Tim Wakefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tim Wakefield |
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Wakefield pitching for the Red Sox in 2006
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 2, 1966 Melbourne, Florida, U.S. |
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| Died: October 1, 2023 (aged 57) Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 31, 1992, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 2011, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 200–180 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.41 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,156 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966 – died October 1, 2023) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He was famous for throwing a special pitch called a knuckleball.
Wakefield started his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But he is best known for playing 17 years with the Boston Red Sox. He played for the Red Sox from 1995 until he retired in 2012. He was the longest-serving player on the team. When he retired at age 45, he was the oldest active player in the major leagues.
Wakefield won his 200th career game on September 13, 2011. He is third in career wins for the Red Sox (186 wins). Only Cy Young and Roger Clemens have more. He is also second in wins at Fenway Park (97 wins). He holds the Red Sox record for most innings pitched with 3,006 innings. Wakefield was an All-Star in 2009. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 for his community work.
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Early Life and College Baseball
Tim Wakefield was born in Melbourne, Florida, on August 2, 1966. He went to Eau Gallie High School. Then he attended Florida Institute of Technology. There, he played college baseball for the Florida Tech Panthers.
In college, he played as a first baseman. He was named the team's most valuable player twice. He set a school record with 22 home runs in one season. He also set the career home run record with 40. In 2006, his jersey number, No. 3, was retired by the college. This means no other player at Florida Tech can wear that number.
Professional Baseball Career
Pittsburgh Pirates Team
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Pittsburgh Pirates picked Wakefield in the 1988 MLB draft. He was drafted as a first baseman. A scout told him he might not make it far as a hitter. So, Wakefield started learning to throw the knuckleball. This special pitch made him famous.
The next year, Wakefield started pitching professionally. He played for the Single-A Buccaneers. He did so well that he became a full-time pitcher in 1990. He led his league in games started and innings pitched. In 1991, he moved up to Double-A. He led all Pirates minor league pitchers in wins, innings, and complete games.
Playing in the Major Leagues (1992–1994)
In 1992, Wakefield started the season in Triple-A. He was called up to the major leagues on July 31. In his first MLB game, Wakefield pitched a complete game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He struck out 10 batters.
Wakefield helped the Pirates reach the playoffs that year. He started 13 games and had a great record of 8 wins and 1 loss. He won the National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award. In the playoffs, the Pirates played the Atlanta Braves. Wakefield won both of his starts against Braves star Tom Glavine. He pitched two complete games.
In 1993, Wakefield was the Pirates' Opening Day starter. But he struggled and was sent back to Double-A. He finished the season with 6 wins and 11 losses. Wakefield spent most of 1994 in Triple-A. The Pirates released him in April 1995.
Boston Red Sox Team
Six days after leaving the Pirates, Wakefield signed with the Boston Red Sox. He worked with former knuckleball pitchers Phil and Joe Niekro. They taught him to use the knuckleball as a pitch to get batters out. He played well in Triple-A before joining the Red Sox.
Early Years with the Red Sox (1995–1998)
In 1995, the Red Sox needed pitchers because of injuries. Wakefield was called up and became a very reliable starter. He started the season with a 14–1 record and a low earned run average (ERA). He finished the year with 16 wins and 8 losses. He helped the Red Sox win their division. He also won the Comeback Player of the Year award. He finished third in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award.
From 1996 to 1998, Wakefield won 43 games. In 1997, he hit 16 batters with pitches, which was the most in MLB. He did this again in 2001, hitting a career-high 18 batters.
Switching Roles (1999–2002)
In 1999, the Red Sox's main relief pitcher, Tom Gordon, got hurt. So, Wakefield became the team's new closer for a while. On August 10, 1999, he did something rare. He struck out four batters in one inning. This can happen with a knuckleball because it's hard to catch. He recorded 15 saves before going back to being a starting pitcher.
Because he was good as both a starter and a relief pitcher, Wakefield often switched roles. He moved between being a starter and a relief pitcher from 2000 to 2002.
World Series Wins (2003–2008)
Wakefield became a full-time starter again in 2003. In the 2003 playoffs, he pitched well against the New York Yankees. He won both of his starts against their pitcher Mike Mussina. But in Game 7, he gave up a home run in extra innings. This home run sent the Yankees to the World Series. Wakefield apologized to fans after the game.
In 2004, Wakefield helped the Red Sox win the ALCS against the Yankees. The Red Sox were losing the series badly. Wakefield volunteered to pitch in a game to save other pitchers. He pitched well, and the Red Sox started to come back. In Game 5, he pitched from the bullpen and earned the win in a 14-inning game. The Red Sox then beat the Yankees.
The Red Sox went on to the 2004 World Series. They swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in 86 years. Wakefield pitched in Game 1 of the World Series.
In 2005, Wakefield signed a special contract that could keep him with the Red Sox for the rest of his career. He led the Red Sox pitchers with 16 wins that season. In 2007, he finished with 17 wins. He was not on the World Series roster that year because of a shoulder injury.
Later Years and Records (2009–2011)
In 2009, Wakefield started his 15th season with the Red Sox. On April 15, he pitched a complete game win. He was 42 years old, making him the oldest Red Sox pitcher to do so. He broke his own record in his next start with another complete game.
Wakefield led the team with 10 wins by July 2009. He also passed Roger Clemens for the most starts in Red Sox history. He was named an AL All-Star, becoming the second-oldest first-time All-Star at 42.
In 2010, Wakefield started his 16th season. On May 12, he got his 2,000th career strikeout. On June 8, he passed Roger Clemens for the most innings pitched by a Red Sox pitcher. He also became one of only a few active pitchers with 3,000 innings pitched. On July 2, he passed Clemens again for the most starts at Fenway Park. On September 8, he became the oldest Red Sox pitcher to win a game.
On October 28, 2010, Wakefield received the Roberto Clemente Award. This award is given to players who are great on the field and in their community.
In 2011, Wakefield started his 17th season with the Red Sox. He became the oldest player ever to appear for the Red Sox at 44 years old. On July 24, he got his 2,000th strikeout as a Red Sox player. He also earned his 199th career win.
It took him eight tries to get his 200th career win. He finally did it on September 13, 2011, against the Toronto Blue Jays. This was a big win for the Red Sox. Wakefield retired on February 17, 2012.
Wakefield finished his Red Sox career with many records. He was third in wins, second in strikeouts, first in games started, and first in innings pitched.
How He Pitched
Wakefield's main pitch was the knuckleball. This pitch moves in unpredictable ways. It floats and flutters because it spins very little. The speed of his knuckleball was usually between 45 and 69 miles per hour. How much it fluttered depended on things like temperature, humidity, and wind.
Knuckleball pitchers can often pitch more often than other pitchers. This is because throwing a knuckleball puts less stress on their arm. Wakefield also threw a fastball (around 71–75 mph) and a curveball (around 57–61 mph).
Special Catchers
Catching a knuckleball is very hard. Because of this, the Red Sox sometimes had a special catcher just for Wakefield. This catcher was good at defense and caught most of his games. For many years, Doug Mirabelli was his personal catcher. Mirabelli used a special mitt, like a softball catcher's mitt.
Later, other catchers like Josh Bard, Kevin Cash, George Kottaras, and Victor Martinez also caught for Wakefield.
After Baseball
In June 2012, Wakefield became a TV analyst for Red Sox games on NESN. He continued this job through the 2023 season. He also became a spokesperson for Farmington Bank in 2015.
Wakefield was part owner of a restaurant in Pembroke, Massachusetts.
Personal Life
Wakefield became an evangelical Christian in 1990. He met his wife, Stacy Stover, in Massachusetts. They got married on November 9, 2002. They had two children, Trevor and Brianna.
Helping Others
Wakefield was nominated eight times for the Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors players who give back to their community. He won the award in 2010. He worked with the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston. He brought patients to Fenway Park to spend time with him.
Wakefield also hosted a yearly celebrity golf tournament. This event raised over $10 million for the Space Coast Early Intervention Center. This center helps children with special needs. He also supported other charities like Pitching In for Kids and the Touch 'Em All Foundation.
In 2007, Wakefield released a special charity wine called CaberKnuckle. All the money from the wine went to Pitching in for Kids. It raised over $100,000.
In 2013, the Red Sox named Wakefield Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation. In this role, he helped with fundraising and community service.
Death
Tim Wakefield died on October 1, 2023, at his home in Massachusetts. He passed away from a seizure caused by brain cancer.
See also
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- List of Boston Red Sox team records
- List of knuckleball pitchers
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
- List of oldest Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders
