Do you want to be eligible for the Ronald Acuna Jr signed baseball giveaway? Go to the link (play.underdogfantasy.com/p-made-the-cut) and sign up with promo code MTC. And don't forget, they will also double your first deposit up to $100 as well! Also, apologies for having to edit out the Boone Homer around 11:24. Had a small issue with the footage, but I'm sure you all know what happened!
Tim Wakefield's first start as a Red Sox came literally 18 hours after I was born. Tim has been a major figure to me and thousands of people in the Boston area who grew up watching that unpredictable pitch and rooting for him everytime he came to the mound. We don't break the curse without him. I will never forget Tim and so many of us are grateful to have gotten to see him at his best. RIP to a one of kind player and human being.
A slight correction: Wakefield was selected for the All-Star Game in 2009. He didn't appear in the game. The thing we Boston fans loved about him, though, wasn't his numbers (although they were usually good against the Yankees, which helps), but his selflessness. He did everything he could to help the team win, whether it was going deep into games to save the bullpen, releiving between starts or giving up starts in the postseason.
born raised and still in Boston he was a legend who never paid for a beer he was a very proud and friendly guy one of the greats of our great city I remember him at the bar treating everyone to a beer a handshake and a smile your truly gonna be missed RIP champ
I grew up watching Wakefield and for better or worse i feel so lucky to have been there for it; he’s one of the few pitchers that adapted to whatever was needed from him and from starter to closer you could just tell that those batters did NOT wanna be there 😂 I do remember those games that you’d be so excited he was starting and then maybe 3rd inning and *POP* HOMERUN! Then *POP* HOMERUN! And yep 😂 he didn’t always have his knuckle on deck when we needed it but that’s what I respect so much, in a time when knuckleballers are all but gone he was still pitching playoff games and part of the curse breaking 2004 roster and he got the close! Whoo!! 🎉 You gotta understand the knots from that game haha 😅 One of my favourite pitchers of all time cuz you didn’t know what to expect from him and sometimes you got the feeling he didn’t either 😅 A true legend and so happy he got the recognition he deserved cuz the man was so humble and genuine you just had to cheer him on. 😄 Always a hall of famer to me!
Die hard Sox fan here, and Wake is in my top 3 all time fav Sox players ever. Great guy, great pitcher and great teammate. I miss seeing him on the mound.
It was always a coin flip whether he was going to make hitters look stupid all day or throw BP, but even on those bad days he had some ridiculous knucklers and he was always fun to watch
That slow mo from 1991 when he was with the Pirates and it followed his knuckleball to the plate is legendary in my opinion. First time in MLB history that a camera could follow the pitch so closely so the fans could see how devastating it was.
I was never a Boston Red Sox fan but I was always a Time Wakefield fan. I love knuckleballers, their controversy, their fate driven successes... They are the true ambassadors of baseball's humanity: unhittable when on, unbelievably bad when off... a fingernail and a crosswind could decide the game. Knucklers like Wake and RA Dickey are major players in my odd, assorted pantheon of sports heroes because, for them, every moment of play was up for grabs BUT, if they were in command, every wiffle pitch a drunk bumblebee eyeing the plate like a rum-sotted pirate... Well, the best hitters of a generation looked straight up fools. Joyously so. The little guy taming dragons. In the end, though, character is the foundation of legends: Tim was also known to be a very good human who knew how to charity with nobility and heart; a man of both achievement and privilege who understood what it really means to give back. True heroes understand reciprocity is never by rote. It's done simply because it's right. Solidarity with the Red Sox nation and the Wakefield family, this week. They lost one of the good ones. Thanks for always inspiring, Wakey, even in times of adversity. You are adored. RIP Tim Wakefield.
I remember a joke around 2000, that the Red Sox would go with a 3-man staff. Pedro and Ramon Martinez would be the top two starters with Wakefield pitching all other innings.
Tim Wakefield belongs in the HOF. Don’t care what anyone says. Dude had an incredible career throwing ONE PITCH for 20 years. He has an above average ERA+ and he played in the middle of the steroid era. Not to mention the historical significance of him being a successful KNUCKLEBALLER!!! There are guys with way less credentials and had way less impact on the game that are in the hall. The man basically did the impossible. For TWENTY YEARS!!!!!!! Successful throwing the ball 60mph down the middle of the plate!!!! Wake up to Wakefield people!!!!
The 5th longest streak a team had not being shutout were the Phillies at 174 games. Tim Wakefield broke that streak on Sept. 30, 1993, posting a complete game shutout.
Longtime Sox fan here; loved watching Wakefield pitch back in the day. Should give a shout-out too to Doug Mirabelli, his sole purpose for being in the team was to catch for Wakefield and he used a softball mitt to do it. I thought it was so cool that wake had his own personal catcher lol.
I was obsessed with throwing a knuckle ball when I was in high school. I was a decent pitcher, but didn't have a rocket arm or anything, so I decided the knuckler was the key. My coach let me throw it one game and I walked like 7 or 8 guys in 3 innings and he told me to knock it off, but that sucker was dancing. I mostly remember because I told everyone, but no one got a hit off it. Coach was still unimpressed. SMH.
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Watertown, NY and remember that 1988 season (it was their last affiliated with the Pirates). Can't say that I specifically remember Wakefield, though, seeing how his performance wasn't that memorable anyway.
Eric Gagne is my favorite pitcher of all time. First time seeing him on the mound was, “who’s this bum?” Then he proceeded to throw his infamous filthy Vulcanchange, and I’ve loved him ever since.
Ayyyyyyy, Wake! It was always less about whether they'd win with him on the mound and more about how I had literally no idea how the game would go. Every game he pitched was different.
I want more knuckleballers in baseball. If I was commissioner, I'd make it a requirement that every single level of the minors has to have one full time knuckler per team. At the MLB level, I wouldn't require it. But I would give a significant benefit to the team's that use one. Each MLB team that has a full-time knuckler would be allowed to have a non-roster extra catcher specifically just for catching their knuckler starter. On days that duo starts, you are allowed a DH for both the pitcher and the catcher. Also, that catcher is a non-roster guy, so he doesn't factor into roster size or to luxury tax figure (though you still have to pay him at least the league minimum). You can only use the extra DH on the knuckle day (and you can hit the catcher if you want to). That would give teams a huge incentive to have a knuckleballer in their rotation. Wouldn't be shocked if a team like the Rays innovates and has a knuckler start every game, giving them 2 DH spots every game plus only needing to roster one catcher to be the backup for the knuckler catcher (that is not on the roster). I want to get it back in the game.
he single-handedly extended the careers of several catchers by being able to handle his knuckleball…he turned three backup catchers into vital parts of the team giving guys chances to get new contracts elsewhere
A 4.5 era in the steroid era is above average maybe similar to a 3.5 era in the past 5 years. ERA+ should adjust for that I believe. Wakefields ERA+ on baseball reference is around 115 in the steroid era which is above average similar to Madison Bumgarner of mid 2010s. He’s above average not a Cy young winner
There wasn’t a single fan in Boston who was mad at Wakefield in 2003. We were pissed at the team and the situation, and Grady Little more than anything. But this dude was really respected
@@michaelcorcoran8768 yup, exactly man. We all knew they should never have been in those positions to begin with. Pedro was the most competitive guy in MLB, of COURSE he wanted to pitch. _Tell him no!_ lol And Wake was only in bc they didn’t bother to get a real closer that year - hence Folk the next year. I’m glad Pedro got a ring here bc he really reinvigorated the energy around this franchise, and so happy for Wake simply bc he deserved to win for what he’d given the team. Glad to reminisce with ya 😂
@@alex11361 he was 3-1 against the Yankees in the post season. If you don’t think Torre would have loved to have a guy like Wakefield to eat up innings while proving 4 or 5 EXCELLENT seasons then you’re nuts. He almost always gave the team a chance to win, esp once we had Manny and Papi going back to back in the lineup. Funny though, bc when Red Sox fans saw the great Mariano Rivera on the mound in a close game we eventually started to feel pretty good about tying it up 😂
Wakefield was a hell of a teammate. He knew his limits, and found ways to leverage his value for the benefit of the teams he was on when it counted. He wasn't flashy, greedy, or arrogant. Just a cool dude, hope the Sox retire his number someday soon.
Wakefield is a great example of a ballplayer the Analytics can't account for. By the numbers he is a solid mid-back of the rotation starter. What the numbers won't tell you is the work ethic and determination a guy like that has, and how that effects his teammates. You might feel defeated, but you know Wakefield is gonna give it his all, so by pride or camaraderie you are gonna fight with him.
Wake is one of the beloved Sox players of his generation. Sure Ortiz, Pedro, Schilling, Manny, Tek and others were better players but Wakefield was special because of his pitch and because everyone knew how great of a guy he was. Always willing to come in, do his job, and support the team however he could, a true professional.
he spanned generations: he started with the last of the 80s guys and their egos and issues, ended with the new generation of stat producers and obsession with their bodies…all while enduring the steroid guys popping up left and right Ortiz sullied his image with shady actions, Manny was an egotistical jerk who only wanted attention, Pedro was a diva but stopped when he pit on his uniform…but Wakefield and Tek simply didn’t have the issues and played and went home to family
Also, in addition to the redemption of Wakefield himself, you could argue his selflessness also ended up redeeming Derek Lowe. Lowe had not been good that year and had been jettisoned from the playoff roto, but came up big in Game 4 of the ALCS as well as Game 7 and threw a masterpiece in the WS clincher.
Do you want to be eligible for the Ronald Acuna Jr signed baseball giveaway? Go to the link (play.underdogfantasy.com/p-made-the-cut) and sign up with promo code MTC. And don't forget, they will also double your first deposit up to $100 as well!
Also, apologies for having to edit out the Boone Homer around 11:24. Had a small issue with the footage, but I'm sure you all know what happened!
its @11:16
Tim Wakefield's first start as a Red Sox came literally 18 hours after I was born. Tim has been a major figure to me and thousands of people in the Boston area who grew up watching that unpredictable pitch and rooting for him everytime he came to the mound. We don't break the curse without him. I will never forget Tim and so many of us are grateful to have gotten to see him at his best. RIP to a one of kind player and human being.
Why is it "literally" 18 hours after you were born not just 18 hours after you were born?
RIP Wakefield, a true Red Sox in and out, one of my favorites growing up
He was a legend.
I feel terrible for him and his family, life cut too short. 😢
RIP TW. You leave behind many wonderful memories for baseball fans everywhere.
RIP Tim. One of the greats. You gave me so many great memories as a Red Sox fan. You will be missed.
A slight correction: Wakefield was selected for the All-Star Game in 2009. He didn't appear in the game.
The thing we Boston fans loved about him, though, wasn't his numbers (although they were usually good against the Yankees, which helps), but his selflessness. He did everything he could to help the team win, whether it was going deep into games to save the bullpen, releiving between starts or giving up starts in the postseason.
it still counts as an all star, even if it gets a footnote regarding his playing in the game
At the end of his career he was on a year to year contract which was essentially "Yes or no, do you want to play?"
born raised and still in Boston he was a legend who never paid for a beer he was a very proud and friendly guy one of the greats of our great city I remember him at the bar treating everyone to a beer a handshake and a smile your truly gonna be missed RIP champ
He was born and raised 5 mins up the road from me in Melbourne Fl lmao
Rest In Peace it was great to watch you pitch
RIP to a true legend of the game. Gone way too soon.
11:16 I think you meant to edit in a clip of Aaron Bone’s Walk-Off Homer that ended Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS here…
Yeah I got confused there lol
Yeah, I’m guessing. Was a very confusing edit.
I grew up watching Wakefield and for better or worse i feel so lucky to have been there for it; he’s one of the few pitchers that adapted to whatever was needed from him and from starter to closer you could just tell that those batters did NOT wanna be there 😂
I do remember those games that you’d be so excited he was starting and then maybe 3rd inning and
*POP*
HOMERUN!
Then *POP*
HOMERUN!
And yep 😂 he didn’t always have his knuckle on deck when we needed it but that’s what I respect so much, in a time when knuckleballers are all but gone he was still pitching playoff games and part of the curse breaking 2004 roster and he got the close! Whoo!! 🎉
You gotta understand the knots from that game haha 😅
One of my favourite pitchers of all time cuz you didn’t know what to expect from him and sometimes you got the feeling he didn’t either 😅
A true legend and so happy he got the recognition he deserved cuz the man was so humble and genuine you just had to cheer him on. 😄
Always a hall of famer to me!
Former catcher Bob Uecker said the best way to catch a knuckleball was to wait for it to stop rolling and pick it up.
Die hard Sox fan here, and Wake is in my top 3 all time fav Sox players ever. Great guy, great pitcher and great teammate. I miss seeing him on the mound.
Pedro Ortiz Wake. Legends in Boston forever.
RIP Tim!
My favorite player of all time! Have a signed ball by him, thanks to my aunt who met him!
RIP Mr. Wakefield
RIP legend 🙏
R.I.P Tim Wakefield. 😥💔🙏
It was always a coin flip whether he was going to make hitters look stupid all day or throw BP, but even on those bad days he had some ridiculous knucklers and he was always fun to watch
That slow mo from 1991 when he was with the Pirates and it followed his knuckleball to the plate is legendary in my opinion. First time in MLB history that a camera could follow the pitch so closely so the fans could see how devastating it was.
Rest In Peace
R.I.P. Wakefield
R.I.P TIM WAKEFIELD
Timmy was my hero. I threw a knuckleball because of him.
Batters = 🫨
I was never a Boston Red Sox fan but I was always a Time Wakefield fan. I love knuckleballers, their controversy, their fate driven successes... They are the true ambassadors of baseball's humanity: unhittable when on, unbelievably bad when off... a fingernail and a crosswind could decide the game. Knucklers like Wake and RA Dickey are major players in my odd, assorted pantheon of sports heroes because, for them, every moment of play was up for grabs BUT, if they were in command, every wiffle pitch a drunk bumblebee eyeing the plate like a rum-sotted pirate... Well, the best hitters of a generation looked straight up fools. Joyously so. The little guy taming dragons.
In the end, though, character is the foundation of legends: Tim was also known to be a very good human who knew how to charity with nobility and heart; a man of both achievement and privilege who understood what it really means to give back. True heroes understand reciprocity is never by rote. It's done simply because it's right. Solidarity with the Red Sox nation and the Wakefield family, this week. They lost one of the good ones. Thanks for always inspiring, Wakey, even in times of adversity. You are adored. RIP Tim Wakefield.
Tim was one of my all time favorite Red Sox players.
I remember a joke around 2000, that the Red Sox would go with a 3-man staff. Pedro and Ramon Martinez would be the top two starters with Wakefield pitching all other innings.
Loved WAKE rest in peace brother
This news is sad, I loved Tim as a pitcher, rest in peace.
RIP Wake. Gone way too damn soon. We love you and will forever miss you.
R.I.P. ❤
R.I.P The king of the knuckleball
Tim Wakefield belongs in the HOF. Don’t care what anyone says. Dude had an incredible career throwing ONE PITCH for 20 years. He has an above average ERA+ and he played in the middle of the steroid era. Not to mention the historical significance of him being a successful KNUCKLEBALLER!!! There are guys with way less credentials and had way less impact on the game that are in the hall. The man basically did the impossible. For TWENTY YEARS!!!!!!! Successful throwing the ball 60mph down the middle of the plate!!!! Wake up to Wakefield people!!!!
RIP to Tim, you will be missed by fans forever.
Prayers to Wakefields family 🙏🏼
The 5th longest streak a team had not being shutout were the Phillies at 174 games. Tim Wakefield broke that streak on Sept. 30, 1993, posting a complete game shutout.
RIP Timmy! Knuckleball legend
RIP, Mr. Wakefield! 😢
Rest easy Tim
RIP Legend
Longtime Sox fan here; loved watching Wakefield pitch back in the day. Should give a shout-out too to Doug Mirabelli, his sole purpose for being in the team was to catch for Wakefield and he used a softball mitt to do it. I thought it was so cool that wake had his own personal catcher lol.
I was obsessed with throwing a knuckle ball when I was in high school. I was a decent pitcher, but didn't have a rocket arm or anything, so I decided the knuckler was the key. My coach let me throw it one game and I walked like 7 or 8 guys in 3 innings and he told me to knock it off, but that sucker was dancing. I mostly remember because I told everyone, but no one got a hit off it. Coach was still unimpressed. SMH.
RIP Tim.
Eating a jello with chopsticks is such a great analogy
The best MTC vid in a while. Great stuff.
146 pitches in a debut !?! You’ll never see that again! RIP Red Sox legend!
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Watertown, NY and remember that 1988 season (it was their last affiliated with the Pirates). Can't say that I specifically remember Wakefield, though, seeing how his performance wasn't that memorable anyway.
Eric Gagne is my favorite pitcher of all time. First time seeing him on the mound was, “who’s this bum?” Then he proceeded to throw his infamous filthy Vulcanchange, and I’ve loved him ever since.
Very sad day today for Red Sox Nation. RIP Tim.
Working tues-sat and couldn't have asked for a better start to the weekend
RIP Timmy
Ayyyyyyy, Wake! It was always less about whether they'd win with him on the mound and more about how I had literally no idea how the game would go. Every game he pitched was different.
I want more knuckleballers in baseball. If I was commissioner, I'd make it a requirement that every single level of the minors has to have one full time knuckler per team. At the MLB level, I wouldn't require it. But I would give a significant benefit to the team's that use one. Each MLB team that has a full-time knuckler would be allowed to have a non-roster extra catcher specifically just for catching their knuckler starter. On days that duo starts, you are allowed a DH for both the pitcher and the catcher. Also, that catcher is a non-roster guy, so he doesn't factor into roster size or to luxury tax figure (though you still have to pay him at least the league minimum). You can only use the extra DH on the knuckle day (and you can hit the catcher if you want to). That would give teams a huge incentive to have a knuckleballer in their rotation. Wouldn't be shocked if a team like the Rays innovates and has a knuckler start every game, giving them 2 DH spots every game plus only needing to roster one catcher to be the backup for the knuckler catcher (that is not on the roster). I want to get it back in the game.
Yeah it's a shame it's gone away
RIP Wake
He's my favorite pitcher and I'm not even a Bo Sox fan.
RIP Tim
RIP wake 🪦❤
he single-handedly extended the careers of several catchers by being able to handle his knuckleball…he turned three backup catchers into vital parts of the team giving guys chances to get new contracts elsewhere
Man, I wish we had some great knuckleball duels on the mound. When they work, they leave batters swinging out of their cleats.
Letter in Beckett Baseball regarding semistars pricing/listings in the mid 90s: "If I have a Tim Wakefield card, I will see that he's a common."
Then sneaks in a 75mpg fast ball. Wakes was my favourite pitcher of all time
R I.PITCHING Tim!
I was able to play catch with him at his highschool here in eau gallie Florida. F.I.T is right down the street from my house
When Tim was on there wasn’t another pitch more nasty. He is Boston redsox. Never did it easy but always found a way. So glad he was a redsox
Rest in peace 💙
Rest In Peace 😢, will forever be a red sox legend
RIP Wake.
Do a video on RA Dickey next!
Don't forget his number of saves as a closer!
rip Tim Wakefield
He has a career ERA over 4 & a win/loss record of 200-180...they don't bode well for him getting into the Hall.
The goat
I’m so happy that this Sox legend debuted on my birthday, albeit 13 years beforehand. Hope they retire his number
Tim Wakefield was a magician! Not for the movement of his pitch, but for making Aaron Boone a hero.
I played with Wake in the Pirate Minor league....He was a even better teammate than he was a Pitcher
Yankees fan here- I've heard nothing but good things about Wakefield as a person. Super nice charitable guy.
@tommyfu9271 He is outstanding person
Don't ever forget his 1992 rookie season. 8-1 record.
He honestly belongs in the HoF solely for his pitch.
Ken Griffey jr video game playing as Boston was ridiculous because no one could hit that knuckleball
I think he should be in the HoF
Keep in mind the ERA+ is higher than ERA because of the steroid era. 4.5 ERA in steroid era is above average
A 4.5 era in the steroid era is above average maybe similar to a 3.5 era in the past 5 years. ERA+ should adjust for that I believe. Wakefields ERA+ on baseball reference is around 115 in the steroid era which is above average similar to Madison Bumgarner of mid 2010s. He’s above average not a Cy young winner
I used to bully this boy back in skool
I remember
He died today rip tw
If someone threw 172 pitches in a game today they’d be out for the year lol
RIP Tim Wakefield, you were too good not to make the Hall of Fame, but you shouldn't get killed by Curt Schilling.
Nice segment, thanks.
A 171 whip??? You mean 1.71???
Boston should retire his number
There wasn’t a single fan in Boston who was mad at Wakefield in 2003. We were pissed at the team and the situation, and Grady Little more than anything. But this dude was really respected
Absolutely grady little I got all of the frustration. Nobody was mad at Wakefield or even Pedro for that matter
@@michaelcorcoran8768 yup, exactly man. We all knew they should never have been in those positions to begin with. Pedro was the most competitive guy in MLB, of COURSE he wanted to pitch. _Tell him no!_ lol And Wake was only in bc they didn’t bother to get a real closer that year - hence Folk the next year. I’m glad Pedro got a ring here bc he really reinvigorated the energy around this franchise, and so happy for Wake simply bc he deserved to win for what he’d given the team.
Glad to reminisce with ya 😂
As a Yankee fan I couldn’t agree more. I LOVED seeing him on the bump. It was almost a guaranteed win!
@@alex11361 he was 3-1 against the Yankees in the post season. If you don’t think Torre would have loved to have a guy like Wakefield to eat up innings while proving 4 or 5 EXCELLENT seasons then you’re nuts. He almost always gave the team a chance to win, esp once we had Manny and Papi going back to back in the lineup.
Funny though, bc when Red Sox fans saw the great Mariano Rivera on the mound in a close game we eventually started to feel pretty good about tying it up 😂
@@michaelcorcoran8768Pedro deserve the ire though, but because he was a fan favorite he gets an unjust pass
RIP Wake
RIP Tim
Wakefield was a hell of a teammate. He knew his limits, and found ways to leverage his value for the benefit of the teams he was on when it counted. He wasn't flashy, greedy, or arrogant. Just a cool dude, hope the Sox retire his number someday soon.
I hope one day as a Red Sox fan the Sox retire number 49. Wake did it all for the Sox and did not complain about it. Truly a great teammate.
They aren’t gonna retire a number for a guy with only one all-star game appearance. Still a great player tho
Never going to happen
Sox don’t need to turn into the Celtics & retire every number. Love Wake but he was good not great. Retiring numbers SHOULD be only for great players.
Tim was 186-168 with the Sox....love the guy but those aren't number retiring stats...
@@gsr2084
I would argue for Varitek. I think his longevity at the Catcher position, 4 No Hitters Caught. 2 World Series.
RIP Tim Wakefield, there will never be another
Wakefield is a great example of a ballplayer the Analytics can't account for. By the numbers he is a solid mid-back of the rotation starter. What the numbers won't tell you is the work ethic and determination a guy like that has, and how that effects his teammates. You might feel defeated, but you know Wakefield is gonna give it his all, so by pride or camaraderie you are gonna fight with him.
Another Legend lost 😢 You were one of the reasons im fascinated by the physics behind knuckling 🤦🏿♂️
Wake is one of the beloved Sox players of his generation. Sure Ortiz, Pedro, Schilling, Manny, Tek and others were better players but Wakefield was special because of his pitch and because everyone knew how great of a guy he was. Always willing to come in, do his job, and support the team however he could, a true professional.
he spanned generations: he started with the last of the 80s guys and their egos and issues, ended with the new generation of stat producers and obsession with their bodies…all while enduring the steroid guys popping up left and right
Ortiz sullied his image with shady actions, Manny was an egotistical jerk who only wanted attention, Pedro was a diva but stopped when he pit on his uniform…but Wakefield and Tek simply didn’t have the issues and played and went home to family
I'm glad to see someone credit him for his role in 2004. Without him eating innings in game 3 there's no bullpen for game 4 and no game 6-7.
Also, in addition to the redemption of Wakefield himself, you could argue his selflessness also ended up redeeming Derek Lowe. Lowe had not been good that year and had been jettisoned from the playoff roto, but came up big in Game 4 of the ALCS as well as Game 7 and threw a masterpiece in the WS clincher.
I’m so saddened to hear of his loss as a Red Sox fan, this video though has made me so happy to see wake as he was always a hero to me
RIP Tim Wakefield.....we have to retire 49.