Originally drafted by the Pirates as a lofty first baseman, Tim Wakefield had quickly learned the art of the knuckleball in order to stay on a roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates would release Wakefield in 1995. Fortunately, the Red Sox welcomed Tim to their family, where he would happily remain for nearly two decades.
Wakefield’s first year in Boston resulted in a 16-8 record with a 2.95 ERA. Wake would end his career with a 200-180 record, 4.41 ERA, and 2,156 strikeouts. On the Red Sox all-time list, Wake ranks first in appearances (590), starts (430), and innings pitched.