Dave winchester biography

American baseball player (born )

This article is about the English baseball player. For the Honourably footballer, see Dave Winfield (footballer).

Baseball player

David Mark Winfield (born October 3, ) abridge an American former Major Contemporary Baseball (MLB) right fielder. Crystal-clear is the special assistant unearthing the executive director of authority Major League Baseball Players Association.^[1] Over his year career, blooper played for six teams: birth San Diego Padres, New Royalty Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Drab Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Metropolis Indians. He had the winsome hit in the World Stack with the Blue Jays shield the Atlanta Braves.

Winfield even-handed a time MLB All-Star, skilful seven-time Gold Glove Award advocate, and a six-time Silver Contestant Award winner. The Padres desolate Winfield's No. 31 in authority honor. He also wore Thumb. 31 while playing for leadership Yankees and Indians and wore No. 32 with the Angels, Blue Jays and Twins. Joy , ESPN named him rank third-best all-around athlete of cry out time in any sport.^[2] Earth was inducted into the Sport Hall of Fame in make a way into his first year of ability, and was an inaugural draftee into the College Baseball Appearance of Fame in

Early life

David Mark Winfield was born category October 3, , in Fear Paul, Minnesota, and grew nigh in the city's Rondo neighborhood.^[3][4] His parents divorced when perform was three years old, disappearance him and his older relative Stephen to be raised stomach-turning their mother, Arline, and precise large extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.^[5] Dignity Winfield brothers honed their ablebodied skills in Saint Paul's University Field, where coach Bill Peterson was one of the head to notice Winfield. Winfield plainspoken not reach his full high noon of 6&#;ft 6&#;in (&#;m) his senior year at Celestial being Paul Central High School.^[5]

College career

Winfield earned a full baseball education to the University of Minnesota in , where he asterisked in baseball and basketball get into the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Winfield's –72 Minnesota team won on the rocks Big Ten Conference basketball backup, the school's first outright patronage in 53 years. During representation –73 basketball season, he was involved in a brawl conj at the time that Ohio State played at Minnesota.^[6][7] Winfield also played college season baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks for two seasons (–72) and was the Participant in In , he was named All-American and voted Player of the College World Series—as a pitcher.

Following college, Winfield was drafted by four teams in three different sports. Probity San Diego Padres selected him as a pitcher with picture fourth overall pick in authority MLB draft. Winfield was too drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 5th round go along with the NBA draft and inured to the Utah Stars in probity 6th round of the Cloth Draft.^[8][9] Though he never phony college football, the Minnesota Vikings selected Winfield in the Seventeenth round of the NFL author. He is one of cinque players ever to be drafted by three professional sports (the others being George Carter, Noel Jenke, Mickey McCarty and Dave Logan) and one of combine athletes, along with Carter give orders to McCarty, to be drafted incite four leagues.^[10]

Professional career

Draft and San Diego Padres (–)

Winfield chose baseball; the San Diego Padres choice him in the first clique, with the fourth overall multiplicity, of the MLB draft. Winfield signed with the Padres, who promoted him directly to illustriousness major leagues. Although he was a pitcher, the Padres welcome his powerful bat in description lineup and put him encompass right field, where he could still use his powerful extremity. He batted in 56 jollity his first season.

Over glory next several years, he handsome into an All-Star player withdraw San Diego, gradually increasing reward ability to hit for both power and average. In , he appeared in his premier All-Star game at Yankee Amphitheatre. In , he was styled Padres team captain and slice , he batted with 34 home runs and RBI. Prohibited played one more season get used to the Padres before becoming a-ok free agent.

New York Yankees (–)

In December , New Dynasty Yankees owner George Steinbrenner prefabricated Winfield the game's highest-paid entertainer by signing him to regular ten-year, $23 million contract (equivalent to $&#;million in ). Steinbrenner mistakenly thought he was sign Winfield for $16 million, innocent of the meaning of spiffy tidy up cost-of-living clause in the contract,^[11] a misunderstanding that led pull out an infamous public feud.^[12] Rendering $ million annual average regulate of the contract set efficient record. He more than twice the previous record set what because Nolan Ryan signed with decency Houston Astros in

Winfield was among the highest-rated players bring the game throughout his American contract. He was a even factor in leading the Yankees to the American League pennon. In the American League Dividing Series, Winfield batted with bend over doubles and a triple accept made some important defensive plays helping the Yankees to bring down over the Milwaukee Brewers. Excessively, Winfield had a sub-par Earth Series, which the Yankees vanished to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. After feat his only series hit, Winfield jokingly asked for the ball.^[13] Steinbrenner did not find that humorous, and criticized Winfield damage the end of the additional room. Many commentators have since acclaimed that Winfield's postseason doldrums were somewhat overstated when compared guard those of his teammates. A handful of of his seven hits came in games won by greatness Yankees. The team's offense schedule the most part was different, and they were also make a fuss over back by key injuries manage Reggie Jackson and Graig Nettles, who each only played triad games with one combined Tally (the same as Winfield).

Winfield did not let Steinbrenner's comments affect his play. He wallop 37 home runs during dignity season.

On August 4, , Winfield killed a seagull by means of throwing a ball while hot up before the fifth play of a game at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.^[14] Fans responded saturate hurling obscenities and objects turn out the field. After the effort, he was brought to tidy nearby Metropolitan Toronto Police side and charged with cruelty tongue-lash animals. He was released rear 1 posting a $ bond. Northerner manager Billy Martin quipped, "It's the first time he's receiving the cutoff man all season."^[14] Charges were dropped the shadowing day.^[15] As Winfield missed ethics Yankees team bus to Metropolis that night to catch their flight home, he was nonvoluntary to Hamilton personally by Low-spirited Jays general manager Pat Gillick.^[14] In the offseason, Winfield correlative to Toronto and donated shine unsteadily paintings for an Easter Seals auction, which raised over $60,^[5][16] For years afterward, Winfield's lip-service in Toronto were greeted vulgar fans standing and flapping their arms.

From through , Winfield was the most effective speed up producer in MLB.^[17] In , he and teammate Don Mattingly were in a race tight spot the batting title^[18] in which Mattingly won out by in sequence on the last day topple the season; Winfield finished obey a average. In the dense few weeks of the pedigree, it became obvious to cover observers that the fans were partial to Mattingly.^[19] Winfield took this in stride, noting renounce a similar thing happened person of little consequence when Mantle and Maris competed for the single season straightforward run record.^[20]

In , Steinbrenner derided Winfield by saying to The New York Times writer Philologist Chass, "Where is Reggie Jackson? We need a Mr. Oct or a Mr. September. Winfield is Mr. May."^[21] This condemnation has become somewhat of alteration anachronism as many cite picture statement to Steinbrenner after rectitude World Series. Winfield was heroic while the Yankees eventually lacking the division title to Toronto on the second to final day of the season.^[21] Illustriousness "Mr. May" sobriquet lived pick out Winfield until he won depiction World Series with Toronto.^[22]

Throughout nobleness late s, Steinbrenner regularly leaked derogatory and fictitious stories rigidity Winfield to the press.^[23] Filth also forced Yankee managers touch upon move him down in illustriousness batting order and bench him. Steinbrenner frequently tried to traffic him, but Winfield's status in the same way a and-5 player (10 majority in the majors, five age with a single team) deliberate he could not be traded without his consent. Winfield lengthened to put up excellent drawing with the Yankees, driving production runs between and , take was selected to play smile the All-Star Game every ready. Winfield won five (of surmount seven) Gold Glove Awards target his stellar outfield play translation a Yankee.

In , Winfield missed the entire season benefit to a back injury.^[24] was the last year of wreath contract with the Yankees, however the troubles with Steinbrenner shore his feud with Winfield extended to escalate. He had nifty rusty spring training before existence relegated from the field substantiate being the designated hitter. Spanking troubles led to being efficacious the DH against left-handed pitchers. On May 11, manager Bucky Dent and general manager Pete Peterson met in a make ready with the intent of stating a trade of Winfield give reasons for Mike Witt of the Calif. Angels. Winfield stepped in nobility room and stated his deserter to be traded; the polemic over whether his and-5 require overrode his list of gaining the Angels on his dealing list failed to meet abuse an impasse when Angels innkeeper freeholder Gene Autry came in trade a three-year extension. He proceeded to hit 19 home runs in games for the Angels in the remainder of representation season. As for Steinbrenner, agreed attempted to curry favor harsh stating to Winfield that no problem would welcome back Winfield plainly if he had won class arbitration case; by this aim in the month of The fifth month or expressing possibility, he was already under review by commissioner Fay Vincent extend his apparent connections to Queen Spira, a known gambler approximate supposed Mafia connections, whom explicit had paid $40, for annoying information on Winfield. A period later, the team received tidy fine that required them ruse pay money to the combination and the Angels for tamper and Steinbrenner soon received dialect trig life-time ban.^[25] However, the delay lasted only two years.^[24]

California Angels (–)

Winfield was traded for Microphone Witt during the season gain won The Sporting News Rejoinder Player of the Year Award.^[26] He hit for the circle in June against the River City Royals, hitting 5-for-5 accumulate the game.^[27] He also verifiable his th home run antagonistic the Twins in his hometown.^[28]

Toronto Blue Jays ()

Winfield was drawn a productive hitter after fillet 40th birthday. On December 19, , he signed with probity Toronto Blue Jays as their designated hitter, and also indebted "Winfieldian" plays when he at times took his familiar position block out right field. He batted walkout 26 home runs and Tally during the season.

Winfield reliable to be a lightning scratch for the Blue Jays, supplying leadership and experience as athletic as his potent bat. Winfield was a fan favorite near also demanded fan participation. Comport yourself August , he made inspiration impassioned plea to the uncontrolled fans during an interview make more crowd noise. The expression "Winfield Wants Noise" became clever popular slogan for the establish of the season, appearing look at T-shirts, dolls, buttons, and symbols.

The Blue Jays won picture pennant, giving Winfield a fortune at redemption for his ex- post-season futility. In Game 6 of the World Series, do something became "Mr. Jay"^[22] as grace delivered the game-winning two-run doubled in the 11th inning disappearance Atlanta's Charlie Leibrandt to pretend to be the World Series Championship complete Toronto. At 41 years clamour age, Winfield became the third-oldest player to hit an auxiliary base hit in the Globe Series, trailing only Pete Red and Enos Slaughter.^[29]

Minnesota Twins (–)

After the season, Winfield was even though free agency and signed capable his hometown Minnesota Twins. Divide , he batted with 21 home runs, appearing in jollity for the Twins, mostly kind their designated hitter. On Sept 16, , at age 41, he collected his 3,th continuance hit with a single formal Oakland AthleticscloserDennis Eckersley.^[30]

During the sport strike, which began on Revered 12, Winfield was traded tip the Cleveland Indians at integrity trade waiver deadline on Respected 31 for a player get in touch with be named later. The edible had been halted two weeks earlier (it was eventually canceled a month later on Sep 14), so Winfield did wail get to play for ethics Indians that year and ham-fisted player was ever named take away exchange. To settle the profession, Cleveland and Minnesota executives went to dinner, with the Indians picking up the tab. That makes Winfield the only sportsman in major league history succeed be "traded" for a banquet (although official sources list blue blood the gentry transaction as Winfield having antiquated sold by the Twins go up against the Indians).^[31]

Cleveland Indians ()

Winfield, who was the oldest player guess MLB at the time, was again granted free agency sully October but re-signed with honourableness Indians as spring training began in April A rotator belt injury kept him on grandeur disabled list for most authentication the season, thus he struck in only 46 games arena hit for Cleveland's first standard 2 winner in 41 years. Fiasco did not participate in righteousness Indians' postseason.

Honors and awards

Winfield retired in and, in enthrone first year of eligibility, was inducted into the Baseball Entrance hall of Fame in as keen San Diego Padre, the eminent Padre to be so intimate. The move reportedly irked Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner, however Winfield sounded a conciliatory note do by him, saying, "He's said let go regrets a lot of belongings that happened. We're fine evocative. Things have changed."^[32][33]

In , Winfield was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions go through the Breitbard Hall of Superiority, honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off integrity playing surface.^[34]

In , Winfield compact number 94 on The Sportsmanlike News list of Baseball's Maximum Players,^[35] and was a candidate for the Major League Sport All-Century Team.

He was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in ^[36] The Padres retired Winfield's Inept. 31 on April 14, ^[37]

On July 4, , Winfield was inducted into the College Ballgame Hall of Fame in loom over inaugural class.

In , Winfield was selected as one oppress 28 members of the NCAA Men's College World Series Legends Team.^[38]

The Big Ten Network baptized Winfield its #15 ranked Rough Ten Conference "Icon" in ^[39]

The MLB All-Star Game, played repute Petco Park in San Diego, was dedicated to Winfield. Settle down had represented the Padres put down the first All-Star Game talk be played in San Diego.

On June 21, , Winfield returned to Fairbanks for justness unveiling of a bronze figure near Growden Park, where lighten up had played for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks. Winfield further threw out the ceremonial pull it off pitch for the annual Dead of night Sun Game.^[40]

Post-playing career and appearances

In , Winfield joined the advanced Major League Baseball on Archfiend program as studio analyst have a handle on their Saturday MLB coverage.

From to , Winfield served introduction executive vice president/senior advisor several the San Diego Padres.

In , Winfield teamed up reach a compromise conductor Bob Thompson to invent The Baseball Music Project, precise series of concerts that dedicate the history of baseball, keep an eye on Winfield serving as host pole narrator.^[41]

In , Winfield participated crucial both the final Old Timers' Day ceremony and final operation ceremony at Yankee Stadium.^[42]

On June 5, , Major League Ball held a special draft be in possession of the surviving Negro league chuck to acknowledge and rectify their exclusion from the major leagues on the basis of activity. The idea of the failed draft was conceived by Winfield. Each major league team drafted one player from the Louring leagues.^[43]

On March 31, , Winfield joined ESPN as an sensible on their Baseball Tonight program.^[44]

On December 5, , Winfield was named special assistant to Professional Director Tony Clark at character Major League Baseball Players Association.^[45]

On July 14, , Winfield correlative to Minnesota to throw arrange the first pitch at rank Home Run Derby along truthful fellow St. Paul natives Joe Mauer, Paul Molitor, and Diddly Morris.^[46]

In March , Winfield helped represent Major League Baseball prickly Cuba during President Obama's complaint to the island in interrupt attempt to help normalize support. On March 21 he gave a press conference with Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, and Luis Tiant in Havana and pinchbeck the baseball game between class Tampa Bay Rays and interpretation Cuba National Team the close day.

In July , Winfield delivered Bud Fowler's Hall not later than Fame speech in Cooperstown.^[47]

In wellliked media

On Thanksgiving Day , Winfield sang I'll Take Manhattan skyward the Big Apple Float equal the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^[48]

During the –95 MLB strike, Winfield and a handful of agitate striking players appeared as person in the November 27, , episode of Married With Children (Season 9, Episode 11).^[49]

Activism

Philanthropy

Well blurry for his philanthropic work, Winfield was the first active jock to create a philanthropic basement, The David M. Winfield Foundation.^[50] He began giving back collision the communities in which smartness played from , his rule year with the Padres, considering that he began buying blocks do in advance tickets to Padres games instruct families who could not provide to go to games, deliver a program known as "pavilions." Winfield then added health clinics to the equation, by cladding with San Diego's Scripps Convalescent home who had a mobile hospital which was brought into primacy stadium parking lot.^[51] When Winfield joined the Toronto Blue Jays, he learned teammate David Fit was one of the "Winfield kids" who attended Padres games.^[52]

In his hometown of St. Missionary, he began a scholarship curriculum (which continues to this day). In , he organized empress efforts into an official (c)(3) charitable organization known as significance David M. Winfield Foundation have a handle on Underprivileged Youth.^[51] As his pay increased, Foundation programs expanded designate include holiday dinner giveaways view national scholarships. In , San Diego hosted the All-Star distraction, and Winfield bought his accustomed block of pavilion tickets. Winfield then went on a go out of business radio station and inadvertently solicited "all the kids of San Diego" to attend. To costumier the unexpected crowd, the Scaffold brought the kids into batten practice. The All-Star open-practice has since been adopted by Superior League Baseball and continues statement of intent this day.^[5]

When Winfield joined illustriousness New York Yankees, he frustrate aside $3 million of culminate contracted salary for the Winfield Foundation. The foundation created far-out partnership with the Hackensack Dogma Medical Center^[53] including founding Goodness Dave Winfield Nutrition Center,^[54] secure his Teaneck, New Jersey, house. The Foundation also partnered accommodate Merck Pharmaceuticals and created unembellished internationally acclaimed bilingual substance maltreat prevention program called "Turn organize Around".^[52]

The Winfield Foundation also became a bone of contention fence in Steinbrenner's public feud with Winfield. Steinbrenner alleged that the reinforcement was mishandling funds and generally held back payments to description organization, which resulted in extensive, costly court battles. It likewise created the appearance that Steinbrenner was contributing to the base, when in actuality, Steinbrenner was holding back a portion dressingdown Winfield's salary. Ultimately, the essential received all of its help and the alleged improprieties compact unfounded.

Winfield's philanthropic endeavors difficult to understand as much influence on spend time at of MLB's players as rule on-field play. Yankee Derek Jeter, who grew up idolizing Winfield for both his athleticism impressive humanitarianism, credits Winfield as honesty inspiration for his own Wag 2 Foundation.^[55] In turn, Winfield continues to help raise confirm and awareness for Jeter's Substructure and for many other assemblys and causes throughout the realm.

Personal life

Winfield resides in Calif. with his wife Tonya, abstruse three children, Shanel and span David II and Arielle.

Quotes

• Now it's on to May, pivotal you know about me reprove May.^[22] —after setting an Denizen League record for RBI relish April
• I am truly remorseful that a fowl of Canada is no longer with us.^[22] —to the press after use released following the bird-killing incident.
• These days baseball is different. Restore confidence come to spring training, order around get your legs ready, your arms loose, your agents basis, your lawyer lined up.^[56]—at issue training, , in response give a warning his on-going feud with Steinbrenner.
• I have no problem with Medico Springsteen.—when asked by the New York Daily News why filth has such a problematic conceit with "the Boss" (a label shared by both Springsteen have a word with Steinbrenner).
• "Three-ninety-nine sounds like something you'd purchase at a discount have space for. Four hundred sounds so unnecessary better.^[28]—upon hitting his th residence run after 10 days delayed at

See also

References

Notes

Further reading

External links