Tim Wakefield couldn’t be more thrilled.
The Boston Red Sox announced Monday that Wakefield has been selected as one of the team’s 2016 Hall of Fame inductees. The knuckleballer will join longtime captain Jason Varitek, former outfielder Ira Flagstead and Red Sox president/CEO emeritus Larry Lucchino in the 2016 class.
“It’s a huge honor. I’m over the moon excited about it and it’s an honor, and I’m proud to be going in with (Varitek) as well,” Wakefield said Monday on a conference call. “He and I were teammates for 15 years, and I have a lot of people to thank, including himself and managers and coaches and other catchers besides ‘Tek. (Doug) Mirabelli, for one, he caught me for so many years.
“I’m grateful to have played for the Red Sox for 17 years and now to be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame is truly an honor.”
Wakefield’s 17 seasons with the Red Sox are four more than any other pitcher in club history. He finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in starts (430) and innings pitched (3,006), second in strikeouts (2,046) and third in wins (186). The right-hander even earned an All-Star selection in 2009 during his age 42 season.
But while reflecting on his memorable Red Sox tenure Monday, Wakefield wasn’t as focused on his individual accomplishments as he was on Boston’s team success. The Sox became relevant again in the late 1990s and rose to prominence the following decade, which is something he takes pride in.
“I played on a lot of great teams,” Wakefield said, “and I think the thing I’m most proud of is to be able to bring a World Series championship to the city of Boston in 2004 and 2007.”
Wakefield posted a 186-168 record and a 4.43 ERA in 590 career appearances with the Red Sox. Now, he’s making an impact as the honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation and a special assignment instructor with Boston.
It’s been a great run that more than justifies Wake’s enshrinement in the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@BlueSky_Sports
