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Jason Varitek, 2004 Red Sox reflect on the Wakefields’ legacy during ‘emotional’ day at Fenway Park
"Tim Wakefield and Stacy deserve to be celebrated because they were just wonderful people.”
Jason Varitek, like many other poised MLB catchers, faced a tough test when asked to corral Tim Wakefield’s fluttering knuckleball whenever the beloved righty took to the mound.
But on Tuesday afternoon, there was no one else more fitting to corral a pitch from another Wakefield at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox opened a new summer slate at Fenway Park with a pregame ceremony seeped with somber sentimentality.
On an afternoon where Boston paid tribute to both its 2004 curse-breaking team and the life and legacy of Tim and Stacy Wakefield, Brianna Wakefield stole the show while standing among many of her father’s teammates.
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As dozens of players from that 2004 Red Sox roster emerged from the championship banner engulfing the Green Monster, they were led to the mound by Brianna and her brother, Trevor.
As Brianna prepared to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park in 2024, it was Varitek who made his way to the plate.
“I don’t think Brianna would have given anybody else a choice,” Varitek said postgame. “She made sure last night, she goes, ‘You are catching? Yeah, I’m in the bullpen. I’ll make it down there.’ It was emotional. It was really emotional. She held herself like a champ. And — proud of the young lady that she is.”
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After Varitek embraced Brianna, both she and her brother hoisted the 2004 World Series trophy as cheers rained down from Fenway. It was a fitting way to conclude a ceremony where Tim and Stacy Wakefield’s impact both on the field and in the Boston community was recognized and celebrated.
“I just thought it was fitting for her to walk off the field with the World Series trophy,” Johnny Damon said. “And it’s such a great day. I mean those kids are going through a lot and they know that they have a lot of family in the team that we had in 2004 and they can always count on us.”
Many of Wakefield’s former teammates have rallied around his family and supported them in the wake of a tragic few months.
Tim Wakefield, who won two World Series over his 17 seasons in Boston, died on Oct. 1, 2023 at the age of 57 due to complications from brain cancer. Stacy Wakefield passed away on Feb. 28, 2024 while battling pancreatic cancer. She was 53 years old.
“Sometimes there’s just no more words, right, to describe what happened,” Orlando Cabrera said of all that Brianna and Trevor have gone through. “But those guys have been so good to them — Varitek, [Mike] Timlin, Derek [Lowe], all those guys who were touched by Wakefield. They know what it takes. And we try to give them as much support as we can. She’s an unbelievable girl.”
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The 2024 Red Sox will pay tribute to the Wakefields throughout this season.
Back in March, the Red Sox announced that Wakefield’s number 49 will be featured on a commemorative patch placed on the jersey sleeve of the 2024 Red Sox.
The commemorative navy patch, as seen in the video, is shaped as a heart as a tribute to Wakefield’s role as the Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation — with his number 49 etched in red at the center of the heart.
For the hundreds of former Red Sox who called him a teammate over his 17 years in Boston, the best way to honor both Tim and Stacy Wakefield lies in action and initiative — something that they both championed over a career that will forever resonate with this fanbase.
“I mean, we’re family out there and the city of Boston and the Boston Red Sox have just been absolutely amazing to the Wakefield family,” Damon said. “I mean, Tim was huge for this area and what Tim was able to do and give back to charity — he was Mr. Red Sox. And having his family out there is absolutely tremendous and as I mentioned, we’re all family and his kids are going to count on us moving forward and we all are going to be there for them.
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“He was just a very special person,” Damon continued. “He touched a lot of hearts out there and I think that’s why you see this happening. They just don’t celebrate everybody. Tim Wakefield and Stacy deserve to be celebrated because they were just wonderful people.”
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