Wakefield to announce retirement tonight

[MaineDem]

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Tim Wakefield came to the Red Sox as a reclamation project. Nearly two decades later, he departs as one of the most successful pitchers and respected individuals in team history.

The venerable knuckleballer will formally announce his retirement during a 5 p.m. ET news conference this evening at JetBlue Park, Boston's new Spring Training facility.

Wakefield had hoped to extend his career for another season, and said that he badly wanted it to be with the Red Sox.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120217&content_id=26730038&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos&partnerId=rss_bos

I'm gonna miss him.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Hard to remember when he wasn't pitching for the Sox.

I thought he'd be pitching into his 70's....not like he would wear out the arm throwing that 'heater'.

[joeybee12]

2. Good luck to him...thanks for the memories...

And this makes me think Valentine is an idiot.

[bluedigger]

3. Tim was always a class act.

He will be missed.

[backwoodsbob]

5. he was a class act

he killed my beloved tigers but I have to give him props..he was always classy