[deweyinthehall]

When I decided to start a few individual player collections a number of years ago, I knew immediately that I wanted to go after Dwight Evans and Jim Rice - the Red Sox heroes of my youth.

I wanted a more modern player as well - there was Papi, Tek, and others but ultimately the only choice I had was Wake.

For all or part of 17 seasons with the Sox, Wake embodied determination and dedication, and was as much of a team leader during the aughts as anyone else. He gave the club everything they ever asked for and more.

He was nominated for the Clemente award 8 times and won it in 2010 which should tell you all you need to know about his character.

His 1988 Pucko card with Watertown is the first card in my Wakefield album, way back when he was an infielder in the Pittsburgh system.

God bless the Wakefield family and Rest in Peace, Tim.