During an episode of “The Curt Schilling Baseball Show,” Schilling disclosed distressing news regarding his former Boston Red Sox teammate, Tim Wakefield, who is currently battling an extremely severe and aggressive form of brain cancer.
Additionally, Schilling took the opportunity to inform the audience that Wakefield’s wife, Stacy, is also facing the challenging battle against pancreatic cancer.
Despite acknowledging that Wakefield may not have desired the public disclosure of this information, Schilling proceeded to share it, driven by his belief in the power of prayer and his desire for others to be aware of the situation, thus enabling them to offer their prayers and support to the Wakefield family.
The Red Sox later released a statement on behalf of the Wakefields, mentioning that this was supposed to be kept a private matter.
We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield. 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. 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.
Naturally, there was widespread outrage regarding Schilling’s actions, as they were deemed highly inappropriate. The spouse of Jason Varitek, who happened to be a teammate of both Schilling and Wakefield, expressed her strong disapproval through a forceful critique directed at Schilling.
Tim Wakefield, whose full name is Timothy Stephen Wakefield is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Wakefield was born on August 2, 1966, in Melbourne, Florida. He received his education at Eau Gallie High School and subsequently pursued his studies at Florida Tech. During his time at Florida Tech, Wakefield showcased his exceptional skills as a first baseman and was honored with the title of Panthers’ team MVP in both his sophomore and junior years.
Notably, he achieved remarkable feats by setting single-season records with 22 home runs and establishing a career home run record of 40. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Wakefield’s number 3 jersey was retired by the college in 2006. On September 13, 2011, Wakefield achieved a significant milestone in his career by securing his 200th career win against the Toronto Blue Jays.
His impressive record of 186 wins places him third in the history of Red Sox franchise, trailing only Cy Young and Roger Clemens. Additionally, Wakefield holds the second position for all-time wins at Fenway Park with 97 victories, surpassed only by Clemens’s 100.
Furthermore, he holds the distinction of being the Red Sox pitcher with the highest number of innings pitched, having surpassed Clemens’s total of 2,777 on June 8, 2010, with a remarkable 3,006 innings.
Wakefield’s remarkable contributions to the sport have not gone unnoticed, as he has been nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award on eight occasions. In 2010, he was honored with this esteemed award, further solidifying his status as a highly respected and accomplished athlete.
