Tim Wakefield Asks for ‘Privacy’ After Ex-Teammate Curt Schilling Shares His Cancer News Without ‘Permission’

The legendary Red Sox pitcher and his wife, Stacy Wakefield, have both been diagnosed with cancer, Schilling said on his podcast Tuesday

Legendary Boston Red Sox star Tim Wakefield and his wife are asking for “privacy” after former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling shared their cancer diagnoses on his podcast without their permission.

“We are aware of the statements and inquiries about the health of Tim and Stacy Wakefield,” the Red Sox said in a statement on behalf of the Wakefields, shared with PEOPLE. “Unfortunately, this information has been shared publicly without their permission. Their health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease.”

The statement continued, “Tim and Stacy are appreciative of the support and love that has always been extended to them and respectfully ask for privacy at this time.”

On Tuesday, Schilling, 56, said on The Curt Schilling Baseball Show podcast that Tim — his teammate on the Red Sox from 2004-2007 — has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form of brain cancer” and that Stacy has pancreatic cancer.

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“Tim Wakefield, you remember Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballer, is sick,” Schilling said of the 57-year-old retired athlete. “And I talked with  [former Red Sox pitcher] Doug Mirabelli yesterday, and this is not a message that Tim has asked anyone to share, and I don’t even know if he wants it shared, but as a Christian and as a man of faith I’ve seen prayer work and so I’m going to talk about it.”

He continued: “Recently Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer.”

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Schilling also shared that Stacy has cancer as well.

“Tim’s wife Stacy is one of the sweetest women you’ll ever meet, is very sick with pancreatic cancer and my wife has talked with her and they’re communicating and they’re going through an incredibly difficult time with Stacy, and I wanted them to know that we’re obviously all thinking of them and praying for her.”

Shortly after Schilling’s disclosure surfaced, it was met with ire on social media.

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“F— you Curt Schilling, that wasn’t your place!” Catherine Varitek, the wife of former Red Sox pitcher Jason Varitek, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while sports blogger Robbie Johnson wrote: “Pulling for Tim Wakefield and loathing Curt Schilling all at once.”

Wakefield, an All-Star knuckleballer, won the World Series twice while playing 17 seasons on the Red Sox. He retired in 2012 less than a year after notching his 200th career win at the age of 45.

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