Boston Red Sox Tim Wakefield to retire

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will announce his retirement Friday after 19 seasons, including the past 17 with the Boston Red Sox.

Wakefield will make the official announcement in a Friday afternoon news conference at the team's spring training complex in Florida.
The 45-year-old will leave the game after recording his 200th win last September. He was the oldest active player in the major leagues last season.
The Red Sox had invited Wakefield to spring training, but were not guaranteeing him a roster spot

Wakefield, who bedeviled hitters throughout his career with a dancing knuckleball, won World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007 and made his first All-Star team in 2009.
His departure leaves Mets righty R.A. Dickey as the only knuckleball pitcher in MLB.
Wakefield's 186 victories for Boston ranks third in franchise history behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who both won 192 games. He pitched the most innings in Red Sox history at 3,006.

For his career, Wakefield finished with a record of 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA. He went 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 23 starts last season.newscore source