Tim Wakefield has passed away from brain cancer at 57 (10/1 update)
- Thread starter BoSox Rule
- Start date
Jeezus fucking christ! So sad right now! This has to be kicking the shit out of his teammates. Great fucking guy. Shit!!
Wakefield resurrected his baseball career multiple times over the years. In the minors he washed out as a first baseman, so he switched to the knuckleball. After his first year in Pittsburgh, his results regressed significantly and he found himself back in the minors, getting his knuckles beat in. He came back and had a spectacular year in 1995, only to struggle again in '96. But in each case he recovered and fought back to re-claim his career. He was a starter, a reliever, a mop-up guy, even a closer. He talked about the mental challenge of throwing the damnable pitch for a living, and fought that bastard all the way to 200 wins.
He was a shining example of perseverance and character.
He was a shining example of perseverance and character.
I was thinking we at least open the “money where you mouth is” thread donations to one of those in addition to the customary Jimmy Fund. I’ll be contributing $96 for James Paxton IP plus $49 in memory of Wake.
I burst into tears at this news--just beyond imagining. His career, his family, his youthfulness. Plus, his wife going through illness as he dies. I would prefer if someone could figure out a way SoSH could send messages to the family, rather than a fundraiser.
Loved him as a player, loved him as a commentator and as a Sox ambassador and most of all as an intelligent, compassionate, honourable person.
Words escape me. This is beyond sad.
Words escape me. This is beyond sad.
I don’t know if it’s the first one of the 25 to go fact, or that he was a such an awesome guy, team Ambassador, and gave it all for the Red Sox foundation and several other charitable endeavors, or something else, but these first 10-15 minutes after finding out and posting and acceptance, are just brutal. Just unbelievable unexpected sadness and tears
Wake was always one of my favorite Sox. His jersey was actually the firs one I owned as an adult. I was fortunate enough to meet him last summer at a talk he did for some financial company. I was lucky enough to get some private time with him and shared some family sox stories with him. I teared up a little talking to him about 2004. Hearing this news has me tearing up again.
$49 donated to Dana Farber - RIP Wake
$49 donated to Dana Farber - RIP Wake
I was 8 years old in 1995, basically the beginning of my real awareness of the team and individual players and that sort of thing. Nomar obviously became my totem as he did for so many, but as mikeford said above, Wake was a semi-mystical unending presence on the team. The kind of oddball career that really can only happen in baseball. Feel really lucky to have enjoyed ALL of it, and really sad for everyone who knew him and took the field with him.
Do we know when they removed the artificial turf at Three Rivers? My google fu skills can’t figure that out
View: https://twitter.com/JoeGiza/status/1707563154689995009
I was on the verge before but this is turning the faucet on the waterworks. Goddamn.
I was on the verge before but this is turning the faucet on the waterworks. Goddamn.
RIP Wake. Brain cancer is very very bad. And very quick.
Edit: and prayers for his family and especially his wife in her own cancer fight. Heartbreaking for that family, and for all his friends. I hope there’s a memorial at Fenway when the time is right.
Edit: and prayers for his family and especially his wife in her own cancer fight. Heartbreaking for that family, and for all his friends. I hope there’s a memorial at Fenway when the time is right.
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Absolutely tragic to lose such a good guy, who was part of our Red Sox experience. The legacy of good works he left behind will endure in our memories. Deepest condolances to his family and to all of us who saw who he really was.
Tim loved being a Red Sox and being a Bostonian/New Englander. Things like this aren’t supposed to happen to guys like him but cancer does not discriminate. I loved him
One of our own and one of the best. An even greater person. There are some children angels from Dana Farber who will be greeting him with open arms today in heaven. God bless you, Wake.
Gutting. Far too young. Far too good a person to be robbed of his happy retirement
Yeah, this right here.
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that the Sox will officially retire #49. Too bad he won't be around to see it, but important to do anyway.
The quick passing reminds me of Steve Harwell recently of Smashmouth.
Basically learned of his sickness, and then he was gone. Norm Mcdonald was similar...just...it all sucks.
Basically learned of his sickness, and then he was gone. Norm Mcdonald was similar...just...it all sucks.
Wakefield pitched his first game for the Red Sox when I was 10 years old and his last when I was 27. Even within a sport and team I treasure as a daily anchor amid the vagaries of life and the passage of time, he was a special case. Every time Wakefield took the mound he was at the mercy of wind currents and atmospheric conditions, the laws of physics and the quirks of nature. The knuckleball will do whatever it does; we can only control it so much. All we can do is grip it, throw it, hope for the best, and then throw it again.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. Devastating loss for the world, especially to the Red Sox and their fans. May your ample soul rest peacefully, Mr. Wakefield.
Sad beyond words. Certainly one of the true good guys - who really got this town and team. Also (while this will be known to most on this site) one of the most important and transformational players in Red Sox history. Bridging the gap from the Clemens to the Pedro years, epitomising the type of player who would do whatever is necessary to win - and in many ways being ahead of the curve in terms of what the modern approach to pitching value would become. But above all - it was so much fun to watch him pitch when he was on form. Ar dheis De do raibh a anam.
ASAP with a fitting celebration of the man on opening day. I hope that Stacy is here and well enough to attend to feel the love and adoration.
