Tim Wakefield - Oakland Athletics v Boston Red Sox
BOSTON, MA - Tim Wakefield (#49) of the Boston Red Sox, who is looking for his 200th win, throws against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park August 26, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Former knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield, best known for his tenure with the Boston Red Sox, sadly passed away from brain cancer on Sunday morning, October 1, at the age of 57, the team announced.

Wakefield won two World Series titles with the franchise in 2004 and 2007, spending 17 seasons in Boston from 1995 to 2011. He spent the first two seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It's one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it's another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both. I know the world was made better because he was in it," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said.

Last week, Wakefield's former teammate, Curt Schilling, revealed on his podcast, The Curt Schilling Baseball Show, without the family's permission that the 2009 MLB All-Star was suffering from the illness. He faced criticism for publicly disclosing such sensitive information.

The Red Sox did confirm the presence of an illness concerning their former player but did not provide further details, respecting Wakefield's request for privacy.

Tim Wakefield's wife also has cancer

Schilling also revealed that Wakefield's wife, Stacy, has been battling pancreatic cancer.

The six-time MLB All-Star admitted that he wasn't sure if Wakefield wanted this information to be made public.

Nevertheless, he chose to reveal it because he has faith in the power of prayer and experienced a sense of guilt in not maintaining more communication with Wakefield.