Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, Jesse Haines, Joe Niekro, Charlie Hough, Dave Jolly, Ben Flowers, Wilbur Wood, Barney Schultz, Tom Candiotti, Bob Purkey, Steve Sparks, Eddie Rommel, Steven Wright, and R.A. Dickey.
What do these MLB pitchers have in common?
All of them relied on or included knuckleballs in their repertoires.
However, the true master of the knuckleball in the nineties and 2000s was Boston Red Sox righty Tim Wakefield.
Wakefield pitched for the Red Sox from 1995 until retiring in 2011.
Unfortunately, the baseball universe got the shocking and heartbreaking news of Wakefield’s passing over the weekend.
His former teammate David Ortiz, who won two World Series with Wakefield in 2004 and 2007, shared a touching tribute to his friend.
“I can’t describe what you mean to me and my family, my heart is broken right now because I will never be able to replace a brother and a friend like you… rest in peace my brother,” Ortiz wrote on his Twitter account.
I can’t describe what you mean to me and my family, my heart is broken right now because I will never be able to replace a brother and a friend like you… rest in peace my brother pic.twitter.com/Woackul3he
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) October 2, 2023
Wakefield developed an aggressive form of brain cancer and passed away on Sunday.
He made sure to leave his mark on the Red Sox’s rich history, though: he was an All-Star in 2009, won the two Fall Classics, took home the Roberto Clemente Award (2010), and is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
He left a 4.41 ERA as a major leaguer, all while relying on just one pitch.
He also won 200 games and was part of the Red Sox squad that broke the Curse of the Bambino.
May he rest in peace.
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