Aaron Boone's 'heart goes out' to Tim Wakefield in light of unspecified illness
TORONTO – Tim Wakefield and Aaron Boone are forever joined in baseball history, by one pennant-winning swing.
At the former Yankee Stadium, Boone’s homer off the Boston Red Sox knuckleball specialist in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series sent the Yankees to the World Series.
Wakefield was in Boone’s thoughts Thursday, with word from the Red Sox that Wakefield, 57, is being treated for an unspecified disease.
“My heart goes out to him,’’ Boone said before the Yankees-Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre.
Boone said he was “aware of it, a little bit,’’ of Wakefield’s illness, which controversial former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling revealed on a podcast – without permission – to be a form of brain cancer.
That prompted a statement Thursday by the Red Sox.
“Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without (Wakefield’s and his wife Stacy’s) permission,’’ the Red Sox statement said, in part. “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.’’
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Wakefield and Schilling were teammates on Boston’s world championship clubs in 2004 and 2007.
Boone described Wakefield as “a guy who’s really well respected and well liked and loved around the baseball world, and around the baseball fraternity.’’
Wakefield has been a broadcaster on Red Sox’s telecasts, but Boone said the famous homer doesn’t come up in conversation when they get together.
“I’ve had great conversations with Wake over the years. He’s just a good dude, a great baseball guy,’’ said Boone. “I just really love catching up with him.
“He’s somebody I really like and respect a lot.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tim Wakefield health: Yankees' Aaron Boone sends support
