FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Tim Wakefield has never been afraid to face a
hitter with his knuckleball, kind of like he's never been afraid to face
the truth.
After all, he pitched in parts of three
decades, won 200 games along the way, was a part of two World Series
titles, and, above all else, he realizes just how precious baseball
careers can be.
So, with all that -- as well as a ton of
memories garnered over 19 years in the majors, the last 17 with the
Boston Red Sox -- an emotional Wakefield, 45, announced his retirement
Friday.
"Now," he said, "I'll have a lot of time to really reflect on all of the accomplishments I have been able to do."
That he played for so long seemed
unlikely early in his career. Drafted as a first baseman by the Pirates
in 1988, Wakefield was converted to a knuckleballer after just two
seasons. But in April 1995, after going 5-15 with a 5.84 in Triple A,
Pittsburgh released him.
The Red Sox pounced, signing him just
six days later. And somehow, he raced out to an improbable 14-1 start
with Boston, finishing 1995 at 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA.
Now, all these years later, he has to admit: His long career surprised even him.
"A little bit," Wakefield said. "There
were some years there where I didn't know if I was going to come back or
not. But I'm very grateful that I've been able to put this uniform on
for such a long time, and win two World Series for this great city.
"Now, I can finally say it's over."
It wasn't an easy decision, though.
Especially after he was offered a minor league contract with a chance to
come into Red Sox spring training and compete for a job.
"I've been wrestling with this decision
a long time, this whole offseason," he said. "I think the final
deciding point was when (my wife) Stacy and I sat my two kids down and
asked them what they wanted me to do. Like I said before, I never wanted
to regret missing any part of their life, and I just think the time is
now."
The decision helps the team avoid the
potentially awkward situation of having a veteran player, and fan
favorite, compete for and perhaps lose a roster spot.
"It's a unique situation, where you
sort of put the ball in his court whether to come into that type of
situation. And frankly, we just wouldn't do it in most cases," Red Sox
general manager Ben Cherington said. "For a guy like Wake, who has
accomplished as much as he has, I think that could have been a challenge
to be in camp without a little more definition as to the role.
"And Tim and I had conversations about
that. I don't know if that factored in at all. That's something you'd
have to ask Tim, but I could see that being a challenge potentially."
Wakefield is the third-winningest pitcher in Red Sox history, at 186-168. Cy Young and Roger Clemens both have 192 wins.
As the oldest player in the majors last
season, he was 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA last season in 23 starts and 10
relief appearances.
"I'm still a competitor, but ultimately
I think this is what's best for the Red Sox," Wakefield said. "I think
this is what's best for my family. And to be honest with you, seven wins
isn't going to make me a different person or a better man. So, my
family really needs me at home."
Several Red Sox were in attendance at the press conference at Jet Blue Park, the Red Sox new spring training home.
"I was happy to see that he did it the
way he wanted to," starter Jon Lester said. "I don't think you can ask
for anything more than that."
Lester's locker has been next to Wakefield's since Lester broke into the majors in 2006.
"To be honest with you, he was tough,"
Lester said of his first impressions of Wakefield. "He's probably one of
the tougher veterans that we had when I first came up and that's not a
bad thing. I think he did a good job of being a tough leader and making
sure that he was vocally present.
"He made sure I stayed in line and did
the right things both on and off the field. So I'm grateful for that.
I'm grateful for the fact that I got to be a teammate of his, and see
him do a lot of great things for this organization both on and off the
field. His charitable work is unbelievable."
Wakefield is well known for his charity
endeavors. He has established community service work in his hometown of
Melbourne, Fla., as well as in Boston.
Cleveland starter Derek Lowe, who lives
in Fort Myers, was a teammate of Wakefield for eight seasons. In Lowe's
last year in Boston -- 2004 -- the two helped the Red Sox to their
first World Series crown in 86 years.
"He led by example," Lowe said. "He was a guy you could look up to, a guy you could talk to."
Wakefield finished his Red Sox career
with a 4.43 ERA. He is first in team history with 3,006 innings and 430
starts, and second in games and strikeouts. For his career, Wakefield
was 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA.
On Sept. 13, Wakefield earned his 200th
win on his eighth try, in an 18-6 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays at
Fenway Park. Wakefield went six innings and overcame a shaky outing to
retire his final six batters. He left with a 6-5 lead after allowing six
hits and two walks. He struck out two.
The following day, prior to a matinee game with Toronto, he was honored for his accomplishment.
It turned out to be his last victory.
