How much is Tim Wakefield worth?
| Net Worth: | $25 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Baseball Pitcher |
| Date of Birth: | August 2, 1966 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 1.88 m |
About Tim Wakefield
American former baseball pitcher Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966) spent 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Wakefield started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he is best known for his 17-year stint as the Boston Red Sox’s longest-tenured player, from 1995 until his retirement in 2012. Wakefield was the oldest player still playing in the big leagues when he retired.
- Born: Aug. 2, 1966
- Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 210
- Bats: Right
- Throws: Right
- Family: Wife, Stacey. Son, Trevor; Daughter, Brianna
- Primary position: Starting pitcher
Ahead of the Bigs:
Originally a batter, he played first base at Florida Tech for two seasons and set a school record with 40 home runs.
The Pirates selected him as a first baseman in the 1988 draft, but he only played one full season in that position, hitting just.189 with three home runs for Single-A Watertown.
began using his knuckleball in the minors in 1989 with Single-A Salem (10-14, 4.74 ERA), and by 1990 had made the transition to the major leagues as a full-time pitcher. In 1991, he had a 15-8 record with a 1.90 ERA in Double-A Carolina.
was called up to the Pirates after a 1992 Buffalo season in which he went 10-3 with a 3.06 ERA.
Pittsburgh let him go when he was sent back down for a full season in 1994 and posted a 5-15 record.
Professional Highlights:
In 1992, his distinctive knuckleball gave the Pirates a shock down the stretch. In his first start against St. Louis, he threw a full game and struck out 10.
vs. Atlanta in the 1992 National League Championship Series, went 2-0 in two starts and pitched two full games, both times against Tom Glavine, who would go on to win 300 games. The series was however won by the Braves in seven games.
was named the Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1992 after going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA. was chosen as the National League’s Rookie of the Year, behind Eric Karros and Moises Alou.
He struggled in 1993, going 6-11 with a 5.61 ERA. After being moved back to Triple-A Buffalo, he struggled again in 1994. Prior to the 1995 season, the Pirates released him.
He was acquired by the Boston Red Sox in May 1995, and Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro, two former knuckleball pitchers, helped him hone his pitch. was promoted to the Red Sox, where he won 14 of his first 17 games en route to a 16-8 record and 2.95 ERA. was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year and was in third in the voting for the AL Cy Young. In his lone playoff start, Cleveland was defeated.
a mainstay in Boston’s rotation for the most of the following 17 seasons, occasionally moving to the bullpen. He had the most losses (12-15) in the league in 1997 before improving to a 17-8 record in 1998.
was a part of Boston’s closer rotation in 1999, recording 15 saves.
In 2002, when he switched from the rotation to the bullpen and went 11-5 with a 2.81 ERA, his lowest since his rookie season, he earned his 100th victory.
went 2-1 in the 2003 ALCS, losing to the Yankees in seven games. He won starts in Games 1 and 4, but lost in relief in Game 7 after Aaron Boone of the Yankees hit one of the most infamous home runs in history against him in the 11th inning.
Pitched in three games of the series and won Game 5 in relief, a 14-inning Red Sox victory at Yankee Stadium, when the Red Sox famously came back from being three games down in the ALCS.
began the World Series Game 1 without making a decision, but the Red Sox won the series.
won 17 games in 2007, but missed the World Series because of a shoulder injury, which the Red Sox won.
He was 10-3 until June of 2009, the year he made his only All-Star team. completed 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA despite missing six weeks due to a back issue.
received the coveted Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 for his humanitarian work.
won his 200th game of his career against the Blue Jays on September 13, 2011, when he was 45.
has pitched more innings in Boston Red Sox history than any other pitcher.
Only Roger Clemens and Cy Young had more victories for the Red Sox as of September 2011.
