Tim Wakefield - Definition and Overview

Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966 in Melbourne, Florida) is a Major League Baseball knuckleballer right-handed pitcher who plays with the Boston Red Sox (1995-present).

Wakefield started his major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and signed as a free agent with Boston in 1995. He won 16 games in his first year with the Red Sox and helped them win a division title. His longevity and consistency have helped him quietly become one of the top pitchers in Red Sox history.

In 2004, Wakefield helped the Red Sox win the ALCS against the Yankees, in a best of 7 game series to advance to the World Series. He pitched the Game 1 of the series and ended without a decision. Boston won the Cardinals 11 to 9 after a two-run home run from Mark Bellhorn in the eighth inning.

In a 12-year career, Wakefield has compiled a career 128-111 record with 1438 strikeouts and a 4.28 ERA in 2066.2 innings.

Facts

• Wakefield is one of ten Red Sox pitchers with 100 or more wins (113). Cy Young (193), Roger Clemens (192), Mel Parnell (123), Luis Tiant (122), Pedro Martinez (117), Smokey Joe Wood (116), Bob Stanley (115), Joe Dobson (106), and Lefty Grove (105), are the others.

• On August 8, 2004, Wakefield gave up six home runs to the Detroit Tigers, becoming the first pitcher to do so since 1947. The Red Sox still managed to win the game, though, 11-9, and Wakefield got the win.

External links

• Tim Wakefield at:
  • Baseball Library (biography and highlights) (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/W/Wakefield_Tim.stm)
  • Baseball Reference (statistics and analysis) (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wakefti01.shtml)
  • ESPN (profile and daily update) (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4906)