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
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | PIT | NL | 8 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 92.0 | 76 | 22 | 35 | 51 | 2.15 | 1108.9 |
| 1993 | PIT | NL | 6 | 11 | 24 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 128.3 | 145 | 80 | 75 | 59 | 5.61 | -4149.5 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | 16 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 195.3 | 163 | 64 | 68 | 119 | 2.95 | -409.0 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 14 | 13 | 32 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 211.7 | 238 | 121 | 90 | 140 | 5.14 | -5617.9 |
| 1997 | BOS | AL | 12 | 15 | 35 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 201.3 | 193 | 95 | 87 | 151 | 4.25 | -1594.5 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | 17 | 8 | 36 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 216.0 | 211 | 110 | 79 | 146 | 4.58 | -2554.2 |
| 1999 | BOS | AL | 6 | 11 | 49 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 140.0 | 146 | 79 | 72 | 104 | 5.08 | -1275.0 |
| 2000 | BOS | AL | 6 | 10 | 51 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 159.3 | 170 | 97 | 65 | 102 | 5.48 | -3754.9 |
| 2001 | BOS | AL | 9 | 12 | 45 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 168.7 | 156 | 73 | 73 | 148 | 3.90 | 2193.6 |
| 2002 | BOS | AL | 11 | 5 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 163.3 | 121 | 51 | 51 | 134 | 2.81 | 2789.4 |
| 2003 | BOS | AL | 11 | 7 | 35 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 202.3 | 193 | 92 | 71 | 169 | 4.09 | 1740.3 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | 12 | 10 | 32 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 188.3 | 197 | 102 | 63 | 116 | 4.87 | -2997.6 |
| 2005 | BOS | AL | 16 | 12 | 33 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 225.3 | 210 | 104 | 68 | 151 | 4.15 | -2710.6 |
| 2006 | BOS | AL | 7 | 11 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 140.0 | 135 | 72 | 51 | 90 | 4.63 | -1460.6 |
| 2007 | BOS | AL | 17 | 12 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 189.0 | 191 | 100 | 64 | 110 | 4.76 | -957.6 |
| 2008 | BOS | AL | 10 | 11 | 30 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 181.0 | 154 | 83 | 60 | 117 | 4.13 | -2445.0 |
| 2009 | BOS | AL | 11 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 129.7 | 137 | 66 | 50 | 72 | 4.58 | -852.2 |
| 2010 | BOS | AL | 4 | 10 | 32 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140.0 | 153 | 83 | 36 | 84 | 5.34 | -1591.9 |
| 2011 | BOS | AL | 7 | 8 | 33 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 154.7 | 163 | 88 | 47 | 93 | 5.12 | -4183.2 |
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
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | PIT | NL | 14 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0.071 | 0.0 |
| 1993 | PIT | NL | 24 | 43 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.163 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1997 | BOS | AL | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | 37 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | BOS | AL | 49 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | BOS | AL | 52 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | BOS | AL | 45 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | BOS | AL | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | BOS | AL | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2005 | BOS | AL | 33 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | BOS | AL | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2007 | BOS | AL | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | BOS | AL | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2009 | BOS | AL | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 2010 | BOS | AL | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | BOS | AL | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
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
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | PIT | P | 13 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | PIT | P | 24 | 20 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| 1995 | BOS | P | 27 | 27 | 15 | 18 | 2 | 4 |
| 1996 | BOS | P | 32 | 32 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 4 |
| 1997 | BOS | P | 35 | 29 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| 1998 | BOS | P | 36 | 33 | 16 | 23 | 3 | 1 |
| 1999 | BOS | P | 49 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | BOS | P | 51 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
| 2001 | BOS | P | 45 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | BOS | P | 45 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| 2003 | BOS | P | 35 | 33 | 16 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | BOS | P | 32 | 30 | 12 | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| 2005 | BOS | P | 33 | 33 | 30 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 | BOS | P | 23 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | BOS | P | 31 | 31 | 14 | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| 2008 | BOS | P | 30 | 30 | 7 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 | BOS | P | 21 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | BOS | P | 32 | 19 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | BOS | P | 33 | 23 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 627 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Roberto Clemente Award | |
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-08-10 |
| 1995 | Pitcher of the Month | July |
| 1995 | Player of the Week | Week of 1995-06-03 |
| 1995 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1992 | TSN Rookie Pitcher of the Year |
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 |