(Boston) Butterfly ball specialist Tim Wakefield died at the age of 57 on Sunday.
The Boston Red Sox announced the death of the former pitcher in a press release on Sunday.
Wakefield was battling brain cancer, former teammate Curt Schilling revealed on his podcast last week. The Red Sox confirmed the illness at that time, but did not elaborate on the situation, saying Wakefield had requested privacy.
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a college home run record-setting first baseman, Wakefield converted to pitching and became a master of the butterfly ball in the minor leagues.
Relying on getting going, Wakefield won 200 games in the majors, including 186 with the Red Sox — placing him third in team history behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens.
Wakefield allowed a game-winning homer to the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 2003 American Championship Series, but rallied to help the Red Sox end their 86-year title drought of the World Series in 2004.
