Former Red Sox Pitcher Tim Wakefield Dead at 57: 'Devoted Husband, Father and Teammate'

"He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation," the Boston team wrote of Wakefield in a statement

Red Sox legend Tim Wakefield has died. He was 57 years old.

The Boston baseball team announced his death on social media on Sunday.

“Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield,” the team wrote. “Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation.”

“Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna and the Wakefield family,” the post concluded.

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Wakefield’s former teammate Kevin Youkilis became choked up while honoring Wakefield before the Red Sox’s game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

“He was a great competitor. When he took that mound, he was just a great teammate,” he said in a clip shared on X by the New England Sports Network.

Youkilis continued, “And just a great friend. And I had the luxury to play with him on the field [and] on the booth. [I’m] just glad that I had the opportunity over the years to be alongside him.”

The retired first baseman also said that Wakefield was “just an amazing husband, a father and a community leader.”

“He really enjoyed people,” Youkilis added. “He really enjoyed being around people, and today we lost one of the good ones.”

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The MLB also shared a statement following the legendary pitcher’s death, acknowledging some of Wakefield's biggest accomplishments and contributions to the sport.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tim Wakefield, 19-year Major Leaguer, two-time World Series champion, 2009 AL All-Star, and the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award winner,” the MLB wrote. “Tim embodied the finest qualities as a teammate, a competitor, and a caring man. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wakefield family and all who knew and loved Tim.”

Red Sox owner John Henry also shared a statement about Wakefield following his death.

"Tim's kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball," Henry said in a statement obtained by ESPN. "He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit.”

The Red Sox owner continued, “He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us."

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First drafted as a first baseman, Wakefield ultimately converted to a pitcher after mastering the knuckleball (a pitch that was seen as outdated at the time) during a stint in the minor leagues, per ESPN.

After putting the pitch back to use, Wakefield went on to win 200 major league games in his career, most of them while wearing a Red Sox uniform, according to the outlet. His career total of 186 Red Sox wins is second only to fellow team legends Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

The pitcher also helped the Red Sox win the World Series championship in 2004 — the franchise’s first in 86 years — and win again in 2007. He became the oldest player in the MLB at 45 when he notched his 200th win in September 2011, per ESPN. He retired in 2012.

"I'm still a competitor, but ultimately I think this is what's best for the Red Sox," Wakefield said at the time, per ESPN. "I think this is what's best for my family."

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Although his cause of death has not been confirmed, Wakefield and his wife, Stacy, were diagnosed with different forms of cancer, according to MLB pitcher Curt Schilling, who revealed the couple’s diagnoses against their wishes in September.

On his podcast, The Curt Schilling Baseball Show, Schilling, 56, said that Wakefield — who was his teammate on the Red Sox from 2004 to 2007 — had been diagnosed with an “aggressive form of brain cancer” and that his wife has pancreatic cancer.

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After Schilling shared the news without the Wakefields’ permission, the Red Sox requested “privacy” on behalf of the Wakefields in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield,” the team said. “Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission. Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease."

The statement continued, “Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has always been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”

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