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There aren’t many MLB players in recent memory who’ve managed to master the art of the knuckleball, but longtime Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield was able to do exactly that over the course of a career that spanned 19 seasons—and Mariners ace George Kirby unveiled an amazing tribute after the Boston icon passed away from brain cancer at the age of 57.
When the Pirates scooped up Wakefield in the eighth round of the 1988 MLB Draft, the Florida Tech product had made a name for himself as a first baseman. However, after a coach warned him he’d never make it out of the minors with his skills at that position, he started to develop the knuckleball that became his bread and butter.
That pivot ended up working out pretty well for a man who recorded a 200–180 record, racked up 2,156 strikeouts, and earned a couple of World Series rings during his time in the league, and no one has really stepped up to fill the void that formed when the MLB’s most notable knuckleball pitcher since Phil Niekro retired in 2012.
On Sunday, the baseball world mourned Wakefield’s passing less than a week after Curt Schilling once again marred his already tarnished legacy by sharing his former teammate’s diagnosis with the world despite the wishes of him and his family.
Plenty of tributes poured in, and Mariners pitcher George Kirby was able to contribute thanks to the move he pulled during a showdown between Seattle and the Rangers.
Kirby has cemented himself as one of the most electric young talents on the mound since making his MLB debut in 2022, and while he’s already got plenty of weapons in his throwing arsenal, it appears he may be able to add one more in the form of the pretty nasty knuckleball he deployed in a game for the first time to fool Corey Seager in the top of the fourth en route to recording a strikeout.
On the day Tim Wakefield passed away, George Kirby broke out a knuckleball. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RWcbtC8bDl
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2023
After the game, Kirby (who earned the win with six innings of scoreless work) confirmed the timing of the debut wasn’t a coincidence, saying “I loved watching that guy throw” and that ” it was a great day to throw it.”
It might be the first time he’s deployed it, but if that video is any indication, it shouldn’t be the last.