Curt Schilling reveals ex-teammate Tim Wakefield and his wife are battling cancer
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox say announcer and former knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is undergoing treatment for a disease they did not specify and asked for fans to respect his privacy after the illness was outed without his consent by former teammate Curt Schilling.
The team issued a statement on Thursday after Schilling said on his podcast that Wakefield had brain cancer, leading to an outpouring of support for Wakefield — and criticism of Schilling.
“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield,” the Red Sox said. “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.”
Wakefield, 57, retired in 2012 with a 200-192 record and 4.41 ERA in more than 3,000 major league innings. He was a part of Boston’s 2004 and ’07 World Series championships and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
He has worked for NESN, the Red Sox broadcast network, since 2012 and remained active in Boston charities, including the Red Sox Foundation.
On the "Curt Schilling Baseball Show," Schilling said he didn’t know if Wakefield wanted the diagnosis shared. He also said that Wakefield’s wife, Stacy, is “very sick with pancreatic cancer.”
Schilling, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later said it was in remission, said he’s seen the “power of prayer work.”
“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.”
Schilling, who was Wakefield’s teammate from 2004-07, retired in 2009. He worked as an ESPN analyst before he was fired in 2016 for anti-transgender social media posts. Other posts have expressed support for lynching journalists and the Jan. 6 insurrection. His video game company, 38 Studios, went bankrupt and defaulted on a $75-million loan from the State of Rhode Island.
More: Schilling critical of RI state police investigation
More: Curt Schilling: Inept Chafee helped doom 38 Studios
Schilling was enshrined in the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2012, but he fell short of induction in the national baseball hall in 2022, his final year of eligibility, garnering 58.6% of the vote — far short of the 75% needed.
Cora says he'll be back next season
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said definitively on Wednesday that he will be back with the team next year but didn’t say in what position or even how he could be so sure.
When he was asked before the home finale against Tampa Bay if he was confident his job was secure, Cora said: “I’m good. I’ll be here.” Asked if he had been given a guarantee from ownership that he was safe, Cora stated twice: “I'll be here next year.”
The Red Sox fired chief baseball officer this month after they fell into the A.L. East basement as they headed toward their third last-place finish in his four seasons. A new baseball boss presumably would want some say in the manager.
Cora, who has a year left on his contract, also has mentioned his desire to work in a front office, so his return could be in some other position.
Sam Kennedy, the Red Sox president, did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarification on Cora's role in 2024.
Party time for Rays?
Champagne was sprayed, cigar smoke wafted through the air and the Tampa Bay Rays passed around a fancy glass decanter of liquor while hip-hop music blared from the speakers in the visitor's clubhouse at Fenway Park.
It was time to celebrate.
What they were celebrating wasn't exactly obvious.
The Rays donned ski goggles, covered their lockers with plastic and danced a victory dance for the traditional party that comes when a baseball team clinches a spot in the postseason. There was just one minor quibble: They didn't clinch anything at all by defeating the Red Sox, 5-0, on Wednesday night.
“I know it’s different,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I just told the guys ’We’re different. We’re the Rays.' "
In fact, the Rays clinched a playoff berth on Sept. 17, when they twice had the Orioles down to their last out before Baltimore won on an 11th-inning sacrifice fly. (It didn't matter, because Texas' loss that day assured Tampa Bay of no worse than a wild-card spot.)
But rather than celebrate after a loss, the Rays made plans to celebrate in Boston on Wednesday — taking advantage of Thursday's off day to sleep it off.
“Not everyone gets the opportunity,” said Tyler Glasnow, who struck out nine in five shutout innings in his final regular-season start. “And I think any time you’re able to win any sort of playoff thing, you've got to celebrate.”
So, there the Rays were, whooping it up three days after their actual clincher.
“Sunday was challenging,” Cash said. “I think we’ve got to try to appreciate the mood of the clubhouse a little bit. Right or wrong, we felt like there was going to be a time at some point.”
The Rays won their 97th game — tied for second most in franchise history — and still have a slim chance at the A.L. East title. Baltimore (99-59) has a magic number of one to clinch.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling Tim Wakefield battling cancer
