04/23/24
July 13, 2009
Tim Wakefield Becomes Oldest First-Time All-Star Since Satchel Page: At the age of 42, after uncorking thousands of knuckleballs since his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 1992, Tim Wakefield makes his first appearance Tuesday at the All-Star Game. He was a failed Class A first baseman prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989 when a scout told the team the words that saved his career: "If you're going to release him, make sure you look at his knuckleball." There are currently three junkballers in the majors -- Wakefield, R.A. Dickey and Josh Banks -- and two in the minors -- Charlie Zink and Charlie Haeger.
If Joe Madden is as smart as everyone thinks he is, he'll spot Wake in between a couple of fireballers. If you are not used to facing him, Wakefield can be baffling.
posted by Howard_T at 04:20 PM on July 13, 2009
Who's going to be catching for Wake? That should be an adventure.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:32 PM on July 13, 2009
Who's going to be catching for Wake?
Doesn't Joe Mauer catch R. A. Dickey?
posted by smithnyiu at 05:03 PM on July 13, 2009
I so want Pujols to pound Wakefield's junk.
(Take that however you want.)
posted by BoKnows at 05:35 PM on July 13, 2009
Yeah, this will probably be the one time this year Wakefield's knuckler won't be doing a damn thing and he'll have a few moonshots cranked off him.
posted by dyams at 07:18 PM on July 13, 2009
Wake didn't even get to throw a pitch.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:06 AM on July 15, 2009
That stinks.
posted by rcade at 09:12 AM on July 15, 2009
Obama threw more pitches than Wake.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:49 AM on July 15, 2009
Wake didn't even get to throw a pitch.
Did he get the win ?
posted by tommybiden at 11:31 AM on July 15, 2009
No, Papelbon did. I assume Maddon was hanging onto Wakefield in case the game went into extra innings.
posted by yerfatma at 01:38 PM on July 15, 2009
posted by yerfatma at 08:52 AM on July 16, 2009
Congrats to Wakefield! I still can't believe that this is his 1st All-Star appearance!