“I think I went to a Red Sox spring training game in Jupiter/West Palm with my parents in 2010. The Red Sox didn’t play often on Florida’s east coast at the time, and many veteran players refused to make the long trip from Fort Myers, disappointing the many New England retirees (especially my father) who lived there. Those who did simply dressed and left after their few innings were over. Tim Wakefield, I noticed, was the exception to all this. He pitched his few innings and then went to the bullpen to huddle with his young teammates. Afterwards he stopped at one of the gates to meet with the people from New England, talk to them and sign a few autographs. Through his work at NESN and elsewhere, we all learned that he was always that kind of person.” –Edward S., Highland Mills, NY
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“During this year’s Run to Home Base, I got to fist bump Tim Wakefield on the field at Fenway Park. I was so impressed that I barely noticed Chris Sale was standing right next to him.” –John F., Stow, MA
“I was a baseball fan as a kid, but I didn’t really follow it for years until the summer of 1995. That, of course, was the summer that Wake started the season 14-1 with a 1.65 ERA. This series was one of the most dominant I’ve ever seen, even rivaling what Pedro would put together a few years later. He made great hitters look like idiots, flailing wildly as they tried to figure out where the ball would be when it arrived at the plate. Watching him pitch that summer made me a fan again. But as so many people have said, Wake wasn’t just a ballplayer. He was an extremely decent man who gave more to our community than we will ever know. And yet he wasn’t one to command attention, but one of the humble stars that are too rare in today’s game. The world is a better place because Wake was there, and that’s about the best thing you can say about someone.” –Richard H., Providence, Rhode Island
Tim Wakefield signs a copy of his book “Knuckler” for fans in Boston.HANDOUT
“12. April 2011. Tim Wakefield signs a copy of his book “Knuckler” for my sons Ryan (left) and Jack in Boston. We got the boys out of school. It was Ryan’s 12th birthday and Wake teased him by asking, “Is this really what you wanted for your birthday?”John B., Plymouth, MA
“Hot Stove Cool Music. He auctioned off his football boots. I won the auction. He and I had a funny conversation where he would only sign both boots if I promised that he and Dougie would always be my favorite players. I agreed that they would both always be my favorite players. He immediately made me feel like a real friend of his and even at the afterparty when he talked to me. I hugged those shoes and cried when I heard the news of his death.” –Jan D., Revere, MA
“My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2004, so she was undergoing chemotherapy during that year’s Miracle Run and we were unable to travel from our home in LA to Boston to see some of it in person. In the summer of 2005 she was feeling better and we treated ourselves to a VIP weekend in Boston that included great Sox spots. The first night we arrived at Fenway very early and were walking up the street when you heard this insanely loud merengue music blaring down the street. In fact, Big Papi arrives in this ridiculous red convertible Mercedes. He stopped in front of the police line and it took a moment for them to let him in. As the police pulled back the barrier, this Range Rover came screaming and cut off Big Papi! For a moment there was a Boston-style jockey for the trail, then the Range Rover’s tinted window rolled down and there was Wake! They had a brief moment of tongue-in-cheek anger on the road, and then Papi let Wake continue. After all, he started that night. We were the only two fans on the sidewalk when this happened and it felt very special. My wife relapsed and passed away in 2008, but I will always remember this special memory. RIP Lola and RIP Wake!”-Mike G., Boston, MA
“I got off drugs in 2004. I had to reinvent myself to keep going. Tim Wakefield has always symbolized that for me. I remember how they had to take him off the mound after Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. He cried and I thought: This is a guy who understands second chances.” –Zeke R, Brighton, MA
“The memory of Tim Wakefield on the field that I will never forget is his three scoreless extra innings of relief in Game 5, which the Red Sox won and he was the winning pitcher. Innings 12 and 14 were a breeze, but the 13th inning. The game had already been going on for over five hours, it was well after midnight and the nerves were completely frayed. Not only did he walk two batters that inning, but his dancing knuckler also gave Varitek three passed balls. With runners on second and third and two outs, another passed ball would have been a disaster. Holding on to every pitch, praying for Varitek to catch every knuckler, but ready for the inevitable; This is how the Red Sox will lose again, this is how they will rip our hearts out again. But he hit the batsman at 3-2, Varitek saved him, a big sigh of relief and the rest was history.” –Jerry M, Roslindale, MA
“I have lived in Oklahoma, California since 1983. My friends and I have been going to Big A games and supporting the Red Sox for 40 years. On May 27, 1985, a friend and I made a last-minute decision to go to the Sox-Angels game. When we arrived at the stadium, we saw Tim Wakefield on the marquee as the Sox’ starting pitcher. I remembered his story when he played as a third baseman for Pittsburgh and then moved to pitcher. He then disappeared from baseball for a few years. We saw the first Boston win for Wake. I also remember Mitch Williams handing Vaughn a bomb and angry Anaheim fans throwing several thousand promotional seat cushions onto the field. The Sox won with a lopsided result. That was the start of a brilliant career in Boston. Thanks for the memories, Tim. You will and will be missed.” –David C., San Clemente, CA
“My daughter was treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic in 2005 and when our nurse found out we were Red Sox fans, she told us the story of how Wake sat waiting for a little patient to finish the procedure so she could meet him in person ! He was adored by everyone there – even if they weren’t baseball fans.” –Cari C, Wayland, MA
Maureen M. from Weymouth poses with Tim Wakefield at Fenway Park.HANDOUT
“I have always adored and admired Tim Wakefield. Like a schoolgirl crush. I loved watching him play. He really was one of the good ones. Anyway, my son worked for the Sox for a year or two, and it was the annual picnic. My son took us to the control room and Tim came down. I was like a child! If my son hadn’t been wearing his ID, security would almost certainly have been called. He was friendly as always and allowed us to take a photo. I had the pleasure of seeing him again at a WB Mason event at Fenway. And of course the years I participated in Run to Home Base. Nicest guy. always took time for the fans. My deepest condolences go out to the Wakefield family.” –Maureen M., Weymouth, MA
“I met Tim Wakefield at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival when the movie Knuckleball came out in 2012. He has been my favorite Red Sox player since he joined the team. I don’t usually go up to strangers and introduce myself, but I thought this might be my only chance to get to know him. I told him I just wanted to thank him for 2004 and 2007 and tell him how much I enjoyed watching him throw the knuckleball. He was so gracious. He shook my hand and afterward I thought, “I have to shake Tim Wakefield’s pitching hand!” His death breaks my heart.” –Anonymous, Boston
“My brother and my (now) sister-in-law asked me to be maid of honor for their wedding. (They were married on September 7, 2013. Our first Sox beat the Yankees that day.) My contribution to the wedding ceremony was “9 Ways I Hope Your Marriage is Like Baseball,” and my greatest hope for them was embodied by Wake. Here are the last two hopes I wrote and shared with them that day: “8. Pinch runner. Left-handed specialists. Defensive substitutes. Not every player can steal the base. Or work the walk. Or cause the double game. You need a team of people with different strengths to go well into October. There are moments when Millar has done his job and it’s up to Dave Roberts to take us to second place. Mop guys too. Sometimes you take the ball and work until your arm is shaky and your ERA is bruised because it will make your team better tomorrow. I hope you can be Wakefield and ask for the ball. I hope you make each other better. 9. I hope you win.’ Yes, it’s about those wonderful weeks in October 2004. But really about striving for: being the person our friends, our people, our team can rely on. Doing the hard work to make it easier for others. I didn’t know Wake personally, but by all accounts he was a gem and made us all better.” –Laura D., St. Paul, MN
“As a child, whenever my father came across Red Sox tickets, we would joke with each other, “I hope Wakefield doesn’t pitch that night” (since seeing his knuckleball in person wasn’t particularly exciting). Suffice it to say, we loved Wakefield and everything he delivered to the community and the Red Sox organization; a life undoubtedly well lived.” –Daniel K., Medford, MA
Jenna Reyes can be reached at [email protected]. follow her @jennaelaney and Instagram @jennaelaney.