Time for a Wakefield Call: Knuckleballer Having a Career Season for BoSox

Although this Major League hurler may not have the most fiercest fastball in his arsenal and battles against Father Time, 42-year-old Tim Wakefield has been the hidden gem behind the success of this year's Boston Red Sox.

The knuckleball specialist has been a huge factor with the Red Sox boasting the best record in the American League at 51 victories and 33 losses.

Leading the surging New York Yankees by a game in the AL East, it just might be Boston's veteran hurler who'll carry them into another post-season appearance.

As a result of his fine performance in the first half of the season (11-3, 61 Ks, 4.14 ERA), Wakefield, known affectionately by Red Sox fans as "Wake" or "Wakey," earned his first trip to the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

For the meantime, the Melbourne, FL native's teammates are singing praises about the man whose pitches have consistently stymied opposing sluggers all season long.

"Unbelievable," said BoSox slugger David Ortiz per AP article. "I'm really happy for him, making the All-Star game.

"I'm going to park myself in front of the TV...I want to see who's going to have to catch for him."

For a guy's whose career has bared resemblance to a bullish stock market in recent years, it may be no surprise to see the 18-year-veteran in the "Midsummer Classic."

In order to fully appreciate Wakefield's career, it has to be looked at as an epic journey or tale—from a falling franchise in Pittsburgh to a championship contender with Boston.

Starting the '92 season in the Pirates minor league system with their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, the Floridian pitched impressively, winning 10 games (including six complete-games) with an ERA of 3.06.

He would be promoted to the "bigs" to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Like child's play, Wakefield struck out 10 batters with an extremely high pitch count at 146.

The '92 season would be a beauty, finishing his fantastic rookie campaign with an 8-1 record, which included a respectable ERA of 2.15.

The 26-year-old sensation almost capped off his Rookie of the Year season with an appearance in the World Series and a certain NLCS MVP.

It was all for naught for Wakefield and the Pirates, who would be ousted by the Atlanta Braves in a thrilling playoff series during that exciting October.

1993 was not as kind to the right-handed pitcher, struggling with command issues on the mound which saw the one-time Pirates hero spending time in the minors.

Although he would make two appearances later that year for Pittsburgh, Wakefield would spend the better half of '93 and the '94 seasons in relative obscurity.

There was no question on talent or his ability to overcome adversity on the field. However, there were more questions than answers with Wakefield, who had a miserable time of it for Triple-A Buffalo.

Things forever changed for Wakefield and a certain AL East team, which like the pitcher, had fallen from grace in the 1990s.

The day where Wakefield's stock would fly was on April 26, 1995, when the righty signed with the Boston Red Sox.

Since then, both parties have prospered magnificently.

In his 15 seasons with the Sox, Wakefield has accumulated nine winning seasons, including a fantastic debut season in '95 (16-8, 119 Ks, 2.95 ERA) and a solid year in '98 (17-8, 146 Ks, 4.58 ERA).

For the past seven seasons, he has compiled at least 10 victories per season except in 2006, struggling to a 7-11 record that saw his ERA at 4.63 and a lowly number of strikes with 90.

This season looks to be one of those career years for the former National League prospect, whose career has seen its share of highs and lows.

While Wakefield would be apt to say that his two World Series rings in 2004 and '07 are his most prized moments of his illustrious career, he may have a different answer at season's end.

Regardless of how the Sox finish this season, it is the Tim of the Wakefield that baseball fans will be watching for the rest of 2009.

Sure, there's Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay, and Justin Marquis lighting up the mound with victories and youth.

If history, however, truly repeats itself, do not be surprised if this unlikely "hero" has his say with the big picture for the Cy Young Race as well as a few awards to boot.