Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield were teammates for 15 years. They retired within days of one another in the spring of 2012. And they have spent the initial stage of their post-playing careers working for the Red Sox in multiple capacities.

It’s fitting, then, that they will march into the team’s Hall of Fame together, too.

Varitek and Wakefield headline a 2016 class that also includes late 1920s outfielder Ira Flagstead and Larry Lucchino, one of the most influential executives in franchise history. They were elected yesterday by a 14-member panel of club executives, media members, booster club representatives and historians, and will be inducted May 19 at the Sheraton Boston and hailed in a pregame ceremony the following night.

“I got to be a part of a lot of ups and downs with Tim in our careers,” Varitek said on a conference call. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play with Wake from day one, and to have that same commonality, to have that resource and a longtime friend, a forever friend, I’m very fortunate to have been able to fulfill a lot of that with Wake.”

Indeed, Varitek and Wakefield have been in virtual lockstep ever since the former made his debut in 1997, the latter’s third season in Boston. Varitek’s first start behind the plate, on April 2, 1998 at the Oakland Coliseum, came with Wakefield on the mound, and they were batterymates 152 times thereafter, even though the Sox consigned several other catchers (most notably Doug Mirabelli) to better handle the right-hander’s fluttering knuckleball.

They were together when the Sox fell agonizingly short against the Yankees in 2003 and when they finally vanquished their ancient rival a year later. Varitek and Wakefield were linchpins of both the 2004 World Series champs and the group that won it all in 2007. Varitek captained the Red Sox for seven seasons.

No Red Sox catcher has played more games than Varitek (1,488), no pitcher has made more starts (430) or logged more innings (3,006) than Wakefield, their longevity making them synonymous with the winningest era in franchise history.

“I’m grateful to have played for the Red Sox for 17 years, and now to be inducted into the Red Sox’ Hall of Fame, it’s really an honor,” said Wakefield, scooped up by former general manager Dan Duquette after being released by the Pirates in 1995. “It’s a team that, I knew obviously the history coming from Pittsburgh. I was lucky enough to have some good years early on to kind of help me get my foot back in the door and get my feet underneath me. I played on a lot of great teams, and I think the thing I’m most proud of is to be able to bring that World Series championship to the city of Boston in 2004 and 2007.”

Lucchino had a considerable hand in those titles, and in the 2013 championship, too, as team president and CEO from 2002 through last season. He oversaw massive renovations to Fenway Park and memorably stoked the rivalry with the Yankees by dubbing them the “Evil Empire.”

Flagstead represents a largely forgotten era in franchise history. He spent seven years with the Sox from 1923-29, and although he batted .295, he was best known for his superb outfield defense. He died in 1939 at age 46.

Varitek and Wakefield have remained involved with the Sox since their retirements. Varitek works as a special assistant, a role in which he serves as an adviser to the front office, an extension of the coaching staff and occasionally as a liaison between players and management.

From the moment he retired, Varitek was labeled as a future manager. He has been content to spend most of his time at his Atlanta-area home with his family, but he left no doubt yesterday where his passion lies.

“Having been part of the front office and having the ability to still get on the field everywhere that I go, I know I have more impact on the field,” Varitek said. “Where that role takes me, through time, I’m not positive when that will be. But I think my greatest impact to give back to the game is on the field.”

Said Wakefield: “I think he’d be a great manager in the big leagues. He knows the game inside and out. Not only did he have a great perspective of the game from where he sat as a player, but he’s learned a lot being with the organization as a special assistant. He’s getting himself in a position where he knows the ins and outs of how an organization works.”

Wakefield has served as a spring-training instructor and a television analyst for NESN. He also has continued his considerable charity work by becoming honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation.

Now, Varitek and Wakefield will have another title: Red Sox Hall of Famers. It’s a distinction they appropriately will receive together.