BOSTON – While they did not go into specifics, the Boston Red Sox shared that former pitcher Tim Wakefield is undergoing treatment for an illness they did not specify and asked fans to respect his privacy after his illness was discovered without his consent by former teammate Curt Schilling.
The club said they were aware of investigations into the health of the Wakefield family and that some information had been shared without their permission.
“Their health is a very personal matter and they intended to keep it private as they dealt with treatment and worked to address this disease. Tim and his wife, Stacy, appreciate the support and love that has always been given to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time,” the Red Sox said in a statement.
Early Thursday, there was a lot of discussion on social media after Wakefield’s former teammate, Curt Schilling, discussed his health on his podcast without the family’s permission.
Boston 25 will not share details of Schilling’s comments due to the Wakefield family’s desire not to reveal details of the health battle they are facing.
Wakefield was a mainstay for Boston for 17 seasons, helping the Red Sox win World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. The infielder-turned-outfielder is the 120-plus-year-old franchise’s leader in innings pitched (3,006) and ranks third among Boston pitchers in wins (186).
As much as it was his movement on the field that made him a household name, Wakefield was also always moving off the field as well. Wakefield was very active in the Boston community, constantly donating his time to young children. Wakefield has been nominated for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a player who gives back through community service, an astonishing eight times in his career.
Wakefield retired in 2011 after achieving 200 career wins.
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