Hall-of-Fame third baseman Wade Boggs is apologizing for publicizing the news that former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield is battling brain cancer.
Ex-Boston ace Curt Schilling shared the news Tuesday on his podcast that Wakefield, 57, has undergone surgery for brain cancer while his wife Stacy battles pancreatic cancer.
On Thursday, Boggs tweeted his support for Wakefield.
“Wow just another punch in the gut. @TimWakefield49 diagnosed with brain cancer you can beat it Brother keep up the fight,” Boggs wrote.
That went out on Boggs’ unverified X account Thursday at 11:02 a.m. ET.
It was at that time the sports world was learning of the Wakefields’ health problems and Red Sox nation turned on Schilling for breaking the news without permission from the Wakefield family.
The wife of former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek was the first to jump on Schilling, tweeting, “F–k you Curt Schilling, that wasn’t your place!”
That was followed by a statement from the Red Sox, which they note was distributed with permission from the Wakefields.
“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield. Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission,” the statement read.
“Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease. Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has always been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”
As news of the Wakefields’ cancer battles spread, Boggs returned to X with an apology.
“At the time I posted my tweet I was unaware that Tim’s condition was not supposed to be public my apologies to Tim and his family,” Boggs wrote.
Boggs, 65, played for the Red Sox from 1982 to 1992, followed by five seasons with the Yankees and two with the Rays.
Boggs won his only World Series title in 1996 with the Yankees and reached 3,000 career base hits in 1999, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit a home run for No. 3,000 — a feat later matched by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Wakefield, who learned how to throw the knuckleball while a minor leaguer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, joined the Red Sox in 1995 and picked up his 200th career win in 2011 before calling it quits.
Schilling, 56, was Wakefield’s teammate from 2004 to 2007, with the pair helping Boston win two World Series titles.
When announcing Wakefield’s diagnosis Tuesday on “The Curt Schilling Baseball Show,” Schilling admitted he didn’t know if Wakefield wanted the news shared.
Saying he’s seen the “power of prayer work,” Schilling put the Wakefields’ private lives on public display.
“Tim Wakefield is sick. … Recently, Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer. … The situation in Tim’s case is incredibly serious and he went in and had surgery,” Schilling said.
“I want Tim and Stacy to know obviously we’re praying for them, we’re thinking of them. Their children obviously going through some very tough times. I don’t want to cliche this, but nobody deserves this. … While both of them are now very sick, they both need to know there are a lot of people out here praying and thinking about them.
“I know all his former teammates and friends and family certainly are reaching out to them and making sure they both know that we’re all here if they need anything. … I wanted to make sure that I reached out to the baseball community at large for those of you that didn’t know, that played with Tim, or that played against him, or the fans that it’s serious. Prayers and thoughts and all the things that go with that are wanted, warranted and welcome.”
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