In his one season playing for the Wolverines, Wakefield hit for average (.372) and power (9 home runs), as he led the team to a 24–8 record and its first Big Ten Conference baseball crown since 1936.

[2] In the summer of 1941, Wakefield was a hot prospect who was invited for tryouts with Brooklyn, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit.

A photograph of a smiling Wakefield holding multiple "big league offers" is available from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

[3] Legendary Tigers scout, Wish Egan, persuaded Detroit owner, Walter O. Briggs, Sr. to give Wakefield a $52,000 signing ($1,111,647 today) bonus and a car.

"[6] Wakefield brought some of the negative publicity on himself, as he developed a reputation for flaunting his money and not working as hard as other players.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, Wakefield rejoined the Tigers in mid-July 1944 and went on a tear, hitting .355 in 78 games and collecting an OPS score of 1.040.

While in the service, Wakefield met Ted Williams in Hawaii and bet him that he would top him in home runs, RBIs, and batting average when the war ended.

"[12] He gave special thanks to Wish Egan, who had discovered him: "The courage he has shown in fighting for me during my pitiful exhibitions will live with me as a shining example of friendship.

"[13] Tigers General Manager Billy Evans admitted that relentless booing of Wakefield by Detroit fans prompted the trade.

In 1951, Wakefield was given a limited role as a pinch hitter by Oaks' manager Mel Ott, and he was released about two weeks into the season.

[16] Wakefield attempted a major league comeback in 1951 and was picked up briefly in 1952 by the New York Giants, but he went hitless in two at-bats.