Red Sox' Wakefield Retires After 19 Years

Updated February 17, 2012

Boston Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 18, 2011. He finished with 186 career wins with the Sox. (AP)

Tim Wakefield is retiring after pitching the last 17 seasons for the Boston Red Sox.

The 45-year-old knuckleballer made the announcement at the team's spring training facility at a news conference Friday evening.

"It is with a heavy heart that I stand here today," Wakefield said, his voice cracking, "and I'm saddened to say that I have decided to retire from this wonderful game of baseball."

After two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the right-hander signed as a minor-league free agent in April 1995. He was 186-168 with a 4.43 ERA with the Red Sox. Only Roger Clemens and Cy Young had more wins (192) with the team.

Wakefield is first in team history with 3,006 innings and 430 starts, and second in games and strikeouts.

For his career, Wakefield was 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA He was 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA last season in 23 starts and 10 relief appearances.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom

This article was originally published on February 17, 2012.

This program aired on February 17, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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