OT: RIP, Tim Wakefield

[marzoumanian]

Just saw a blurb on the MLB Network that Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield passed away of brain cancer at 57. So sad. Won exactly 200 games. Nice guy who was always willing to help his fellow pitchers. Won two WS rings with the Red Sox (2004 and 2007). I just read that the Red Sox team was upset that Curt Schilling revealed Wakefield's brain cancer without his permission. That's also unfortunate. RIP, Mr. Wakefield, and thank you.

[judsonhamlin]

One of my favorite Sox. No ego, charitable in many ways and by all reports, a great teammate.

[FrankWakefield]

Tim Wakefield was a good guy.

In 1992 he shows up in the Majors at the end of the season, and goes 8-1 for the Pirates with a 2.15 ERA. Then, in the first playoff rounds, he wins 2 games, both complete games (for the 21st century folk that's where the starting pitcher starts and finishes the game), with a 3.00 ERA. That was against the Braves, who were a pretty good team at the time.

Until I hear differently, I'll give Schilling the benefit of the doubt... but it was insensitive, it wasn't his information to be telling.

[Brian Van Horn]

RIP Tim Wakefield. Loved when he pitched for the Pirates.

[mrreality68]

Great personality and great competitor

RIP

[BobbyStrawberry]

RIP. We need more knuckleballers in the game today!

[GoCubsGo32]

Very sad hearing this news.

Tim is from my local hometown and was a extremely kind & generous person. Tim & his family were involved in a lot charitable work and made a great impact in so many different ways. Heartbroken for The Wakefield family. I can't imagine what their family is going through right now. Lord please help them. Prayers.

RIP Tim.

[Casey2296]

Way too young to go, RIP Tim.

[Brian]

I am a die-hard Yankees fan and watched many a game that he pitched in the post-season. This is truly sad news. He was a great competitor and great sport. Condolences to his family and loved ones, who are going through too much. Very sad.

[jayshum]

Sad news for sure, and from what was reported when his illness was first made public a few days ago, his wife also has cancer. It's hard to imagine what their family is going through right now. Condolences and best wishes to all of them.

[mainemule]

I am exactly the same age as Wake and this hits hard. Both of us born summer of '66. He certainly experienced the highs and lows as a player, first not making it as a position player, living the life of a knuckler, giving up the 03 homer to Boone, then coming back to save the Sox pen in 04 and we know the rest.2 WS, 200 wins AND a Roberto Clemente award.

Tears streamed down my face watching the Sox pregame show today as Tom Caron (pre-game host) could barely get through the news and Dave OBrien and Kevin Youkilis on the game intro were so clearly emotional.

This shows the fragility of life and we should appreciate every day with the ones we love.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Another baseball player dead by brain cancer. NYT had an article couple years back about the correlation between astro turf (which emits cancer causing fine particulates) and baseball players. I think there were 5-6 players from Philly that all died from the same brain cancer that Wake had. I believe he spent time in Pittsburgh who had astro turf at that time. Gotta wonder...

RIP. Loved watching him pitch and he was just as good in the booth.

[Kutcher55]

This is sad. I remember when Wakefield joined the Sox in 1995 he was absolutely unhittable for the first 4 months or so of the year. I think at one point he was 16-1 with a sub 2 ERA. The Boston Herald had a headline during that hot summer that read, “Wake and Bake.” After that, he got racked for most of the remainder of the year and finished 17-10 or so. When he was good he was very good but sometimes the knuckler didn’t flutter. That said, while he could be inconsistent on the mound he was apparently a very reliable and much loved teammate and family man.

[Snapolit1]

Yeah, remember that. Tug McGraw was one of the players.

He dies early of aggressive brain cancer and his wife is battling Alzheimer’s. Life can really suck sometimes.

Why I could quite get on board with the everything happens for a reason crowd.

QUOTE=ajjohnsonsoxfan;2377415]Another baseball player dead by brain
cancer. NYT had an article couple years back about the correlation between astro turf (which emits cancer causing fine particulates) and baseball players. I think there were 5-6 players from Philly that all died from the same brain cancer that Wake had. I believe he spent time in Pittsburgh who had astro turf at that time. Gotta wonder...

RIP. Loved watching him pitch and he was just as good in the booth.[/QUOTE]

[jbsports33]

Was able to see him in person many times, he will be missed - god bless his family!

[JimmyC]

Being a Yankees fan, it has always been hard to root for any Red Sox player over the years.....There were exceptions for me...Yaz, Tiant, Rice, Boggs, Varitek......and of course Wakefield....Probably my favorite Sox player of all time...I would always try to watch when he pitched.....and to this day, I'll never forget when Boone went deep on him and how upset I was....as a Yankees fan....

Love the Wake - great player - great family man - great human....

RIP Tim....