Sports
Former Pittsburgh Pirates Player Battling Brain Cancer: Report
The player's productive 19-year career in Major League Baseball began with the Bucs.
PITTSBURGH, PA — Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Tim Wakefield is fighting brain cancer, according to a former teammate. Curt Schilling, who played with Wakefield on the Boston Red Sox, revealed the news this week on his most recent podcast.
"Recently, Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer," Schilling said, according to Sports Illustrated's The Spun website.
Wakefield, 57, a rare knuckleball pitcher, began his 19-year Major League Baseball career with the Pirates in 1992-93. He compiled an overall record of 14-12with a 4.17 earned run average during those two seasons.
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Wakefield was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the 1992 National League Championship Series between the Pirates and the Atlanta Braves. He pitched a complete game in the Bucs' 3-2 victory.
In 1993, his accomplishments included hitting a home run in a July game against the Houston Astros.
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After leaving the Pirates, Wakefield spent the next 17 seasons with the Boston Red Sox before retiring after the 2011 season.
Overall, Wakefield finished his career with a 200-180 won-lost record and a 4.41 earned run average.
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