Tim Wakefield, Red Sox Knuckleball Pitcher, Retires [Video]

After 19 years in the majors, the last 17 with the Boston Red Sox, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield announced his retirement yesterday.

“This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, so it’s with a heavy heart that I stand here today,” Wakefield said during his emotional retirement speech at Fenwark Park. “And I’m saddened to say that I have decided to retire from this wonderful game of baseball.”

Wakefield, who retires at the age of 45, went 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA over his career, most memorably spent with the Red Sox, for whom he won 186 games. He needed just seven more wins to beat the record of 192 Red Sox wins held jointly by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

Former teammate Johnny Damon was quoted by the Boston Herald as saying the record “meant the world to him.”

“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.”

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.

Wakefield’s 17 years of service with the franchise is exceeded by only three players: Carl Yastrzemski (23), Ted Williams (19) and Dwight Evans (19).

“He’s had such an amazing career, his age and all the memories,” Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis told ESPN on Friday. “You can also look at it as how time flies and ’04 was almost nine seasons ago. For him, you see the end of a great career and you can’t put it into words that Wake’s not going to be there.

“Wake’s always been a staple of being out there and when you think of the Boston Red Sox, you think [of Wakefield].”

Watch Tim Wakefield announce his retirement from baseball in the video clip below:
via ESPN