By GARRY BROWN
Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox did his pitching for the YMCA of Greater Springfield at its fund-raising breakfast Wednesday morning.
Introduced as "the perfect example of what a professional athlete should be in our society," Wakefield proved to be exactly that as he charmed a crowd of 500 in Western New England College's Healthful Living Center.
"From the start of my career, I've always felt a responsibility to give something back to the community," said Wakefield, whose many charitable works include a golf tournament in Melbourne, Fla., that has raised a total of $5 million. The money has gone to the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, which works at getting autistic children into the educational mainstream.
In his WNEC appearance, Boston's knuckleball artist served as keynote speaker for the annual $250,000 fund drive on behalf of the YMCA's work with youths and families.
The crowd also heard from David Cross, a High School of Commerce student who told an inspiring story of how the YMCA's programs have helped him get a new start in life after some troubled years in his early teens.
"Now I have hope and the inspiration to be someone," he said.
Wakefield, now in his 15th season with the Red Sox, has become a dedicated worker on behalf of the Jimmy Fund, which sponsors research to fight cancer in children; and the Franciscan Children's Hospital of Brighton.
"Mike Andrews (a former Red Sox player who serves as director of the Jimmy Fund), tells me that Tim is one of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's most generous supporters, and a player beloved by patients and staff," said James Morton, president/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.
Wakefield responded by saying, "I love the feeling of making a kid smile. That's my mission, and it should be yours - to make a difference in the life of a child."
As for the 2009 Red Sox, Wakefield assured his audience that "We'll be there at the end."
He drew his biggest applause with his answer to a question from the audience: "Which player do you most enjoy striking out?"
"Can't think of his name right now, but he plays third base for that team south of us," he said in an obvious reference to Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.
Asked if there is any batter that he feared pitching against, he said, "Darryl Strawberry. He was about 6-7 and when he waved that bat, it looked like a toothpick. He hit one at Yankee Stadium, and I never saw ball hit that far off me."
Wakefield makes his first start of 2009 Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, at Anaheim. With that, he will become the oldest right-hander to start a game for the Red Sox (42 years and 8 months). That will top Mike Ryba, who was 42 years and 10 days old when he started against the Yankees at Fenway Park Sept. 22, 1945.
"The oldest right-hander? Really? That's crazy," Wakefield said.
His appearance in Springfield was sponsored by the law firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley. Peter Straley, president and CEO of Health New England, and Jeffrey Sattler, president and CEO of NUVO Bank, serve as co-chairmen of the fund drive.
Source: masslive.com
Introduced as "the perfect example of what a professional athlete should be in our society," Wakefield proved to be exactly that as he charmed a crowd of 500 in Western New England College's Healthful Living Center.
"From the start of my career, I've always felt a responsibility to give something back to the community," said Wakefield, whose many charitable works include a golf tournament in Melbourne, Fla., that has raised a total of $5 million. The money has gone to the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, which works at getting autistic children into the educational mainstream.
In his WNEC appearance, Boston's knuckleball artist served as keynote speaker for the annual $250,000 fund drive on behalf of the YMCA's work with youths and families.
The crowd also heard from David Cross, a High School of Commerce student who told an inspiring story of how the YMCA's programs have helped him get a new start in life after some troubled years in his early teens.
"Now I have hope and the inspiration to be someone," he said.
Wakefield, now in his 15th season with the Red Sox, has become a dedicated worker on behalf of the Jimmy Fund, which sponsors research to fight cancer in children; and the Franciscan Children's Hospital of Brighton.
"Mike Andrews (a former Red Sox player who serves as director of the Jimmy Fund), tells me that Tim is one of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's most generous supporters, and a player beloved by patients and staff," said James Morton, president/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.
Wakefield responded by saying, "I love the feeling of making a kid smile. That's my mission, and it should be yours - to make a difference in the life of a child."
As for the 2009 Red Sox, Wakefield assured his audience that "We'll be there at the end."
He drew his biggest applause with his answer to a question from the audience: "Which player do you most enjoy striking out?"
"Can't think of his name right now, but he plays third base for that team south of us," he said in an obvious reference to Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.
Asked if there is any batter that he feared pitching against, he said, "Darryl Strawberry. He was about 6-7 and when he waved that bat, it looked like a toothpick. He hit one at Yankee Stadium, and I never saw ball hit that far off me."
Wakefield makes his first start of 2009 Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, at Anaheim. With that, he will become the oldest right-hander to start a game for the Red Sox (42 years and 8 months). That will top Mike Ryba, who was 42 years and 10 days old when he started against the Yankees at Fenway Park Sept. 22, 1945.
"The oldest right-hander? Really? That's crazy," Wakefield said.
His appearance in Springfield was sponsored by the law firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley. Peter Straley, president and CEO of Health New England, and Jeffrey Sattler, president and CEO of NUVO Bank, serve as co-chairmen of the fund drive.
Source: masslive.com
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