A Message to Tim Wakefield, from Terry Francona

Terry Francona reflects on Tim Wakefield's impact to the Red Sox organization ahead of their home opener in 2024.

[dennismaxwell]

Awesome piece Tito! God speed Wakefields 🙏

[pmointernet]

Been a Sox fan since I was a kid back in the 1970's. Wake is one of my favorite players ever. I LOVED watching him pitch. What a man too, he and his wife were beautiful people.

[br]

This was a tribute well deserved for a pitcher with a unique pitch and obviously a big heart. Well done thank you coach

[Stevedrums]

As a Yankees fan since 1977, I remain heart-broken for this double loss. Life sometimes simply isn't fair, but the legacy we all leave behind is reflective in how we lived while we lived. And he and his wife lived well, honorably and honestly. I hope there is an afterlife where they are free of the bodies that betrayed them, and I hope their kids remain strong in navigating a world without their parents.

Much love from all Yankees fans.

[edross]

What a great Red Sox player, but what an even greater human being. RIP, champion, along with your beautiful wife. Your life is worth emulating.

[diamondgirl]

Beautiful tribute. Tim Wakefield passed from the same form of cancer (GBM) that took my husband, and that will forever connect them in my mind and in my heart. RIP Tim and Stacy Wakefield, and may God bless Brianna and Trevor.

[ChosenOne-jkgo]

He was a gentleman amongst gentleman!! A great pitcher and even better human being!! Thanks for the memories Wake!!

[thegreatgumbino]

Tim lived in the same town as my parents. One day in 2013, I went to the theater with my mom and noticed Tim standing in the lobby. I ran out to the car to get a baseball out of my backpack and asked him to sign it. I told him that as a Yankees fan, he was always a joy to watch pitch. He was extremely gracious and kind and signed my ball with a smile. RIP Tim and Stacy Wakefield

[tkillcoin]

Well great. Now I have to go back to work having been sobbing. Thanks Tito! Thank you Wake!! Thank you Stacy!!!

[GatorMcClusky]

My daughter passed away from cancer. She was 17 years old. His baseball career was meaningless, next to the joy that he gave the kids at the jimmy Fund. Careers come and go, but your love, will endure forever.

[Elhefeschlomo]

Thanks to tim every kid in new england grew up trying to throw a knuckleball rip to on eof the greats.

[lindataylor]

So nice of you so sad for their children RIP both of you and God bless your children

[notoriouseagle]

I got to interview Tim for a high school project and he couldn't have been more gracious and pleasant to speak with.

[thomassweeney]

A life long Oriole fan I could not get through five minutes of this before the tears came. I almost wish we had lost the game today. Wake was everything you want in a player and a person. Gone to soon he and Brooks can talk baseball now. Both Tim and Stacy were such nice people and that damn Cancer just does not care.

[jjh]

There goes Tim Wakefield, the greatest Red Sox player who ever lived. Thank you for everything, you were a heck of a player and an even better human.

[joeclaymore]

Simply an amazing human being. This put tears in my eyes. Well said.

[JohnKoziol-xx]

I remember seeing Tim in that playoff series when he was with the Pirates and just how well he had pitched for them. When I heard that the Red Sox had acquired him I was happy. Little did I know at that time just how happy Tim Wakefield would make me as a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. When he came to Boston I not only got to see the great player he was but also see the great humanitarian and wonderful person he was. As I watced this beautiful tribute by Terry Francona, I couldn't help but started crying. That's how touching it was It's hard to believe he is gone. May you and your wonderful wife the female embodiment of you find everlasting peace in that Fenway Park in the sky!

[tmacart]

Brings tears to my eyes. RIP Wake, Thank you Mr Francona

[wacco]

Everything you said Terry is true. Wake was special but so are you! Let's go Red Sox!

[Nigelsmom]

Sending prayers to their children. May God watch over them. Thank you Terry Francona for doing the voice-over for this video. You're right, it still feels like a punch to the gut all this time later. RIP to Tim and Stacy.