On Friday, Boston Red Sox knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 19 seasons. The 45-year-old Wakefield, who played 17 seasons in a Red Sox uniform, made the announcement at the Red Sox’s new spring training facility in Lee County, Florida in front of a small crowd that included his wife and two kids and former teammates Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz and Derek Lowe.

“This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said an emotional Wakefield. “So it’s with a heavy heart that I stand here today, and I’m saddened to say I’ve decided to retire from this wonderful game of baseball.”

While his competitiveness and leadership will be missed greatly by the organization, players as well as the Red Sox catchers will be able to take a sigh of relief knowing they will no longer have to try to hit or catch Wakefield’s baffling knuckleball.

Just ask three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Jason Varitek who looked like he was trying to catch a butterfly with a catcher’s mitt. I’ll never forget a Red Sox game in 2006. After Varitek and backup catcher Josh Bard were both having problems catching Wakefield’s knuckleball, the Red Sox acquired Doug Mirabelli, Wakefield’s personal catcher who was one of the few that could successfully handle the fluttering knuckleball. Within the same day of being traded, just hours before game time, Mirabelli had a police escort from the airport, changed into his uniform in a car and arrived at Fenway just in time to get behind the plate.

Then Boston had guys like Victor Martinez who, after experimenting with several different gloves, decided on a first baseman’s mitt when Wakefield was on the mound.

Wakefield finished his career after 17 seasons with the Red Sox, good enough to put him right behind three of the franchise’s greatest: Carl Yastrzemski (23), Ted Williams (19), and Dwight Evans (19). He ranks among the top in a number of franchise records; third in wins (186, just behind the franchise record of 192), first in appearances (590), starts (430), innings pitched (3,006), and second in strikeouts (2046).

The two guys with more franchise wins? Roger Clemens and Cy Young.

Even at 45, there’s no doubt that Wakefield could’ve played another season or two because of the fact that he almost exclusively throws a knuckleball that is less taxing on the body, but when asked about the timing of his retirement I think Wakefield’s former catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said it perfectly.

“He’s at a time in his life where family is important, the kids are getting older, and he’s accomplished everything anybody wanted to accomplish in this game. It seems right, after 200 wins last year, getting to that, to be with family now.”

Mr. Wakefield, you’ve had quite the career and a World Series ring to go along with it. Go enjoy your time off, you deserve it.

Wakefield notched his 200th win on July 13 last season against the Toronto Blue Jays. It would be his final win of his career.

— Edited by Pat Strathman