Because of his numerous charitable endeavors -- for which Wakefield is as modest as one can be -- he has been selected as the Red Sox's Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the third consecutive season.

Since 1972, Major League Baseball annually has presented an award (originally known as The Commissioner's Award), which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.

In 1973, following the tragic death of Roberto Clemente, the award was renamed to honor the man whose spirit and goodwill always will be remembered.

Before every Tuesday game at Fenway Park, the "Wakefield Warriors" -- patients at the Franciscan Hospital for Children -- are the knuckelballer's guests. He takes them on the field during batting practice, maybe autographs a souvenir, or introduces them to some teammates, and then they stay for the game.

That program -- one of many fixtures in Wakefield's community life -- has been going strong since 1998.

"It's nice, I'm able to share my job and my life with them for the few minutes I get to spend with them," Wakefield said. "It's gratifying for me that I could actually go out there and shake their hand or sign a ball or a picture and talk to them or give them a hug, whatever they may need."

After more than a decade of helping other children, Wakefield witnessed the birth of his first child (son Trevor) back in May. It has brought his charitable work into even greater light.

"It totally hits home when you have your own and you realize how fortunate you are to have a child who's healthy and able to live out his dreams," Wakefield said. "It grounds you, it keeps you humble. These kids you deal with every week, something's wrong with them, it's very sad."

But Wakefield always seems to be there, ready to put a smile on somebody's face.

"It's gratifying for me to do any kind of work to help somebody else," said Wakefield. "The nomination for the award is nice and it's a great honor but it's not why I do it. I say this all the time. I just feel very fortunate, regardless of how I'm pitching or whatever, to put this uniform on every day and to live out a dream that I had when I was a child. For me to share my life with somebody else, and it may put a smile on their face or brighten their day."

As a member of the Red Sox since 1995, Wakefield has built deep ties in the Boston community.

He brings pride to his organization.

"He sets the standard for our players, and for all of us, as people," said Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino. "He uses his popularity and prominence the best possible way: to make his community and our world a better, kinder, more humane place. I wish we had 25 players with his perspective and maturity. We are really proud to have him wear 'Boston' on his uniform."

Aside from the work he does for Franciscan Hospital, Wakefield is one of the Red Sox players most often seen at the Jimmy Fund visiting cancer-fighting patients.

Wakefield also stays active in his hometown of Melbourne, Fla., during the winter, where he visits the Space Coast Early Intervention Center (SCEIC), an institution he saved from closing down in 1992.

"We have that platform to be able to do that and to make a difference in the life of a child," Wakefield said. "It means more than having a nice house."

Just like Wakefield means more to the Red Sox and the community than having a good knuckleball.