Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has been diagnosed with brain cancer, according to former teammate Curt Schilling.
The diagnosis was announced Tuesday by Schilling on his podcast, “The Curt Schilling Baseball Show.”
In doing so, Schilling admitted he didn’t know if Wakefield wanted the diagnosis shared.
Schilling also revealed that Wakefield’s wife, Stacy, is “very sick with pancreatic cancer.”
Saying he’s seen the “power of prayer work,” Schilling put the Wakefields’ private lives on public display.
“Tim Wakefield is sick. … Recently, Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer. … The situation in Tim’s case is incredibly serious and he went in and had surgery,” Schilling said.
“I want Tim and Stacy to know obviously we’re praying for them, we’re thinking of them. Their children obviously going through some very tough times. I don’t want to cliche this, but nobody deserves this.”
Wakefield, 57, pitched for the Red Sox from 1995 to 2011, helping Boston win a pair of World Series (2004 and 2007).
Wakefield, known for his knuckleball, finished third in voting for the 1995 American League Cy Young Award, going 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA.
His first and only All-Star nod came in 2009.
The Red Sox acknowledged the Wakefields’ conditions and admonished Schilling for revealing the news.
“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield,” the team said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission. Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease. Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has always been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first baseman in 1988, Wakefield started toying with the knuckler in the minors and transitioned to pitching in 1990.
Wakefield made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1992.
But ahead of the 1995 season, Pittsburgh released Wakefield, and the rest is history.
Wakefield won 200 games over 19 MLB seasons, including 186 with the Red Sox, which is third-most all-time in Boston behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens (192).
It was Wakefield who was willing to eat up innings of Game 3 of the 2004 American League Championship Series, which the Yankees won, 19-8.
By saving the bullpen, Wakefield set up manager Terry Francona with a path forward for the pitching staff as the Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win the AL pennant.
Following his retirement after the 2011 season, Wakefield has remained a fixture in Boston through his appearances for the club and his charity work in the community.