Tim Wakefield, baseball player, 1992-2011

Tim Wakefield

Born: 8/2/1966 in Melbourne, FL, USA

Died: 10/1/2023 in Hingham, MA, USA

MLB Debut: 1992-07-31 | Final Game: 2011-09-25

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 210 lbs

Full name: Timothy Stephen Wakefield

Biography

Tim Wakefield was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball, known for his unique knuckleball and longevity in the sport. Born in 1966, Wakefield’s professional career spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he established himself as a reliable arm for teams, most notably the Boston Red Sox. He finished his career with a record of 200-180, an earned run average (ERA) of 4.41, and tallied 2,156 strikeouts alongside 22 saves. His ability to confound hitters with his unpredictable knuckleball made him a valuable asset on the mound, particularly in an era when power pitching was increasingly dominant. Wakefield's contributions to the game were recognized throughout his career, highlighted by his selection as the TSN Rookie Pitcher of the Year and earning an All-Star selection. His dedication and resilience allowed him to remain competitive well into his 40s, embodying the spirit of perseverance that characterized his time in the league. Wakefield played a key role in the Red Sox’s historic 2004 World Series championship, which ended an 86-year title drought for the franchise. His legacy is marked not only by his individual achievements but also by his influence on the game as one of the last successful knuckleballers in an era where such pitchers became increasingly rare.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
200 180 627 463 33 6 22 3226.3 3152 1582 418 1205 2156 4.41 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
630 111 4 13 2 0 1 4 0 3 47 0.117 0.148 0.162 0.310 0.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
18 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2008 ALCS BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2007 ALCS BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2005 ALDS1 BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2004 ALCS BOS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2004 WS BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2003 ALDS2 BOS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2003 ALCS BOS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1999 ALDS1 BOS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1998 ALDS1 BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1995 ALDS1 BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1992 NLCS PIT 2 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
5 7 18 11 0 72.0 68 54 38 54 6.75

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
2008 ALCS BOS 0 1 1 1 0 2.7 6 5 2 2 16.88
2007 ALCS BOS 0 1 1 1 0 4.7 5 5 2 7 9.64
2005 ALDS1 BOS 0 1 1 1 0 5.3 6 4 1 4 6.75
2004 ALCS BOS 1 0 3 0 0 7.3 9 7 3 6 8.59
2004 WS BOS 0 0 1 1 0 3.7 3 5 5 2 12.27
2003 ALCS BOS 2 1 3 2 0 14.0 8 4 6 10 2.57
2003 ALDS2 BOS 0 1 2 1 0 7.7 6 3 3 7 3.52
1999 ALDS1 BOS 0 0 2 0 0 2.0 3 3 4 4 13.50
1998 ALDS1 BOS 0 1 1 1 0 1.3 3 5 2 1 33.75
1995 ALDS1 BOS 0 1 1 1 0 5.3 5 7 5 4 11.81
1992 NLCS PIT 2 0 2 2 0 18.0 14 6 5 7 3.00

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 627 463 227 329 30 29

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 627

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
2011 BOS AL $2,000,000
2010 BOS AL $3,500,000
2009 BOS AL $4,000,000
2008 BOS AL $4,000,000
2007 BOS AL $4,000,000
2006 BOS AL $4,000,000
2005 BOS AL $4,670,000
2004 BOS AL $4,350,000
2003 BOS AL $4,000,000
2002 BOS AL $3,200,000
2001 BOS AL $3,000,000
2000 BOS AL $4,500,000
1999 BOS AL $4,000,000
1998 BOS AL $3,500,000
1997 BOS AL $2,500,000
1996 BOS AL $450,000
1995 BOS AL $175,000
1993 PIT NL $150,000
Total Career Earnings $55,995,000

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne FL 1986, 1987, 1988

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1995 Cy Young Award AL 3rd 29.0 140 0
1995 Most Valuable Player AL 13th 20.0 392 0
1992 Rookie of the Year NL 3rd 29.0 120 2