old Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has been diagnosed with brain cancer, according to his old colleague Curt Schilling.
Schilling announced the diagnosis on his “The Curt Schilling Baseball Show” podcast on Tuesday.
Schilling stated he wasn’t sure if Wakefield wanted the diagnosis shared.
Schilling also said that Wakefield’s wife, Stacy, is “very sick with pancreatic cancer.”
Schilling, claiming to have witnessed the “power of prayer at work,” exposed the Wakefields’ private lives.
“Tim Wakefield is sick.” Tim was recently diagnosed with a severe and aggressive brain cancer. Tim’s case is really critical, and he underwent surgery,” Schilling explained.
“I want Tim and Stacy to know that we are praying for and thinking about them. Their children are certainly going
through some difficult times. I don’t want to sound cliché, but no one deserves this. While they are both quite sick
right now, they both need to know that there are many people praying for and thinking about them.
“I know all of his old teammates, friends, and family are reaching out to them, letting them know that we’re all here
for them if they need anything. … I wanted to make sure that I reached out to the baseball community as a whole to
let those of you who didn’t know, whether you played with Tim, against him, or as fans, that it was serious. Prayers,
thoughts, and all that comes with them are desired, justified, and welcomed.”
Wakefield, 57, pitched for the Red Sox from 1995 to 2011, helping them win two World Series titles (in 2004 and 2007).
Wakefield, noted for his knuckleball, finished third in the vote for the 1995 American League Cy Young Award after finishing 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA.
The Red Sox acknowledged the Wakefields’ situation and chastised Schilling for disclosing the information.
“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield,” the team stated in a statement.
“Unfortunately, this information was made public without their permission. Their health is a profoundly personal
topic that they desire to keep private while undergoing treatment and working to overcome this sickness. Tim and
Stacy appreciate the support and affection that has always been provided to them, and they respectfully want
solitude at this time.”
Other Red Sox fans were less gracious about Schilling’s generosity.
“F-k you Curt Schilling, that wasn’t your place!” Catherine Varitek, the wife of former Boston catcher Jason Varitek, posted on X on Thursday.
Wakefield was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first baseman in 1988, but he began experimenting with the knuckler in the minors before switching to pitching in 1990.
