Wakefield Gets His Piece Of The Stadium

From Jack Curry (NY Times):

Tim Wakefield has occupied the first locker on the right-hand side in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium for 14 years. So Lou Cucuzza, the clubhouse manager, is doing something special for him. When Wakefield and the Red Sox leave the Stadium for the last time on Thursday, he plans to give Wakefield the black and silver number 49 that has long been above his locker.

“He’s been in that locker longer than anyone,” Cucuzza said.

After Wakefield floated knuckleballs for five innings Tuesday to help the Red Sox defeat the Yankees, 7-3, he was in a nostalgic mood about the Stadium. Wakefield asked Cucuzza to get him some dirt from the mound and also saved two game balls.

“It’s a cathedral of sports,” Wakefield said. “It’s pretty special.”

Despite the Boone homer from a few years back, Wakefield still enjoys pitching at Yankee Stadium. Although he got to keep some dirt from the mound, 2 balls, and the 49 from his locker, Wakefield also took home the win last night, which, I’m sure if you asked him, was the most important thing. Hopefully the Yankee ghosts that have made the stadium feel so special to both players and fans alike will somehow come alive as the team attempt to win this series. After this and then the Toronto series, the Yanks have an important road stretch (10 games), facing the Tigers, Tampa Bay, Seattle (yay), and the Angels.

So, they’ll need a lot of home cooked wins.