153 replies to this topic

[SoxScout]

All beat writers reporting...

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

No surprise.

[Corsi]

Pretty incredible career, all things considered. Best of luck, Wake.

[jsinger121]

About time

[Foulkey Reese]

Thank god. Hell of a career though.

Forever one of the 25.

[amh03]

One of my favorite Red Sox of all time!

[greek_gawd_of_walks]

Congrats to us and congrats to Wake.

[TheoShmeo]

Love the Wake, appreciate the many great moments, and appreciate the innings he ate over the years.

Still, this is fantastic news.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Can anyone find a live stream of the Press Conference to post? I'm at work and can't watch it

[I am an Idiot]

Even though it would have taken another 20 years, I wish he got to first all time on the Sox Wins list.

[Rough Carrigan]

This seems like the right decision.

Hell of a good guy, by all accounts and a part of 9 Red Sox playoff teams including 2 world series champions.

Thank you Timmeh!

[cheekydave]

Great news for everyone. Thanks for never playing for the Yankee$$ so we can always hold you in the highest esteem.

[Yazdog8]

Thank you Wake. And thank you Ben for those not so subtle hints that helped Wake to this day.

[Lose Remerswaal]

56th on the All Time Strikeout list, would have needed 90 more to get into the Top 50.

[Corsi]

Wakefield was the reason I became so enamored with baseball. I was a soon-to-be 9-year-old during that summer run in 1995 in which he rattled off 14 wins in 15 decisions. I was absolutely mesmerized by the knuckleball and had my dad in the backyard all summer practicing the pitch to the point where I could eventually throw a halfway decent one. I've been in love with baseball ever since.

edit: And we share the same birthday, so as a kid, I found that cool.

Edited by Corsi, 17 February 2012 - 12:07 PM.

[EddieYost]

Good for him. Great career.

[TomRicardo]

Wakefield was the reason I became so enamored with baseball. I was a soon-to-be 9-year-old during that summer run in 1995 in which he rattled off 14 wins in 15 decisions. I was absolutely mesmerized by the knuckleball and had my dad in the backyard all summer practicing the pitch to the point where I could eventually throw a halfway decent one. I've been in love with baseball ever since.

Thanks for ruining Wakefield for me.

Beyond bringing Corsi upon us, Wakefield had an incredible career that brought an amazing amount of value to the Sox. Now only Youkilis exists from the Duquette era.

[RedOctober3829]

Thanks Timmy! I will never, ever, ever forget you giving yourself up in Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS and saving the bullpen when they needed it the most. It played a major part in setting up what is and will always be the Greatest Comeback in Sports History. You were the consummate professional in every way.

[The Long Tater]

200 - 180 looks just fine.

Good luck, Wake

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

It's easy to forget that this guy was getting his ass kicked in AAA Buffalo the year before he signed in Boston. From flash in the pan to an immensely long, successful career. That's a tremendous achievement.

[Cumberland Blues]

I too really wish he's made it to 192....but I also agree that the time had come. The real downside here is that
unless Jamie Moyer makes the Rockies, Omar Vizquel will be the only MLBer older than me.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I'm glad he got to 200 wins, but man was that last hump painful to get over. He's not going to get a real shot at the rotation this year and might not even make the roster if he shows up at camp, so this makes sense. He brought a ton of value to the franchise and will always be one of the 25. Tip of the cap...

[JBill]

Still remember reading the reports that he was distraught in the clubhouse after Aaron Boone, and his fear that he would become another Buckner. A million different things made me happy about 2004, and watching Wake celebrate in Yankee Stadium a year later after his ALCS contributions was one of the best.

[fuzzy_one]

Never had much use for grown men wearing another guy's name on their backs, but I was thrilled to get a 49 shirt (name and all) for Christmas. Much admiration for both the man and the ballplayer. Unlike many here, I always loved watching Wake pitch and am genuinely sad to see him go.

I hope he remains with (or returns to) the organization in some useful capacity.

[Corsi]

With Tim Wakefield retiring, the only Boston athletes left from the 1990s are Kevin Faulk and Paul Pierce. Jason Varitek? We'll see.

https://twitter.com/#!/_BLowe/status/170555083216535552

We can probably cross both Tek and Faulk off that list.

[djhb20]

I guess this is good (I certainly prefer it to him playing somewhere else this year), but it's going to suck having a Red Sox squad without Tim Wakefield on it. He's been a hero, he's been shit upon, and everything in between over the past 17 years. But throughout it all, he's always given the Red Sox everything he had, on and off the field, and almost always done so without (public) complaining, even signing incredibly team-friendly contracts. In Boston:

186-168, 4.43 ERA, 590G (430 GS), 26 CG, 3 SHOs, 22 SVs, 3006 IP, 2931 H, 1095 BB, 2046 K, 401 HRA (yikes!), and 1.34 WHIP

Pretty damn good.

Thanks for all the memories. A sad day, even if it is time.

[24JoshuaPoint]

My favorite. The one and only jersey i will ever own.

[mikeford]

Glad I got to see him pitch.
R.A. Dickey's knuckleball can't compare to the real deal from Wakefield.
So long Tim. Thanks for keeping that pitch alive for so long.

[Dehere]

One of the five best knuckleballers ever. Not many guys can claim to be one of the five best to ever throw a specific pitch.

[xmbush]

Thank you Tim Wakefield.

One of the 25.

[The Hit Dog]

Great career. Thanks Tim. Might be time for a jersey.

[SoxScout]

Pitchers with more wins than Wakefield 1995-2011: Halladay, Glavine, Pedro, Moyer, Mussina, Johnson, Maddux, Pettitte

Pitchers with more losses than Wakefield 1995-2011: Livan Hernandez

[El Tiante]

_{One of my favorite Red Sox players. Best of luck Tim. Thank you.}

[PaulinMyrBch]

It's amazing what the scrap heap produced for Boston sports. Wake and Ortiz, unwanted by all, and Tom Brady I guess...wow.

Truly amazing career.

[jose melendez]

I bought a Wakefield Jersey in 1995. One of the best purchases I ever made.

[JimD]

Best move for all concerned. One of my favorite Sox players of all time, so I'm glad to see him bow out in a classy manner.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

186-168, 4.43 ERA (106 ERA+) over 3000 IP in Boston. Pretty impressive.

[Savin Hillbilly]

I will always have a soft spot for Tim Wakefield. He was a good pitcher for several years and a decent one for a bunch more, but he also seemed like a genuinely nice guy and certainly a consummate team player. I really wish he had made it to the team win record, but I think Cherington made the right call and I hope Wake has made his peace with it.

[terrisus]

Always thought he was a bit overlooked because "Oh, he's just throwing a knuckleball."
If it were that easy, and a player could make a career out of it just like that, plenty of other people would be doing it as well.

He always seemed to be willing to do whatever was needed in order to help the team, and there always seemed to be a need for him at once place or another.
While I realize he couldn't keep pitching forever, and his numbers the past couple of years weren't as great, I can't help but feel that, at some point this season, we're going to be wishing he were still around.

That said, there were many great moments with him on the team. The unbelievable ride that was 1995. The juxtaposition of the 2003 and 2004 playoffs. The random nights when the knuckler would just be dancing and no one could come within a foot of it. And just feeling like he would be around forever.

[Zomp]

I'll forgive Wakefield for starting roughly 65% of the games I saw live at Fenway (over 100).

Hell of a career.

[PC Drunken Friar]

I'll forgive Wakefield for starting roughly 65% of the games I saw live at Fenway (over 100).

Hell of a career.

I loved going to Wake games, you knew they wouldn't be a 3 1/2 hour marathon contest.

Maybe he will throw one last Knuckler on Opening Day?

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

Congrats Wakefield - you had a helluva career.

[mauidano]

Whew. This is ending appropriately. It's never easy to say goodbye, especially as a pro athlete. Tim will forever be a Red Sox and beloved in "the Nation". He will be honored and respected by the organization accordingly. Tek, are you listening and watching?

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

It's time, but he'll be missed nonetheless. For my money, one of the most remarkable careers in Red Sox history.

[TallerThanPedroia]

Take it easy, Tim.

[Laser Show]

I'll forgive Wakefield for starting roughly 65% of the games I saw live at Fenway (over 100).

Hell of a career.

Holy shit this. I'd bet he's pitched at least half the games I've seen at Fenway.

Wish he could've kept that thing fluttering a bit longer for the Sox win record, but ultimately this was the right choice.

Thanks for everything Tim.

Edited by Laser Show, 17 February 2012 - 01:21 PM.

[Billy Jo Robidoux]

I'll forgive Wakefield for starting roughly 65% of the games I saw live at Fenway (over 100).

I came in here to say the same thing. I think I saw more Wakefield starts than Wakefield himself.

[E5 Yaz]

Sure, he got crotchety toward the end, but his willingness to do whatever was asked was remarkable. Watching him save games was a kick, as were those runs early on when he just kept winning. And, of course, volunteering to be the sacrificial lamb in the 04 ALCS. Hope he throws an insane first-pitch knuckler when they have his day at Fenway.

[941827]

I'll never forget how he single-handled salvaged a West Coast swing in his first two starts for the Sox (in 1995), the second on two days' rest.

http://www.baseball-...1&t=p&year=1995

I was sure he'd join an NL team for a final run, but I'm glad to see him go out on his terms.

Edited by 941827, 17 February 2012 - 01:25 PM.

[bankshot1]

One of my favorite Sox players ever.

Thanks Timmy