Travelers Pro-Am made a touching tribute to late Red Sox pitcher

The late Tim Wakefield is best known for his career on the mound. But he was also an avid golfer, participating in events like the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am, which kicked off Wednesday by paying a heartfelt tribute to the former Boston Red Sox hurler.

The flags on holes No. 1, No. 10 and No. 18 at TPC River Highlands featured Wakefield’s No. 49, surrounded by a heart.

Several of this year’s participants also honored Wakefield, including former Pro Bowl quarterback Doug Flutie.

The pair grew close over the years, playing as casual golfing mates and competitors in charity or celebrity tournaments. Flutie, who teed off on Wednesday, honored the man he called his “comfort zone” on the course by rocking Wakefield’s Red Sox jersey as he played.

A knuckleball specialist, Wakefield pitched 19 seasons in the majors, winning the World Series with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. During that time, he also worked on perfecting his craft on the golf course, often playing with teammates on the road between starts.

Following his career, Wakefield found golf as challenging, or even more so, than taking the hill every fifth day. In August 2023, the former Red Sox hurler revealed that his hand was shaking before teeing off at a celebrity tournament.

“I’m like, wait a second. I pitched in front of 50,000 people before,” Wakefield told NBC Sports. “But yet, there’s nobody here and my hand’s shaking. It’s competition.”

In October 2023, former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling caused a stir, revealing, without permission, that Wakefield was battling brain cancer. Less than a week later, he died at 57.