Tim Wakefield has passed away from brain cancer at 57 (10/1 update)

[tims4wins]

Trying to find that picture from game 5 of the 2004 ALCS with a bunch of the SPs (including Wake) walking out to the bullpen sometime during the late innings (prior to extras). A classic.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Having lived a few years in Melbourne, Florida, where he was born and raised and then went to college at Florida Tech, I can tell you that all the stories you've heard about Wake being a great guy who never forgot where he came from are very, very true. This is very painful news.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

If it is the moment I think it is, wasn't the third out a strikeout that Tek somehow caught the third strike? They looked like little kids who just got away with something coming off the field.

Oh, and fuck Curt Schilling

 

[Jnai]

Man. Fuck cancer.

 

[joe dokes]

Trying to find that picture from game 5 of the 2004 ALCS with a bunch of the SPs (including Wake) walking out to the bullpen sometime during the late innings (prior to extras). A classic.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

The tension of the top of the 13th had me in tears when it ended.

2004 ALCS Gm5: Wakefield fans Sierra to end top 13th - YouTube

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Wakefield is one of the all-time greats and it's not a time to remember what he did, I can only hope that he beats this and is on NESN for many, many years to come.

But we still have a little time to remember what a piece of shit Curt Schilling is. Fuck that guy forever.

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

Horrible news.

I can't believe how big a sack of shit Schilling is. I didn't think it was possible for my opinion of him could be lower but here we are.

 

[Sandwich Pick]

I fell in love with the Red Sox in 1995. Wakefield was as big a reason as any. We are so lucky to have witnessed such a unique, successful and fun career.

People rightly talk about Pesky and Remy as Mr. Red Sox, but Wake is who I think of when I think of that phrase.

I can still recall my immediate thoughts when Boone hit that homer:

• My girlfriend came up from out of town and I’ve ignored her all night to watch this game. Our relationship is over.
• I never saw 75 or 86, but it’s my turn now.
• Why did it have to be Wake? I wish anyone else had given up that homer.

His effort was heroic. He didn’t deserve to be Eck to Boone’s Gibson.

Wake was redeemed in 2004. I’m wishing him and his family the very best.

Lost in the absolute shitshow of Game 7 and the aftermath is the fact that everyone had Wake's back. No one forgot how valuable he was that series.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Trying to find that picture from game 5 of the 2004 ALCS with a bunch of the SPs (including Wake) walking out to the bullpen sometime during the late innings (prior to extras). A classic.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

Yeah, he had to get four outs that inning. Tek had three passed balls, though all were tough.

 

[Joe Shlabotnick]

Just horrible news. Brain cancer took my cousin and its just a terrible disease.

 

[curly2]

If it is the moment I think it is, wasn't the third out a strikeout that Tek somehow caught the third strike? They looked like little kids who just got away with something coming off the field.

The tension at that moment was unbelievable. When Sierra was up with the go-ahead run now on third after the third passed ball, Varitek was probably thinking, "Please, pop it up. Don't swing and miss."

 

[PedroisGod]

"View: https://twitter.com/CatherinVaritek/status/1707396629681058174
"

 

[mr_smith02]

Fuck cancer...just fucking fuck cancer!

Praying for Timmy and his family.

 

[InsideTheParker]

I am so hoping that Wakefield can beat this. He must have access to the best doctors and hospitals. What prayer can't do, sometimes modern medicine can. I hope it can for Wake. One of my enduring memories of him is his being hugged by Timlin after the ALCS victory in 2004. Two very happy men.

 

[sezwho]

"View: https://twitter.com/CatherinVaritek/status/1707396629681058174
"

I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that Schilling is the worst kind of asshole.

edit - Beat this thing Wake and you are welcome to any part of Curt’s brain that helps…he’s clearly not using it.

 

[moondog80]

"View: https://twitter.com/CatherinVaritek/status/1707396629681058174
"

What sucks is that this seems to confirm it. Damn.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Oh man, what a messy situation.

Heart goes out to the Wakefield's. An absolute class act and an absolute Red Sox legend in an era where the Sox went from perennial losers to winners.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Awful news. That run he went on in ‘95 was so much fun for a kid just getting into baseball. Keep fighting, Wake.

I will be praying that God takes Curt instead.

 

[SocrManiac]

Couldn't wait four days before NESN baseball is gone so Tim could be private.

Or he decided that now was the time so he could snag a few TV appearances to talk about it before baseball is done. Fuck you, Curt.

Echoing the positive sentiments about and for Wake. This is devastating stuff. I met him years ago at Eastern Standard before the 2007 banner was dropped in the 2008 home opener. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to thank him for all he did for the town and fanbase. Incredible human. Beat this shit, Wake.

 

[TimScribble]

Hate to hear this. Wake is the reason I became a Red Sox fan. I pulled for the Pirates as a kid and followed his path to Boston. He’s been such an awesome example of a who a person should be on and off the field.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

The tension at that moment was unbelievable. When Sierra was up with the go-ahead run now on third after the third passed ball, Varitek was probably thinking, "Please, pop it up. Don't swing and miss."

This starts in the top of the 13th, right before Sheffield reaches on the strikeout/passed ball:
View: https://youtu.be/AbokSfoNZyQ?si=JJHq08HtQsHK9NhU&t=14501


That inning was insane. Wakefield was magnificent, with so much pressure on him. One more passed ball and he could have been the "losing" pitcher in back-to-back series losses to NY in the ALCS. It would have been horrible for him. But he was unhittable (and almost un-catchable) and saved the season.

Wishing for the best for Tim and hoping so much that he beats this.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Nice of Curt to help me skip the denial phase altogether. Straight to anger.

More importantly, well wishes to Wake and his family. Fuck.

 

[Devizier]

Pulling for the guy, Wakefield was always one of my favorites.

 

[RG33]

Devastating news for one of the truly best Red Sox in every sense of the word.

Schilling is an all-time piece of shit. I can’t imagine rolling a friend/teammate in their literal worst moment all for a few clicks. Schilling’s brain is far more diseased than Tim’s.

 

[SwedishSoxFan]

Fuck cancer and fuck Curt Schilling.

Hope everything goes as well as it possibly can, both for Tim and his wife.

 

[mikeford]

I have seen more Wakefield starts than any other pitcher by a factor of probably 20.

This news is a gut punch and Curt Schilling is a human skid mark.

 

[GreenMonster49]

Trying to find that picture from game 5 of the 2004 ALCS with a bunch of the SPs (including Wake) walking out to the bullpen sometime during the late innings (prior to extras). A classic.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

It's on video here (the full MLB international broadcast), starting at 3:15:45.


ETA: A different view is in the FOX broadcast embedded above, at 2:55 or so.

 

[santadevil]

Fuck sakes. Terrible news

Wishing Wake and his family nothibg but good vibes

 

[21st Century Sox]

My daughter in law has brain cancer. She is just a kid. Sucks. Hers is the slowest growing kind. She endured 9 hours of surgery, 90 days radiation, and a full year of chemo. Holding on to positive scans six years later, but it is always hanging in the air. Hopefully Wake does not have Gioblastoma, no coming back from that. Praying he has something treatable. My guess is Dana Farber, best place in the world for this.

I can't ride enough Goddamn Pan Mass Challenges. such a hopeless feeling. And fuck Schill forever.

 

[Bergs]

For whatever reason, I have seen Wake pitch in person more often than any other starter. By all accounts a great human being. I hope he kicks it's ass.

I actually said something almost nice about Schilling in the Tito documentary thread last night. Serves me right.

 

[sezwho]

My daughter in law has brain cancer. She is just a kid. Sucks. Hers is the slowest growing kind. She endured 9 hours of surgery, 90 days radiation, and a full year of chemo. Holding on to positive scans six years later, but it is always hanging in the air. Hopefully Wake does not have Gioblastoma, no coming back from that. Praying he has something treatable. My guess is Dana Farber, best place in the world for this.

I can't ride enough Goddamn Pan Mass Challenges. such a hopeless feeling. And fuck Schill forever.

Jeez, sending whatever good I have inside to your daughter in law.

Also maybe change thread title to F Schilling and Wake has cancer?

 

[Hoya81]

Trying to find that picture from game 5 of the 2004 ALCS with a bunch of the SPs (including Wake) walking out to the bullpen sometime during the late innings (prior to extras). A classic.

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

I remember it being in one of the numerous 2004 photo galleries that Boston.com used to host, but those seem to be gone. You might try the Wayback Machine, but getting old photos from that is hit or miss.

 

[Beomoose]

Beat this thing, Wake, we're looking forward to many more years with you in the booth.


Fuck Curt Schilling.

 

[streeter88]

My sister died from glioblastoma in 2019. Had a one car accident in early April, they said she was drink driving - but she hadn’t had even 1 drink. 3 months later she was dead.

Thoughts and prayers for Tom Wakefield and family. Some cancers are very hard to beat.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Fucking hell. What a gut punch.

 

[pedro1918]

Not much to add that hasn't been already been said, so I'm going to focus on Tim and his family. Bests to you and yours Tim. You've got a team, it's fans, a city, state and region all on your side.

 

[bosockboy]

View: https://twitter.com/globechadfinn/status/1707420608798048577?s=46

 

[SpinnersRock]

Fuck cancer and prayers for Tim and family.

 

[phrenile]

Enduring image of Wake was him pumping his fist after getting out of a jam (caused by strikeout / wild pitches / passed balls) in that game.

View: https://imgur.com/a/JK0x7Dl

 

[BigSoxFan]

My sister died from glioblastoma in 2019. Had a one car accident in early April, they said she was drink driving - but she hadn’t had even 1 drink. 3 months later she was dead.

Thoughts and prayers for Tom Wakefield and family. Some cancers are very hard to beat.

So terribly sorry for your loss. Really hope Wake is a positive data point here.

 

[bosockboy]

Dan Quisenberry passed at 45 from brain cancer, his manager Dick Howser at 51 from the same. Praying this is treatable.

 

[pinkhatfan]

That is just awful news. Schilling had no business disclosing that, but I hope that Wake can take some comfort knowing all of baseball is pulling for him.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 

[tims4wins]

View attachment 71605

Way to go G38

 

[nattysez]

Desperately hoping for the best for Wake.

And thanks to Curt Schilling, who motivates me to eat healthy and hit the gym every day to ensure I live long enough to piss on his grave.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

Yet again Curt has to make the story about himself.

He is such a world class asshole.

 

[streeter88]

So terribly sorry for your loss. Really hope Wake is a positive data point here.

Thanks. Again, thoughts and prayers for the Wakefields.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Wow. Terrible news regarding Tim and Stacy Wakefield, with gutting implications for their family. I am so sad to hear it.

***

And Curt Schilling is a failed human being. But we knew that.

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Prayers for Wakefield. Hope he pulls through.

And curses for Schilling. This should disqualify him from any 20th anniversary celebration next year. As Ed Wade said, Curt Schilling was a horse every fifth day and a horse's ass the other four. And now he doesn’t get to pitch every fifth day.

 

[canderson]

Horrible news. We’re all cheering you on, Wake. Kick cancer’s ass.

I’ll ignore the classless joke of a man who broke this news.

 

[88 MVP]

Cancer sucks. Wake came to the team and had his great ‘95 run just as I was reaching the age where I followed the Sox on a daily basis over the summer. Wake and Mo Vaughn were two of my earliest sports heroes. I saw him pitch many times, and tried learning to throw a knuckleball (like probably every Massachusetts Little Leaguer in the 90’s). I was so sad that it was Wake on the mound at the end of ‘03 and so happy for him in ‘04. And from all accounts, an even better person than a ballplayer

Thoughts and prayers to him and his family, may they beat this terrible disease.