BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett have all been All-Stars in the past. Tim Wakefield has not.

This season, all six will represent the Red Sox and the American League at Major League Baseball’s 80th All-Star Game on July 14 at St. Louis.

For Wakefield, it’s been a long time coming.

The 17-year pro has spent 15 of those with the Red Sox and has never been selected to the mid-summer classic — until now.

The veteran knuckleballer was working out early Sunday morning when pitching coach John Farrell approached him and told him manager Terry Francona wanted to see him. When Wakefield got downstairs, the manager’s door was closed. He stood there for a second and saw five of his teammates walk out. When he entered the room, Francona attempted to be serious, like something was wrong, but he couldn’t hold in his laughter for long.

“Finally, he told me I had made the team, too,” said Wakefield. “I didn’t know what to expect going in there, after I saw the guys walking out. But I’m very happy today. It’s been a long time.”

Wakefield said he tried not to think about it much, and has rarely spoken of it this season.

“I feel very honored and humbled at the same time,” he said. “I’m excited and nervous. There are a lot of emotions going through me right now.”

Francona said after the Sox’ 8-4 victory over the Mariners Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park that he tried to have a little fun at Wakefield’s expense. The manager isn’t a very good actor.

“He’s meant so much, not only for Major League Baseball, but for the Red Sox,” said Francona. “He’s going to show up in St. Louis next week and when they introduce his name, he’s going to be one of the proudest guys — he should be.”

Pedroia and Bay were voted to the team by the fans, Beckett and Papelbon were selected by their peers, and Wakefield and Youkilis were selected by the American League manager, the Rays’ Joe Maddon. Once Wakefield arrives at Busch Stadium next week, the first thing he’s going to do is thank Maddon for this opportunity.

“You can’t be any more proud for that guy,” said Papelbon. “The time he’s put in this game and the sacrifices he’s made to be able to wear the Red Sox uniform and represent the Red Sox at the All-Star is a special thing. Your first one is always special and you’re always going to remember that one.”

For Wakefield, it could be his only one.

Youkilis will be playing in his second consecutive season in the All-Star Game after starting at first base in 2008 at Yankee Stadium. He finished second in fan balloting this year behind the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira. Youkilis received 3,069,906 to Teixeira's 3,309,050.

Pedroia never led in fan balloting until the 11th hour of voting and finished with 3,404,384 votes to beat the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler (3,331,298). This will be Pedroia’s second time as an All-Star and as a starter. He’s the first Red Sox second baseman since Bobby Doerr (1943-44) to start in consecutive All-Star Games.

“That’s exciting,” said Pedroia. “It’s great to be voted in by the fans. Obviously, my numbers aren’t as good as some of the other guys, but it’s an honor. I’ll go out there and play as hard as I can.

“It’s great [having six players from the Red Sox]. We have a lot of good players on our team, and every one of them is worthy of making the team. I’m so excited for all of them, especially Wake — when Tito told him that was pretty special.”

Bay, now a three-time All-Star, led all A.L. outfielders with 4,087,450 votes. He was a starter for the National League All-Star Team while with the Pirates in 2006.

Beckett, now a two-time All-Star, finished fifth among A.L. starting pitchers as voted by the players, managers and coaches.

This will Papelbon’s fourth consecutive season as an All-Star and is he only the third Boston player to ever be selected in each of his first four full seasons in the big leagues, joining Frank Malzone (1957-60) and Fred Lynn (1975-80). Papelbon finished second in the players/manager/coach vote behind the Twins’ Joe Nathan.

“It feels good,” said Papelbon. “It’s one of those things where you put all the hard work in, sacrificing time, and this is one thing that makes all your sacrifices that you put into the game worthwhile.”

Between innings earlier in the game, Red Sox public address announcer Carl Beane introduced this year’s Red Sox representatives and each player received a nice reception. Wakefield, however, was the one who received a standing ovation. He was sitting on the top step of the dugout and waved his hat to the fans.

“It was phenomenal,” he said. “It just shows how much the fans really care, not only about me but about all the players here. For them to give me that kind of ovations makes me feel welcome here, and I’ve felt that way for a long time. The fans have been behind me since I got here.”