Red Sox to wear Tim Wakefield jersey patch, honor the beloved knuckleballer and wife at home opener
Tim and Stacy Wakefield
Stacy Wakefield (Getty Images
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Stacy Wakefield BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: Tim Wakefield Stacey Stover and Pedro and Carolina Martinez atend the Pedro Martinez Charity Feast With 45 at Fenway Park on June 29, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Pedro Martinez Charity) (Paul Marotta/Getty Images)
Stacy Wakefield BOSTON, MA - JUNE 02: Stacy & Tim Wakefield at the UNICEF Children's Champion Award Dinner Honoring Pedro and Carolina Martinez and Kaia Miller Goldstein at The Castle at Park Plaza on June 2, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images for UNICEF) (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
By Lindsey Thorpe
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are set to take the field for their first home game of the 2024 season on Tuesday, where they will honor longtime pitcher Tim Wakefield and his wife, Stacy.
The team announced that a special pregame tribute “honoring the life, legacy and community impact” of Wakefield and his wife will be held before the 2:10 p.m. game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on April 9.
The team also announced that players will wear Wakefield’s No. “49″ on heart-shaped patches throughout the season.
“49” Patch to be Worn on Player Sleeves Throughout the Season (Boston Red Sox)
“The commemorative navy patch is shaped like a heart, a nod to Wakefield’s role as Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation, with his number 49 featured in red at the center,” the team said.
The patches will be available for purchase (with proceeds benefiting the Red Sox Foundation) later in the season, according to the team’s announcement.
Fans attending the game will receive pins with Wakefield’s jersey number, the Red Sox said.
“49” Patch to be Worn on Player Sleeves Throughout the Season (Boston Red Sox)
The Red Sox Hall of Famer, who pitched in Boston from 1995 through 2011, died at the age of 57 in October after a battle with brain cancer. He spent a total of 29 years with the Red Sox organization as a player, special assistant, and broadcaster. Stacy Wakefield died less than five months later, from pancreatic cancer.
The Red Sox will also honor the 20th anniversary of the 2004 World Series Championship winning— whose victory ended an 86-year championship drought — before the home opener.
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - OCTOBER 23: Pitcher Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning during game one of the World Series on October 23, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (Al Bello/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - APRIL 25: Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox tips his cap tot he crowd during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on April 25, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 Boston Red Sox's Tim Wakefield shakes hands with the crowd in celebration after the Red Sox clinched a playoff spot in the American League after defeating the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, September 25, 2003. (Jim Rogash)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield throws a knuckle ball against the Texas Rangers Sunday, July 11, 2004. The Rangers beat the Red Sox 6-5 at Fenway Park in Boston Massachusetts on July 11, 2004. (Photo by J Rogash/Getty Images) (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - MAY 1: Tim Wakefield #48 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during their game at Fenway Park on May 1, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - OCTOBER 23: Pitcher Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game one of the World Series on October 23, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield runs out on to the field before the game against the Seattle Mariners on May 15, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Wakefield was honored in a pregame ceremony by the Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - APRIL 13: Former Boston Red Sox players Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the home opener between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 13, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - JUNE 27: Josh Beckett #19 (L) and Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox have a laugh before playing the New York Mets on June 27, 2006 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees on September 25, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - APRIL 13: Former Boston Red Sox players Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the home opener between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 13, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - JULY 24: Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox throws a knuckleball against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on July 24, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox poses during photo day at the Boston Red Sox Spring Training practice facility on February 28, 2010 in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 5: Starting pitcher Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Texas Rangers on July 5, 2005 at Ameriquest Field in Arlington in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield stands in the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners on May 15, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Wakefield was honored in a pregame ceremony by the Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON - OCTOBER 16: Pitcher Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch against the New York Yankees after entering the game in the fourth inning during game three of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
World Series: Cardinals v Red Sox Game 1 BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 13: Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after earning his 200th win after a game with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on September 13, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield retiring
Obit-Wakefield Baseball FILE - Boston Red Sox's Tim Wakefield tips his cap as he comes off the field in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Boston, July 24, 2011. Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57. The Red Sox announced his death in a statement Sunday, Oct. 1 2023, (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, file) (Michael Dwyer/AP)
Obit-Wakefield Baseball FILE - Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield leaves the field after working against the Toronto Blue Jays in a Sept. 7, 2011 baseball game in Toronto. Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57. The Red Sox announced his death in a statement Sunday, Oct. 1 2023, (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press via AP, file) (Darren Calabrese/AP)
Red Sox say retired pitcher Tim Wakefield has died at 57 Tim Wakefield (Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Pedro Martinez )
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers embraces former Red Sox players Tim Wakefield and Kevin Millar prior to Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)