Red Sox
Brianna and Trevor Wakefield led dozens of 2004 Red Sox players onto the field at Fenway Park.
Brianna Wakefield kissed Jason Varitek during Tuesday’s ceremony. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe team)
Fenway Park opened for another season Tuesday afternoon.
But before the first pitch was delivered at Boston’s ballpark, the Red Sox home opener festivities paid homage to the past and honored the memory of a beloved knuckleball pitcher and his family .
Beyond the expected pomp of the lineup presentations and thunderous flyover that accompanies each Opening Day, the Red Sox honored Tim and Stacy Wakefield – as well as the 2004 Red Sox World Series champion team – during ‘a 30 minute ceremony.
The highlight of the afternoon came after dozens of players from the 2004 team were introduced onto the field at Fenway Park, led by Wakefield kids Brianna and Trevor.
After arriving at the mound, Brianna threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Jason Varitek catching the offering. Before heading down to the dugout, Brianna and Trevor both hoisted the 2004 World Series trophy in front of Wakefield’s former teammates.
The Red Sox honored Tim and Stacy Wakefield throughout Tuesday’s nostalgic and somber ceremony.
Tim Wakefield, the beloved knuckleballer who won two World Series during his 17 seasons in Boston, died on October 1, 2023 at the age of 57. Stacy Wakefield died on February 28, 2024. She was 53 years old.
You can watch Tuesday’s full ceremony here:
The Red Sox opened the ceremony by announcing the full rosters of Boston and the opposing Baltimore Orioles. Varitek and new pitching coach Andrew Bailey drew plenty of cheers, while Trevor Story and Lucas Giolito – each sidelined for the season due to shoulder and elbow surgery – were introduced then that they wore a sling and an arm brace respectively.
Before the Boston Fire Department Quartet sang the national anthem, the Red Sox observed a lengthy moment of silence for several members of the Red Sox and their loved ones who have passed away in recent months.
Those tributes included the Wakefields, as well as former Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino. All three received cheers from the Fenway crowd when they were shown on the video board.
Lucchino, who served as Boston’s chairman and CEO from 2002 to 2015, died last week at the age of 78.
Fans entering the ballpark received a commemorative “49” pin, a magnetized calendar and red socks. The Red Sox wear Wakefield’s uniform number as their jersey sleeve patch this season.
The two light candlesticks anchored at the top of the green monster paid homage to Wakefield and Lucchino. One featured Wakefield’s jersey number “49” against a blue heart background, while a red “LL” was placed at the bottom of the other post in memory of Lucchino.
As “The Star-Spangled Banner” passed through Fenway Park, a pair of F-35s from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing and a KC-46 from the Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing from New Hampshire carried out the flyover. .
The ceremony then moved to the 2004 Red Sox, with a gigantic 2004 World Series banner draped over the green monster. A lengthy montage covering this curse-breaking season played on the center-field video board as Don McLean’s “American Pie” played over the speakers.
After showcasing some of the highlights of that memorable season — with the biggest cheers coming when Jason Varitek punched Alex Rodriguez in the face during a fight in mid-July — the video ended with a lengthy tribute in Wakefield and Lucchino.
Many players from that 2004 Red Sox team then emerged under the banner in left field and headed to the mound – led by Brianna and Trevor.
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