Travelers Championship pays tribute to New England legend Tim Wakefield

The PGA Tour and the Travelers Championship paid tribute to the late Tim Wakefield, the beloved pitching legend who also could spin a golf ball.

When the tournament started this week in Cromwell, Conn., organizers honored Wakefield’s memory by placing a No. 49 pin flag on hole No. 9. Wakefield, the star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was a fixture during the celebrity pro-am part of the Travelers Championship.

The PGA Tour social media team shared a snap of the pin flag with the caption:

“Tim Wakefield, former Red Sox pitcher and New England legend, passed away last year at the age of 57. A regular participant in the Travelers Championship pro-am, the tournament honored him on Wednesday with a pin flag on No. 9.”

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Tim Wakefield was beloved fixture at Fenway Park

Although Tim Wakefield started his MLB career in Pittsburgh, he will always be known as the ultimate Red Sox star. He spent 17 years playing in Boston, opting to retire once he turned the ripe old age of 46. Wakefield pitched more innings in a Boston uniform than any other Red Sox player. He also ranks second, behind only Roger Clemens, with most wins at Fenway Park.

Wakefield is in the Red Sox Hall of Fame. He played on two World Series championship teams and was an All Star in 2009. To think, he started his MLB career as a first baseman, but became a standout pitcher with a befuddling knuckler.

Sadly, Tim Wakefield died last October of brain cancer. Fans found out about his diagnosis only days earlier when former teammate Curt Schilling tweeted the news of his illness. The Wakefield family had wanted to keep the matter private.

The Red Sox announced the pitcher’s passing at the age of 57.

“Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield,” the team wrote. “Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation.”

The Red Sox faithful — and the Wakefield family — suffered another gut punch earlier this year when Stacy Wakefield, Tim’s wife, died of pancreatic cancer. The couple was survived by two teen-aged children, Brianna and Trevor.

Back in April, the Red Sox honored the 2004 World Series champs and Wakefield’s memory on opening day at Fenway.

Then earlier this month, the Boston Celtics honored Wakefield with a “Heroes Among Us” award. Brianna Wakefield accepted it for her dad. The Celtics won the game and clinched the NBA title.