Wakefield Says Dedham Crowd Excited Him

Retired Red Sox knuckballer Tim Wakefield signed autographs for fans at the T-Mobile store at Dedham's Legacy Place on Thursday.

Although many longtime Red Sox fans lined up outside the store for a chance to meet the former World Series champ, it was Wakefield who had butterflies in his stomach.

"I love it , it excites me," Wakefield said of the Dedham crowd.  "Being able to meet fans that I haven’t met before as a player and just to have support even after my playing days is tremendous."

Wakefield signed everything from baseballs to old No. 49 jerseys, to  people and even a baby.

Doug Johnson, a 22-year-old Sox fan said he was lost for word when he met the former big league pitcher.

"It's pretty cool, I just started stuttering over my words," Johnson said.  "I was thinking about what to ask him and I couldn't even speak."

Many asked about the World Series trophy, which was sitting beside Wakefield, as Thursday's event was part of MLB's World Series Trophy Tour presented by T-Mobile. 

Fans also got the opportunity to enter a free raffle for a chance to win tickets to Thursday night's Game 2 of the World Series.

Anyone who wins will be lucky to see a 2013 Red Sox team that Wakefield is a huge fan of.

"I absolutely love them," Wakefield said.  "They reminds me a lot of the 04’ team and I hate to say that, and I've been saying all along, but there’s such a unique bond between all the guys.  They play hard, they are gritty, they never give up.  It’s been a fun year to watch."

Wakefield won two World Series trophies with the Red Sox before retiring in 2011 with 200 career wins.

He currently works for the New England Sports Network as a Red Sox studio analysis.

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