[1] He worked with Phil and Joe Niekro, two former knuckleballers, who encouraged him to use the knuckleball as an out pitch. He was nominated eight times by the Red Sox for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented to the player who best reflects the spirit of giving back to the community, winning the award in 2010. The victory came at a time when the Red Sox were in dire need of wins, with the Tampa Bay Rays gaining substantial ground in the race for the American League wild card as Boston fell four games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East division standings. He would repeat this feat in 2001 plunking a career-high 18 batters. Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. “I can’t explain,” he said yesterday when asked about the dazzling first two months of his Red Sox career. The Red Sox lost the first two games of the ALCS and were losing badly in Game Three when Wakefield asked to be put into the game to save the other pitchers for the next day. Tim Wakefield will announce his retirement at a press conference later today, according to a Red Sox media release. We’ve seen old men get one more day in the sun as Tim Wakefield, who everyone has been counting down the days until his retirement for the better part of the past five seasons, has proven to be a savior at the back end of the rotation – yet again. On April 19, 2005, Wakefield agreed to a $4 million, one-year "rolling" contract extension that gave the Red Sox the ability to keep Wakefield for the rest of his career. Wakefield, along with Jason Varitek, was on hand at the home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. He had hoped to pitch this year, but the Red Sox reportedly offered him only an invitation to minor-league camp. But it was his versatility and his willingness to pitch in any role necessary that made him valuable. Wakefield, at the time of his retirement, was the oldest active player in the majors. [20] With his start on July 3, 2009, Wakefield surpassed Roger Clemens for the most starts in franchise history. He said he wrestled with the decision the entire offseason, but that it was important to him to retire a member of the Red Sox. Every time I stepped on the field, I gave everything I had. Wakefield announced his retirement on February 17, 2012.http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21177706/wake-hardest-thing-ive-ever-had-do. [32] His career batting average was .117.[32]. Wakefield pitched with what is said to be a slow sidearm motion, but is actually a ¾-overhand motion. Six days after being released from the Pirates, Wakefield was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield calls it a career It was a sad day in Boston last week. In 1997, he led Major League Baseball by hitting 16 batters with a pitch. When Wakefield returned to the rotation, Saltalamacchia was the catcher in each game he started. [37] The restaurant is now closed. He recorded 15 saves before Derek Lowe emerged as the new closer and Wakefield returned to the starting rotation. There have been many ups and downs along the way, but one thing is for sure. Nearly two decades later, he departs as one of the most successful pitchers and respected individuals in team history. His 186 victories in a Boston uniform trail only co-leaders Cy Young and Roger Clemens at 192. “To be able to share the same field with the greats before me as well as the ones I played with is truly amazing. The oldest player in baseball last season, Wakefield went 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 33 games, pitching 154.2 innings. Number 3 was retired by the all Star break, Wakefield was the oldest active player the. 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