Brianna Wakefield stood within the heart of the hallowed TD Backyard parquet, receiving loud applause from the Boston trustworthy together with her late dad and mom, Tim and Stacy, watching from above.
The Celtics all through their Finals run have acknowledged champions from the opposite Boston sports activities groups. Within the second quarter of Monday’s Sport 5, they celebrated Tim Wakefield’s notable contributions to the neighborhood.
Wakefield, a beloved knuckleballer who gained two World Collection with the Pink Sox, in 2004 and 2007, died final October from mind most cancers. His spouse Stacy died months later, from pancreatic most cancers in February.
Their daughter, Brianna, smiled and waved to the gang, throughout a business break with the Celtics up 46-31, holding a “Heroes Among Us” award in her different hand.
The award is given throughout each Celtics house recreation to an “outstanding individual who made exceptional and lasting contributions to their communities.”
Bruins legend Zdeno Chara obtained the award in Sport 1 earlier than former Patriots particular teamer and three-time Tremendous Bowl champion Matthew Slater acquired the particular nod in Sport 2.
The Celtics paid particular consideration to Wakefield being an inaugural captain for the Jimmy Fund, elevating “millions of dollars towards cancer research.” The staff additionally highlighted how Wakefield gained the Roberto Clemente Award, in 2010.
Wakefield known as receiving that award his highest honor.
“This has nothing to do with baseball,” he stated on the time. “This has nothing to do with your statistics. … this is the highest accomplishment you can attain, the highest compliment that you can get from somebody, and I’m very honored and humbled.”
Wakefield, a 17-year member of the group, retired in 2011 earlier than his induction into the Pink Sox Corridor of Fame in 2016.
Along with his longtime help of the Jimmy Fund, Wakefield was concerned with “Pitching for Kids,” a non-profit group devoted to offering grants to enhance the lives of youngsters all through New England. He additionally helps the Area Coast Early Intervention Heart in his native Melbourne, Fla.
