Knuckler
Tributes have been pouring in across the land for former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. So as a New York Yankees fan, I’d like to throw one in.
This is a sad loss. I guess the good really do die young. The right-hander was only 57. A stand-up guy and a class act all the way. Praised as much for his charity work as he was for his feats on the mound. He was always pitching in for the Jimmy Fund, visiting kids at Dana Farber giving them hope as they fought some tough fights. A lot of times he’d bring them down to Fenway and show them around the park.
Back in 2010, he won the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, given to a Major League Baseball player who demonstrates the values of the Pittsburgh Pirates hall of famer who displayed a commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others. As Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner said, “It’s one thing to be an outstanding athlete. It’s another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both.”
Another reason I liked Wakefield is he was a knuckleballer. As a kid, I was fascinated by knuckleball pitchers like Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and our old Yankee buddy and Ball Four author Jim Bouton. I always thought if I could bat against one of these slow, blooper-ball pitchers I could hit it out of the park.
They say to live every day like it’s your last. Sadly, last Sunday was Tim’s. Keep your dukes up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZf9UeZa4uA
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