Controversial Red Sox legend turns down World Series reunion invitation Due To…
At the team’s home opener at Fenway Park on April 9, members of the curse-breaking 2004 Boston Red Sox World Series championship squad will meet for a 20th anniversary celebration. Curt Schilling, a former pitcher and six-time All-Star, was an important member of the historic team, but he has turned down an invitation to the event from the organization.
The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy broke the story on Wednesday. Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com pointed out that the reunion’s 20th anniversary will be a solemn occasion. Tim Wakefield, a longstanding fan favorite, and his wife Stacy will be honored by the Red Sox.
The one-time All-Star knuckleballer passed away at 57 years old in October 2023 after a battle with brain cancer. Stacy passed away from pancreatic cancer less than five months later in late February.
Less than one week before “Wake’s” death, Schilling — who was teammates with Wakefield from 2004-07 — faced heavy backlash after sharing the couple’s diagnoses on his podcast without any authorization or consent. “This is not a message that Tim has asked anyone to share, and I don’t even know if he wants it shared,” Schilling said on the podcast before sharing the news.
Cotillo’s and McAdam’s report noted that Schilling’s actions “angered the Wakefield family and other former teammates.” Following a fight with brain cancer, the former All-Star knuckleball player departed this life in October 2023 at the age of 57. In late February, less than five months later, Stacy lost her life to pancreatic cancer.
Less than a week before “Wake’s” passing, Schilling, Wakefield’s teammate from 2004 to 2007, provoked strong criticism for disclosing the couple’s diagnosis on his podcast without permission. Before breaking the news, Schilling stated on the program, “This is not a message that Tim has asked anyone to share, and I don’t even know if he wants it shared.”
While the World Series MVP and CS player made a grave error by disclosing the personal information, he made the right option by declining to attend the home opener the following month.
“Schilling did not want his appearance at the home opener to serve as a distraction from honoring Wakefield’s memory, a source with knowledge of the situation said,” the report from MassLive stated. “As part of the announcement, the team made a point to note that ‘all members’ of the 2004 team were invited to the ceremony with participants being announced in advance of April 9.”
