by By SEAN McADAM , The Boston Herald

Wakefield's outing will be his final one before Major League Baseball announces the rosters Sunday afternoon for the 80th annual All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14.

At 10-3 with an ERA of 4.18, Wakefield, for now, is a proverbial bubble candidate. Another win, however, could tie him for the league lead in victories. And if Wakefield could manage to get his ERA under 4.00, his case would be even more compelling.

If Wakefield, 42, is chosen by AL manager Joe Maddon and league executives, he would become the second-oldest player ever selected for his first All-Star contest; only Satchel Paige, chosen at age 46 in 1952, was older.

``It would be huge,'' Wakefield said recently. ``That would really be an honor.''

Wakefield has done plenty in his major league career, which dates back to 1992. He's won two World Series and taken part in six league championship series - five with the Sox in the AL and one NLCS with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

An All-Star berth is the one, last personal goal to be attained, ``just to add to the list of things you've accomplished in your career,'' Wakefield said.

Tonight's outing will take on additional personal significance for Wakefield, who has been with the Red Sox far longer than any other current player. It will be Wakefield's 383rd start in a Sox uniform, enabling him to pass Roger Clemens for No. 1 on the franchise's all-time list.

``He's one of the most consistent starters in the league,'' manager Terry Francona said recently, ``with an inconsistent pitch.''

Already Wakefield has equaled the number of wins he posted all of last season, with three full months still to go. Of his 15 outings this season, he has made 10 quality starts, second on the staff to Josh Becektt's 11.

Equally impressive: The Sox are 12-3 in Wakefield's 15 starts.

In retrospect, it's remarkable that Wakefield wasn't selected for the All-Star team in 1995, his first season with the Red Sox . That year Wakefield, who began the season in the minor leagues after being released by Pittsburgh, won 16 games. At the break he was 7-1 with a 1.61 ERA, but was bypassed in part because he didn't make his first start for the Sox that season until May 27.

A number of modern-era knuckleballers have been All-Star choices, led by Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who was selected five times. Wilbur Wood was named three times and Charlie Hough once, though Tom Candiotti never was chosen.

Of course, having the numbers is only half the story. Maddon's hands - like all other All-Star managers since the current format was introduced - are somewhat tied. He must make sure that each one of the 14 AL teams is represented. Then there is the player balloting, which must be taken into account.

It's possible that players from other AL teams will vote Wakefield as one of the top starters. If not, and Maddon has any more available slots, Wakefield's last chance to make a favorable impression for himself comes tonight.

``Knowing the voting and how it works, I know that it's tough,'' Francona said. ``But if there's ever a year (Wakefield) deserves it, it's now.''

- smcadam@bostonherald.com

GRAPHIC: STAR-CROSSED KNUCKLERS:

It's been more than 20 years since a knuckleballer pitched in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield is vying to be the first since Charlie Hough made it to the 1986 Midsummer Classic for the Texas Rangers. The 42-year-old Wakefield, who is 10-3 with a 4.18 ERA and pitches tonight against the Mariners, would also be the second oldest first-time All-Star ever (behind only Satchel Paige).

Here are the knuckleballers to twirl their magic in the All-Star Game and a list of Wakefield's pitching competition for this year's game on July 14 in St. Louis:

ALL** STAR KNUCKLEBALLERS:

** Dutch Leonard (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1951)

** Hoyt Wilhelm (1953, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1970)

** Bob Purkey (1958, 1961, 1962)

** Phil Niekro (1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984)

** Wilbur Wood (1971, 1972, 1974)

** Joe Niekro (1979)

** Charlie Hough (1986)

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL** STAR STARTING PITCHERS:

LOCKS:

** Zack Greinke, KC 10** 3, 1.95

** Roy Halladay, TOR 10** 2, 2.56

** Felix Hernandez, SEA 8** 3, 2.54

CONTENDERS

** Josh Beckett, BOS 9** 3, 3.67

** Kevin Millwood, TEX 8** 5, 2.80

** Jered Weaver, LAA 8** 3, 3.10

** Justin Verlander, DET 8** 4, 3.54

- COMPILED BY SEAN McADAM

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