In Tribute to Tim Wakefield

    

    It is with great sadness that I write in response to the passing of Tim Wakefield, who was passed away on Sunday October 1st in his home as a victim to brain cancer. Tim Wakefield was a hero for the Boston Red Sox and not just on the field... he was a hero to the community and the city... of Boston. Wakefield was never the greatest player on the Red Sox... he had the biggest heart. Wakefield had a career total of 186 wins for the Boston Red Sox, second only to Cy Young and Roger Clemens, showing his tenure and total career was in elite company.

    Wakefield was the embodiment of overcoming adversity, in 2003 he gave up the walk off to Aaron Boone and the Yankees, he would comeback and play a huge role in the Boston Red Sox breaking  the curse of the Bambino and winning the world series championship for the first time in 86 years. Wakefield also gave up his roster spot in 2007 he knew he had an injury to put the team above himself, a selfless act to not force himself to be the hero and give the Red Sox the best chance to win in his eyes. Wakefield had a rocky beginning but never collapsed fully to the pressure. In his early career he was a short stop and was almost of the league with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then was a starter for the Red Sox, he went into relief... he went into closing, and then back to starting once he had mastered his famous mastery of his Knuckle Ball Pitch.

    Tim Wakefield was an electric talent in the starting rotation for the Boston Red Sox. His mastery of the Knuckle Ball was one of a kind I remember growing up watching him pitch it was quite the sight. Wakefield also had a curve that he was known less for but was also in his arsenal. Tim Wakefield pitched for the Red Sox all the way up to 2011 spanning a 19 year season all the way until he was 45 years old. Where this news hits so hard was he was one of the players we watched growing up. The Red Sox fans of my generation saw Tim Wakefield has a childhood hero... he was never the most talented player, this made him so relatable. 

        After his playing Career finished Wakefield still did a phenomenal job in the NESN Booth as an MLB Broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox. He began as Boston Red Sox analyst in 2017 in time to compare the great talents of the famous 2018 Boston Red Sox with his own 2004 brigade that broke the curse. Wakefield was a broadcaster all the way into this year of 2023.

    Tim Wakefield was raised in Melbourne Florida he came to Boston where he met his wife and married in to the city. The City of Boston loves Tim Wakefield and now mourn his passing. Wakefield received the Roberto Clemente award in 2010 for his exemplary work in the community for the City of Boston and surrounding towns. Wakefield was a pioneer for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber cancer institute. He was just a one of a kind human being, and the city of Boston now mourns his loss. Thank you for being the hero to the city on and off the field in Fenway Park... we'll always love you and never forget you. Rest in Peace, God Bless you, Tim Wakefield.