WATCH: George Kirby throws first pitch knuckleball to honor Tim Wakefield
In honor of Boston Red Sox great Tim Wakefield, Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby threw a knuckleball to start the proceedings at Fenway Park on Wednesday. The Red Sox great was known for his knuckleball during his 19-year career from 1992 to 2011. He died due to brain cancer at the age of 57 on October 1, 2023.
Kirby, who was thinking about throwing a knuckleball for the last 2-3 weeks, threw a 73.9-mph knuckleball with a spin rate of just 155 RPM to Red Sox's leadoff man Jarren Duran. The broadcaster initially thought that it was a splitter, but upon closer look, it was a knuckleball—which even the pitcher confirmed later.
“He was a special player,” Kirby said after the game. “So just being able to do it here in Boston was pretty cool.”
The pitch was too high for it to be counted as a strike. Nonetheless, the execution in itself was commendable, as a knuckleball is touted to be one of the hardest pitches to execute.
“I wish I could take that one back,” Kirby said. “I wish I had started 0-1.”
Kirby and the Mariners faced a 3-2 loss against the Red Sox. He pitched 5.1 innings, gave up seven hits, had two earned runs and two walks while striking out two hitters.
George Kirby also threw a knuckleball last season to honor Tim Wakefield
Wednesday's first pitch was not the only time the Mariners ace executed a knuckleball to honor the late Red Sox star. In the last game of the 2023 regular season, Kirby threw a knuckleball that induced a swing and miss from Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager.
“It's hard to replicate the one I did last year,” Kirby said on Wednesday. “So I was just hoping it wasn't a home run on the first pitch or something; just get it over the plate.”
Despite growing up as a Yankees fan, Kirby had utmost respect for Wakefield.
“I loved watching him,” Kirby said. “I started throwing knuckleballs because of him. I'm a Yankees fan at heart, but just watching him do his thing all the time, it was incredible. I'm just honored to be able to do something like that.”
Kirby has done well on the mound this year. In his 23 starts, Kirby has gone 8-7, posting a 3.04 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP while registering 131 strikeouts.