Red Sox to celebrate 2004 champs, honor Tim Wakefield before home opener

The Red Sox have announced they will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 World Series championship team during the pregame ceremonies before the April 9 home opener, and the ceremony will also include a special tribute honoring the life and legacy of the late Tim Wakefield and his wife, Stacy.

In addition, players will wear a commemorative patch with Wakefield’s number 49 on their jersey sleeve throughout the season. The navy patch will be shaped like a heart in tribute to Wakefield’s role as Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation, and the patch will also be available for purchase later this season with the proceeds going to benefit the foundation’s efforts.

Tim Wakefield, beloved Red Sox pitcher and broadcaster, passes away

As part of the festivities, the club said all members of the 2004 team have been invited to the ceremony and participants will be announced before the home opener. That presumably includes Curt Schilling, the former Red Sox pitcher who angered his former teammates and club officials by disclosing the Wakefields’ cancer diagnoses last fall without their consent. Tim Wakefield died days later at age 57 on Oct. 1, and Stacy died late last month.

It’s not clear at this time if Schilling will be on hand to participate.

In addition to the anniversary celebration and tribute to the Wakefields, the home opener’s festivities will also include a flyover provided by the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158FW (Fighter Wing) Unit, as well as a huge American flag draped over the Green Monster. The Red Sox are slated to open their home schedule at Fenway Park against the defending AL East champion Baltimore Orioles and first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m.

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