by holding the bat at the knob, instead of choking up, which was favored by hitters but deprived them of the power Ruth wanted. Ruth called Jackson the greatest hitter he had ever seen.
But Jackson was banned from baseball in 1921 after he and seven other members of the Chicago White Sox gambled on the 1919 World Series, in which the Sox played the Cincinnati Reds. The Sox were favored but lost the Series, raising suspicions that players had thrown the series to the Reds. The eight men were banned from baseball by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Jackson’s complicity has been widely questioned, as he set a Series record with 12 hits and led both teams in several statistical categories.
“Rose and Jackson&#8217;s candidacies presumably will be decided by the Hall&#8217;s 16-member Classic Baseball Era Committee, which considers players whose careers ended more than 15 years ago. The committee isn&#8217;t scheduled to meet again until December 2027. Rose and Jackson would need 12 of 16 votes to win induction,” ESPN noted.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJl02sQlOJQ?si=vltHBVDY5spd4v-d" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Pete Rose

Hall Of Fame Ahead? MLB Removes Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson, From Ineligible List

Hall of Fame

Shoeless Joe Jackson

President Donald Trump hosted the 2024 World Series champions — the Los Angeles Dodgers — at the White House on Monday, but as he stood to give remarks, he couldn&#8217;t resist taking potshots at a few unnamed U.S. Senators who were on hand for the event.
&#8220;I’m thrilled to welcome to the White House very special people&#8230; very talented people,&#8221; Trump said of the California Major League Baseball team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump congratulates the 2024 World Series Champion, the LA <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodgers</a>, on a legendary season.⚾️
“I’m thrilled to welcome to the White House very special people&#8230; very talented people.” <a href="https://t.co/eXBAfZYKp9">pic.twitter.com/eXBAfZYKp9</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1909300018600616243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump smiled as he jabbed at the senators who were present, saying, &#8220;Others — we have a couple of senators here. I just don‘t particularly like them, so I won&#8217;t be introducing them!&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🤣 PRESIDENT TRUMP: &quot;We have a couple of senators here. I just don‘t particularly like them, so I won&#39;t be introducing them!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6ju1bnQmQi">pic.twitter.com/6ju1bnQmQi</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1909274712640749872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump carried on with his remarks after a brief pause as the audience laughed, saying, &#8220;Over the course of this amazing season, the members of this team —&#8221;
Loud laughter broke out again, and when it died down, the president commented, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think it was that big a deal, actually &#8230; Washington.&#8221;
&#8220;Over the course of this amazing season,&#8221; Trump began again. &#8220;The members of this team &#8230;&#8221;
Later on, Trump asked Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts whether star player — and National League MVP — Shohei Ohtani was &#8220;good.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s like a movie star,&#8221; Trump said, laying out a list of Ohtani&#8217;s accomplishments and record-breaking statistics. &#8220;He&#8217;s got a good future, I&#8217;m telling you &#8230; Is he good?&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s only getting better,&#8221; was Roberts&#8217; reply.
&#8220;That&#8217;s scary for a lot of people,&#8221; Trump quipped.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump on Shohei Ohtani: &quot;Is he good?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodgers</a> Manager Dave Roberts: &quot;Only getting better.&quot;
Trump: &quot;That&#39;s scary for a lot of people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/FjGxx7p1hj">pic.twitter.com/FjGxx7p1hj</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1909272732296208688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
During the ceremony, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw presented President Trump with a Los Angeles jersey emblazoned with the Trump&#8217;s name and the number 47.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw presents President Donald J. Trump with a 47 jersey. ⚾️ <a href="https://t.co/dqOM7bfamy">pic.twitter.com/dqOM7bfamy</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1909275420152787348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Mr. President, we have a gift for you as well,&#8221; he said, reaching for the jersey. After he handed it over, Trump held it up so that the crowd could see.
Following the team event, Trump even invited Ohtani to visit the Oval Office. &#8220;It’s a great honor, you’re an amazing athlete and person,&#8221; he told the star player.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Happening now behind the scenes, President Donald Trump welcomes Los Angeles <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodgers</a> Shohei Ohtani to the Oval Office…
POTUS: “It’s a great honor, you’re an amazing athlete and person…” <a href="https://t.co/LUUCspxFgu">pic.twitter.com/LUUCspxFgu</a>
&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1909282785355088306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Trump Hosts 2024 World Series Champions LA Dodgers

Trump Introduces 2024 Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Can’t Resist Throwing A Few Barbs

Trump Introduces 2024 Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Can't Resist Throwing A Few Barbs

Executive

Sports

U.S.

White House

World Series

President Donald Trump said late Friday night that he will move to issue a full pardon for late baseball legend and all-time hit leader Pete Rose, and ripped into Major League Baseball for failing to add Rose to the Hall of Fame before his death last year.
Rose is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but was banned from baseball for sports betting. Though, notably, Rose only ever bet on his team winning.
&#8220;Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as &#8216;Charlie Hustle,&#8217; into the Baseball Hall of Fame,&#8221; Trump posted to TruthSocial. &#8220;Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!&#8221;
&#8220;Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING,&#8221; the president said. &#8220;He never betted against himself, or the other team.&#8221;
Trump noted that Rose &#8220;had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.&#8221;
&#8220;Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy a**, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!&#8221; the president ended his post.
Before his death, Rose expressed regret over the betting scandal. “There’s only one thing I would change if I had to live it all over again … I would obviously turn my life around and not bet on baseball,” Rose <a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2024/09/30/pete-rose-mlb-hits-leader-obituary/2808469001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Cincinnati Enquirer back in 2018.
&#8220;Having said that, I feel like I’ve been a pretty good citizen,&#8221; he added. &#8220;You never read about me being in a bar after hours, beating up my wife, or getting into a fight with a fan and I was as gracious to everyone as I could be.”
In 2023, a year before his passing, he spoke about the MLB&#8217;s refusal to forgive him.
“I’ve been suspended over 30 years,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2023/02/08/pete-rose-says-hopes-of-reinstatement-and-cooperstown-plaque-have-greatly-diminished/?sh=4c65ddc13238" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Forbes. &#8220;That’s a long time to be suspended for betting on your own team to win. And I was wrong. But that mistake was made. Time usually heals everything. It seems like it does in baseball, except when you talk about the Pete Rose case.”

Washington Nationals v Philadelphia Phillies

Trump Says He’ll Pardon Baseball Legend Pete Rose, Goes Off On ‘Lazy-A**’ MLB For Lack Of ‘Courage’

Trump Says He’ll Pardon Baseball Legend Pete Rose, Goes Off On ‘Lazy Ass’ MLB For Lack Of ‘Courage’ 

Donald Trump

On Friday, New York Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner announced the team would no longer force its players to be clean-shaven.
“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,” Steinbrenner said in a statement posted on X. “These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Statement from Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner on the alteration of Yankees facial hair policy: <a href="https://t.co/UdEuAg3gZy">pic.twitter.com/UdEuAg3gZy</a>
&mdash; New York Yankees (@Yankees) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1892936061254271175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Steinbrenner said he spoke with several players earlier this week, including team captain Aaron Judge, right-hander Gerrit Cole and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. All were in favor of updating the policy,” MLB.com <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-change-facial-hair-policy">reported</a>.
“It’s appropriate. It makes sense,” Cole offered. “It still embodies our look and neatness, but allows for some individual freedom and a few less razor burns.”
Long beards may not pass the test; general manager Brian Cashman said: “We’re not trying to look like Duck Dynasty.” One concern expressed by the Yankees is that a free agent who sported facial hair might be lost because of the prior policy. “We never want to miss out on one player. If we miss out on one player because of that [policy], that’s too many,” manager Aaron Boone explained.
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The policy was implemented by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who had served in the military, in the 1970s. “I have nothing against long hair per se,” Steinbrenner said in 1978, “but I’m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ballclub, because I think discipline is important in an athlete. The players can joke about it, as long as they do it.”
“Winning was the most important thing to my father,” Steinbrenner added. “If somebody came and told him that they were very sure this could affect us getting the players we want to get … I think he might be a little more apt to do the change than people think, because it was about winning.”
“All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches [except for religious reasons], and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar,” the team’s player manual states. “Long sideburns and mutton chops are not specifically banned.”
In the 1970s, one of the greatest teams of all time, the Cincinnati Reds, with Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez on the team, were forbidden from sporting facial hair by general manager Bob Howsam, who was supported by manager Sparky Anderson. Howsam also banned long hair and demanded the team wear suit jackets for traveling.

Houston Astros v New York Yankees

Yankees May Now Sport ‘Well-Groomed Beards’: ‘We’re Not Trying To Look Like Duck Dynasty’

Duck Dynasty

General

New York Yankees

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/baseball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baseball</a> legend Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday afternoon, according to the San Francisco Giants. He was 93 years old.
&#8220;It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93,&#8221; the team said in a statement.
ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40382540/legendary-center-fielder-willie-mays-dies-93" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Mays had an “unmatched collection of skills” that made him “the greatest center fielder who ever lived.&#8221;
Mays made 24 All-Star teams during his Major League Baseball career — which spanned from 1951 &#8211; 1973 — and finished 6th in all-time home runs (660), 7th in runs scored (2,068), 12th in RBIs (1,909), and 13th in hits (3,293), ESPN reported.
Mays was born on May 6, 1931, in Alabama where he excelled at all the major sports early in life. He began his professional baseball career at only 17 years old when he joined the Birmingham Black Barons while he was still in high school. At 20, he became only the 10th black player in the league&#8217;s history.
He briefly had his career interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in the Korean War in 1952. He returned to the Giants in 1954.
Willie Mays&#8217; son, Michael Mays, said in a statement: &#8220;My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
There will never be another quite like Willie Mays 🧡 <a href="https://t.co/I95JW1buJF">pic.twitter.com/I95JW1buJF</a>
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1803234068747968680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Today we have lost a true legend,&#8221; said Giants Chairman Greg Johnson in a statement. &#8220;In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays&#8217; combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant.&#8221;
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&#8220;He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America,&#8221; he added. &#8220;He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.&#8221;
Giants president and chief executive officer Larry Baer said that he fell in love with baseball because of Mays.
&#8220;My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick with my dad, watching Willie patrol centerfield with grace and the ultimate athleticism,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Over the past 30 years, working with Willie, and seeing firsthand his zest for life and unbridled passion for giving to young players and kids, has been one of the joys of my life.&#8221;

Willie Mays

Baseball Legend Willie Mays Passes Away At 93

The Oakland A’s are officially moving to Sacramento starting in the 2025 season for three seasons with an option for a fourth before making their expected move to Las Vegas.
Vivek Ranadivé, the owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, joined Athletics owner John Fisher to announce the move on Thursday. The team will play its home games at Sutter Health Park, where the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats currently play.
“I’m thrilled to welcome the A&#8217;s to Sutter Health Park, where players and fans alike can enjoy a world-class baseball experience and create unforgettable memories,” Ranadivé <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/sports/article287381405.html#campaignName=sacramento_breaking_newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “Today marks the next chapter of professional sports in Sacramento. The passion of our fans is second to none, and this is an incredible opportunity to showcase one of the most dynamic and vibrant markets in the country.”
“We look forward to making Sutter Health Park our home through our move to Las Vegas,” Fisher added. “We extend our appreciation to the Kings and the City of West Sacramento for hosting the A’s while we work to complete our new ballpark in Las Vegas.”
“We explored several locations for a temporary home, including the Oakland Coliseum,” Fisher continued. “Even with the long-standing relationship and good intentions on all sides in the negotiations with Oakland, the conditions to achieve an agreement seemed out of reach. We understand the disappointment this news brings to our fans, as this season marks our final one in Oakland. Throughout this season, we will honor and celebrate our time in Oakland, and will share additional details soon.”
The Athletics were founded in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, the American League’s counterpart to the National League Philadelphia Phillies. The majority owner, Ben Shibe, was actually a minority owner in the Phillies; the legendary manager Connie Mack was not only the team’s initial manager (and would be for the next 50 years)  but also owned 25% of the team. The name was taken from the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, which had been one of the original members of the National League when it was founded in 1876 but folded after one season.
The early years for the franchise were halcyon days, as the team won pennants in 1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914 and won the World Series in 1910, 1911, and 1913. In the late 1920s, the Athletics fielded one of the finest teams ever assembled, winning pennants from 1929-1931 and winning the World Series in 1929-1930.
Fallow decades followed, and at the end of 1954, the Athletics were sold and moved to Kansas City for the 1955 season. In the years that followed, the Athletics were often accused of acting like a farm team for the New York Yankees; between 1955 and 1959, the A’s and Yankees made 16 trades involving 61 players. The Yankees procured many star players, including Roger Maris (who would break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record and win two MVP awards with the Yankees), third baseman Clete Boyer, and pitcher Ralph Terry.
Charlie Finley bought the team in 1960, and later moved them to Oakland in 1968, paving the way for the Oakland dynasty of the early 1970s. They became one of the few teams in baseball history to win three consecutive World Series championships (1972-1974) with a star-studded lineup that included an indomitable starting rotation of Catfish Hunter, Ken Holtzman, Vida Blue, and Blue Moon Odom along with reliever Rollie Fingers. They also boasted Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, and Joe Rudi. The team later won the World Series in 1989 with a team featuring Jose Canseco, Mark McGuire, and Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley.
“When I saw that this morning, it kind of hit me in the gut,” Eckersley said of the move to the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/athletics/article/dennis-eckersley-former-a-s-saddened-19386125.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Francisco Chronicle</a>. “Ugh. That’s my true reaction.”

Oakland Athletics v Milwaukee Brewers

Oakland Athletics To Move To Sacramento Starting In 2025

Oakland Athletics

Sacramento

The intricate tapestry of baseball&#8217;s history is marked by towering achievements, unforgettable moments, and, inevitably, its share of controversies. One of the most enduring debates centers on the Hall of Fame eligibility of players associated with or suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
The recent Hall of Fame vote, where former New York Yankee and Met Gary Sheffield, an exceptional talent, was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mlb-great-gary-sheffield-rips-hall-of-fame-voting-process-missing-out-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not elected</a> in his last year of eligibility due to mere suspicion of intentional steroid use (Sheffield admits to unknowingly using a topical steroidal cream in 2002 he believed to be cortisone), brings this issue into immediate focus.
This case, among a select few others, calls for a deeper examination of the MLB&#8217;s approach to steroid use, particularly before the implementation of comprehensive testing protocols in the period after the initial survey urine testing for banned steroids in 2003 and 2004 was completed.
Before 2003, Major League Baseball operated without a robust steroid testing framework, creating an environment where PED use went largely unregulated. This era, retrospectively branded as the &#8220;Steroid Era,&#8221; was characterized by record-breaking performances and a surge in the sport&#8217;s popularity.
Players like Sheffield, who competed partially during this period, now find their legacies overshadowed by punitive suspicion, despite the absence of concrete evidence against them. The question arises: Is it fair to exclude players based on suspicion alone especially when they played in an era with different norms and regulations?
The shift in MLB&#8217;s stance on steroids, notably after governmental scrutiny in the early 2000s, led to stricter policies and testing procedures. While necessary for the sport&#8217;s integrity, this transition cast a retrospective pall over the achievements of many players, complicating their Hall of Fame considerations. Yet, the post-2003-2004 landscape, where failed drug tests provide clear evidence of PED use, presents a different set of challenges and considerations.
<div id="attachment_699151" style="width: 856px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-699151" class="size-large wp-image-699151" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-52440287-846x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON - MARCH 17: (R to L) Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles, former St. Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Baltimore Orioles listen to testimony the House Committee hearing investigating steroid use in baseball on Capitol Hill March 17, 2005 in Washington, DC. Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Allen &quot;Bud&quot; Selig will give testimony regarding MLB?s efforts to eradicate steriod usage among its players. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)" width="846" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-52440287-846x576.jpg 846w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-52440287-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-52440287-768x523.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-52440287.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px" />Win McNamee/Getty Images</div>
The multitude of players whose Hall-of-Fame-worthy careers are marred by positive tests, embody this dilemma. Their cases prompt us to consider steroid use beyond the binary of right and wrong, potentially delving into the realms of addiction, physical dependency, and mental health considerations for players that may have failed tests when they were already financially secure and had no real reason to risk a loss of pay or their long-term legacies.
The discourse around PEDs in sports rarely acknowledges the potential for physical and mental dependency, akin to more recognized forms of substance abuse. Steroids, like other drugs, can lead to a complex web of dependencies that challenge the user&#8217;s ability to simply abstain. This aspect of steroid use calls for a more nuanced approach, recognizing the need for rehabilitation and mental health support for those seeking to overcome their reliance on PEDs.
The tragic cases of former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, who was a confirmed steroid user and whose homicidal actions were speculated by some to be influenced by &#8220;roid rage,&#8221; and former Major Leaguer Jeremy Giambi, also a confirmed steroid user, whose suicide raises questions about the long-term psychological impacts of steroid use, underscore the urgent need for empathy and support systems for athletes grappling with these dependencies, perhaps even years after their active playing careers have ended.
These examples highlight the darker consequences of PED use that extend beyond the playing field, into the very lives and well-being of the athletes. They should compel us to reconsider how we view steroid use in the context of sports and even the MLB Hall of Fame. Should we not extend the same understanding and support to athletes dealing with PED dependencies as we do to individuals battling other forms of addiction?
The punitive approach, which focuses solely on penalties and exclusion, fails to address what may be some serious underlying health and psychological issues associated with steroid use and does little to aid in the rehabilitation of affected athletes.
The Hall of Fame, as a custodian of baseball&#8217;s rich and varied history, has an opportunity to lead by example in this regard. By adopting a more empathetic stance towards players from the Steroid Era, and those who have struggled with PED dependencies, it can foster a more inclusive and compassionate narrative.
This doesn&#8217;t mean overlooking the use of PEDs or diminishing the importance of fair play, but rather recognizing the complexities of the era and the human struggles behind the headlines.
Moreover, the Steroid Era&#8217;s contribution to baseball&#8217;s success and appeal during the critical period after baseball restarted following the owner-initiated lockout in 1994 that halted an exciting season where players thought to be “clean” like the Chicago White Sox’s Frank Thomas and the Seattle Mariners’ Ken Griffey Jr. looked to be on the way to potentially making history as they challenged Roger Maris’ single season Home Run record, should not be understated.
Fan interest in the sport seriously waned starting in 1995 due to the previous season’s preemption, and the excitement and intrigue generated by the era&#8217;s record-breaking performances, particularly in the 1998 season, played a significant role in rejuvenating the sport, drawing in fans, and generating significant revenue. Acknowledging this era and its players in the Hall of Fame does not condone steroid use but recognizes its indelible impact on the sport&#8217;s history
In rethinking steroid bias for Hall of Fame consideration, the MLB and the broader baseball community have a chance to address one of the sport&#8217;s most contentious issues with a balanced mix of integrity, empathy, and historical perspective.
<div id="attachment_699145" style="width: 949px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-699145" class="size-large wp-image-699145" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1568488724-939x576.jpg" alt="COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK - JULY 23: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred looks on during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 23, 2023 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)" width="939" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1568488724-939x576.jpg 939w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1568488724-300x184.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1568488724-768x471.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1568488724.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px" />Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</div>
This approach would not only honor the full spectrum of baseball&#8217;s legacy but also promote a more understanding and supportive environment for athletes that may be quietly facing the challenges associated with PED dependency.
The debate over steroids and the Hall of Fame is more than a question of statistics and accolades; it&#8217;s a matter of understanding the human element behind the players&#8217; achievements and struggles. By reevaluating stances on these issues, we may potentially pave the way for a more empathetic and nuanced appreciation of the sport&#8217;s history and its heroes.
* * *
Julio Rivera is a business strategist, political commentator and columnist, and a lifelong New York sports fan. His writing has been published by many of the largest and most respected news organizations in the world.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

2004 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby

Rethinking Steroid Bias For MLB Hall Of Fame Consideration

Drugs

Readers Pass

Steroids

The Major League Baseball (MLB) All Star Game will return to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta</a> even though a Georgia voting law is still in effect that caused an uproar and resulted in the game being moved in 2021.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the All Star Game will be played at the Atlanta Braves’ ballpark, Truist Field in 2025 during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
&#8220;As a model of success on and off the field, the Braves deserve to host the All-Star Game,&#8221; Manfred <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/braves-to-host-2025-mlb-all-star-game-in-atlanta-after-losing-2021-festivities-over-georgia-voting-laws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding that he looks forward to working with the Braves to deliver an All Star Game that &#8220;brings people together and benefits the community in many ways.&#8221;
In 2021, the Braves were set to host the All Star Game, but Manfred decided to move the game to the Rockies&#8217; ballpark in Denver after an uproar over the state&#8217;s new voting law.
The Braves went on to win the World Series that year.
The Georgia voting law in question, the Election Integrity Act of 2021, restricted voting by mail and ballot drop boxes and implemented voter ID requirements. The law also requires two Saturdays of early voting ahead of general election, up from just one Saturday.
The law also banned outside groups from handing out food or water to people waiting in line to vote, but that ban was partially struck down by a federal judge in August.
Voting rights groups associated with Lebron James, Stacey Abrams, and Al Sharpton were <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stacey-abrams-urged-mlb-commissioner-move-all-star-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> pushing for the MLB to move the All Star Game, and the groups held discussions with Manfred.
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Manfred ended up concluding that the All Star Game would turn into a political event and players might even boycott the game, so the easiest solution was to move the game, sources <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stacey-abrams-urged-mlb-commissioner-move-all-star-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News at the time.
Several months after the decision to move the game, Manfred said he was “not going to get into what I would need to see changed” for Atlanta to host the All Star Game in the future.
“Atlanta is an important market to us, and it will certainly be an option at some point in the future,” Manfred <a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/rob-manfred-atlanta-an-option-at-some-point-for-future-all-star-game/IQYQ6OLGAZGGFIZR5JESFHOB7Q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in July 2021.
The MLB commissioner addressed his previous decision during Thursday&#8217;s press conference.
&#8220;I made the decision in 2021 to move the event, and I understand that — believe me — people had then and probably still have different views as to the merits of that decision,&#8221; Manfred <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/1725220763584565602" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.

2024 MLB All-Star Logo Unveiling

MLB All Star Game Returns To Atlanta Despite Uproar Over ‘Jim Crow’ Voting Laws

MLB All Star Game Returns To Atlanta Despite Uproar Over 'Jim Crow' Voting Laws

Atlanta

Georgia

Mail-In Voting

Social Issues

Voting

Former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/major-league-baseball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Major League Baseball</a> star Steve Garvey announced on Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate in the 2024 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> race as a Republican, saying that his campaign would focus on “quality of life” issues and returning California to being the “heartbeat” of America.
Garvey, 74, had a lengthy MLB career spanning from 1969-1987 where he played first base for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> and the San Diego Padres. The former baseball player, who won the National League MVP award in 1974, told The Daily Wire that he decided to run after seeing the “dysfunction” of Washington, D.C.
“I talk about a chorus of career politicians from the state of California that have told people what’s good for them, that your life is great, and it’s just not true,” Garvey said in an interview. “They know that their life could be better. They know they’ve seen better days in California, that’s why they are still here; they love California. But they need help.”
Garvey, whose <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC44seizfO8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first campaign ad</a> highlighted his baseball career, indicated that he would use the relationship he built with Californians during his MLB career to earn support.
“I’ve had this 50-year love affair with California, starting with when I first put on a Dodger uniform back on September 1, 1969,” he said. “The fans knew that I played for them, I played honestly, and gave my 100 percent.”
Key issues he said he would focus on included addressing economic challenges like the rising price of food and gasoline, affordable housing, supporting law enforcement, and education. He also said that the border should be secured and that the government needed to “shut down the sources of illicit drugs that are killing Americans.”
As senator, he said that he would focus on making &#8220;common sense decisions for the people of California.” In previous <a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-senate-steve-garvey-baseball-ce5fb39988916e7eb91ec0c5a31c9c1b?taid=6525473069f2640001d99e94&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviews</a>, he said that he would uphold the state’s stance on abortion and would not support a nationwide abortion ban.
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As a Republican, Garvey faces an uphill climb, as a Republican has not won a national Senate seat in over 30 years. Garvey previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/10/steve-garvey-california-senate/#:~:text=Former%20Major%20League%20Baseball%20player,who%20died%20earlier%20this%20month." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he voted for former President Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020.
Democrats in the race for deceased California Senator Dianne Feinstein’s former seat include Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Katie Porter, and Rep. Barbara Lee. California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler, a radical pro-abortion activist, to Feinstein’s seat earlier this month.
Garvey said that ordinary people had been left behind by California polices and that politicians were not making decisions beneficial to the state or the country.
“I saw such a dysfunction in Washington in career politicians really living for the business of politics and not for the people of California or this country,” Garvey told The Daily Wire.

Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Four

Former Baseball MVP Running For Senate In California As Republican

2024 Election

California

Elections

Senate

Former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/boston">Boston</a> 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.
&#8220;Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield,&#8221; the team&#8217;s official X account posted. &#8220;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.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
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… <a href="https://t.co/ah5kV2Yt8j">pic.twitter.com/ah5kV2Yt8j</a>
&mdash; Red Sox (@RedSox) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1708550648914903185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last week, Wakefield&#8217;s former teammate, Curt Schilling, faced backlash after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-wakefield-illness-curt-schilling-8f068c984b7c3e5924b3d27f0cd05832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealing</a> 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, &#8220;Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission.&#8221;
&#8220;Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease,&#8221; Red Sox officials reportedly said. &#8220;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.&#8221;
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.
&#8220;I was disappointed [the Pirates] were giving up on me that quick [as a hitter],&#8221; Wakefield said in his memoir, &#8220;Knuckler: My Life with Baseball&#8217;s Most Confounding Pitch,&#8221; <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38539709/former-red-sox-knuckleballer-tim-wakefield-dies-brain-caner-57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to ESPN. &#8220;But then, they basically told me, &#8216;You&#8217;re going to pitch or you&#8217;re going to go home.&#8217; So I said, &#8216;OK, I&#8217;ll pitch.'&#8221;
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 — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-wakefield-death-red-sox-ae1f9bd465fbefede0d030f915b1f988?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> placing him behind legendary baseball players Cy Young and Roger Clemens in the team&#8217;s history.
According to ESPN, he finished his career with a 4.41 ERA with 2,156 strikeouts &#8212; and 1,205 walks &#8212; in 3,226 2/3 innings pitched over 627 appearances (463 starts).
&#8220;There were some years there where I didn&#8217;t know if I was going to come back or not,&#8221; Wakefield said at his 2012 retirement news conference. &#8220;But I&#8217;m very grateful that I&#8217;ve been able to put this uniform on for such a long time, and win two World Series for this great city.&#8221;
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&#8217;s 120-year-plus history.
Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement on Sunday following Wakefield&#8217;s passing that &#8220;Tim&#8217;s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball.&#8221;
&#8220;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,&#8221; Henry said. &#8220;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.&#8221;
Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said, &#8220;It&#8217;s one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it&#8217;s another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both.&#8221;
&#8220;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,&#8221; Werner said. &#8220;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.&#8221;
Wakefield is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their children, Trevor and Brianna.

(082611, Boston, MA) Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield (49) as the Red Sox take on the Athletics at Fenway Park. Friday, August 26, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill)

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