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Tim Wakefield Biography
Professional career
Minor leagues
After graduating from Eau Gallie High School in 1984 and attending Florida Tech, Wakefield was selected in the 8th round of the free agent draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988. He began his minor league career as a corner infielder for Watertown of the New York-Penn League. After a scout told him that he would never get above Double-A ball with his skills, Wakefield began experimenting with various other positions, playing first base and third base, until he developed the knuckleball that has made him so well-known.
The following season, Wakefield made his professional pitching debut while playing for the Single-A Salem Buccaneers. His immediate success led to a full conversion to pitcher in 1990 when he would lead the Carolina League in starts and innings pitched. Wakefield advanced to Double-A in 1991 and continued to improve, leading all Pirates minor leaguers in wins, innings pitched, and complete games.
Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates (1992-1994)
In 1992, Wakefield began the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the American Association. He registered a league-high 6 complete games by July 31st - winning 10 games with a 3.06 ERA - and was called up to the majors. In his major league debut Wakefield threw a complete game against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out 10 batters while throwing 146 pitches. There were 20,299 fans in attendance at the old Three Rivers Stadium.
Down the stretch, Wakefield would provide a surprising but necessary boost for the playoff-bound Pirates, starting 13 games and compiling an 8-1 record with a 2.15 ERA, a remarkable performance that would win him the National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award from The Sporting News. After winning the National League East division, the Pirates would face the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series and Wakefield won both of his starts against Braves star Tom Glavine.
In 1993, Wakefield was not able to duplicate his stellar performance from the year before. He suffered terrible control problems, a common ailment of a knuckleballer. In the first month of the season, he walked nine batters twice and ten in another start. After losing his spot in the starting rotation, Wakefield was sent down to Double-A in July where he continued to struggle. He was recalled in September and struggled again, but would finish the season with two straight shutouts (though he walked six in his final start).
Wakefield spent most of 1994 with Triple-A Buffalo hoping to work out his control problems but made little progress. He led the league in losses, walks, and home runs allowed. While Wakefield would once again be recalled to the Pirates in September, he did not play because of the players strike.
Giving up on the phenom who had led them into the playoffs just three seasons earlier, the Pirates released Wakefield on April 20, 1995.
Boston Red Sox (1995-present)
Wakefield signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox six days after his release from the Pirates and quickly returned to form. He won 16 games, helping the Red Sox win a division title, and captured the Sporting News American League Comeback Player of the Year. He finished third in the A.L. Cy Young Award balloting.
Over the next three seasons (1996-1998), Wakefield would remain an important part of the Red Sox rotation, winning as many as 17 games, but always battling the same control problems that jeopardized his career in Pittsburgh.
In 1999, Wakefield was struggling again, and Boston found itself without injured closer Tom Gordon. Without many choices, manager Jimy Williams installed Wakefield as the new closer during the middle part of the season. He would record 15 saves before Derek Lowe emerged as the new closer and Wakefield could return to the rotation.
Because of his success out of the bullpen, Wakefield found himself in a frustrating position over the next three seasons (2000-2002). He was constantly moved from the position of relief pitcher to starter and back again. His versatility was both an asset and a curse. After being moved back into the rotation in late July 2002, Wakefield found his groove once again and has remained in the rotation ever since, making only occasional relief appearances.
For several years, his personal catcher has been Doug Mirabelli, who uses a league-approved mitt similar to a softball catcher's mitt for catching Wakefield. Josh Bard briefly caught Wakefield during the first month of the 2006 season, but Boston reacquired Mirabelli that May 1 after trading him to San Diego the previous offseason. His ability to catch the baffling pitch makes him a valuable commodity to the team. Since Wakefield is a knuckleballer, he is expected to throw a lot of wild pitches, but in 2006, he only committed six in the whole season. Wakefield has been a solid member of the Red Sox starting rotation in 2007. On August 25, 2007 he won his 16th game of the season, which tied him for the American League lead in wins at the time.
His longevity and consistency have helped him quietly become one of the top pitchers in Red Sox history. Wakefield is currently the longest-serving member of the Boston team. On April 19, 2005, Wakefield agreed to a $4 million, one-year "rolling" contract extension that gives the Red Sox the ability to keep their longest-tenured player for the rest of his career. Wakefield entered his 13th season with the Boston Red Sox in 2007.
Personal
Tim married Stacy Stover in 2003, and make their off-season home in Tim's hometown of Melbourne, FL. They have two children: Trevor Steven (born May 15, 2004) and Brianna Grace (born December 29, 2005)
Tim in the Community
Wakefield's Warriors
The Wakefield Warriors program, which Tim created in 1998, continues to enable patients from the Franciscan Hospital for Children to watch batting practice and visit with Tim before all Tuesday home games. The patients leave Fenway with T-shirts, gifts, autographs and smiles. Not only does Tim spend one-on-one time with the patients, but he has also cohosted a golf tournament on an off day to help raise necessary funds. For his dedication to improving the lives of children and their families in the Boston community, Tim was honored by the Franciscan Hospital for Children with their Community Leadership Award on May 22, 2003.
Space Coast Early Intervention Center
Tim also generously contributes his time and financial resources to his hometown of Melbourne, FL. Since Tim reached the major leagues, he has been committed to raising money and awareness for the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, a not-forprofit pre-school and therapeutic center which offers care for children with special needs as well as typically developing children. In January of 2005, Tim hosted the 14th annual Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic with proceeds benefiting the center.
Teammates for Kids Foundation
Tim is also actively involved as a generous contributor to the Touch 'Em All Foundation, founded in 1999 by Garth Brooks.
Roberto Clemente Award
For his continued commitment to others, Wake has been nominated by the Red Sox for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by John Hancock 6 times, including each of the last 5 years in a row (1998, 2000-2004). The award is presented annually by Major League Baseball to the player who best combines baseball skills with devoted work in the community.
