Dave Winfield

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Winfield's time in San Diego began with a direct promotion to the major leagues after being drafted. Although he was a pitcher, the Padres immediately put him in right field to use his powerful arm. He batted .277 in 56 games for his first season. The next three seasons saw gradual improvement: he had his first 20-HR season in 1974 while batting .265 in 145 games that had him play mostly in left field. The following year saw him shifted to right field, where he would play most of the next six seasons. By 1977, he had his first All-Star season, batting .275 in 157 games with 25 home runs. In 1978, he was named team captain and finished 10th in MVP voting with his first .300 season, a .308 year in 158 games. He had his first 100-RBI season the following year while batting .308 with a league-leading 118 RBIs to go with 24 intentional walks; he had his first season with more walks (85) than strikeouts (71). He won a Gold Glove and finished 3rd in the MVP voting. In his final season with the Padres in 1980, he played in all 162 games for the only time and batted .276 to go with 20 home runs and a Gold Glove victory.

In Their Own Story

In 1979, Winfield was in the midst of his finest season with the Padres. He batted .308 with a league-leading 118 RBIs, 24 intentional walks, and for the first time in his career, he had more walks (85) than strikeouts (71). That year, he won a Gold Glove and finished 3rd in the MVP voting. The following season, 1980, he played in all 162 games for the only time in his career, batting .276 with 20 home runs and another Gold Glove. These performances cemented his reputation as a complete player before he left for New York.

Reader's Guide

Dave Winfield played eight seasons for the San Diego Padres from 1973 to 1980. He was a 12-time MLB All-Star over his entire career, with his first All-Star season coming in 1977 with the Padres. He would be an All-Star every year until 1988. He won seven Gold Glove Awards in his career, including victories in 1979 and 1980 with San Diego. The Padres retired Winfield's No. 31 in his honor. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 in his first year of eligibility.

Did You Know?

• Winfield was drafted by four teams in three different sports in 1973: the San Diego Padres (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA), and Minnesota Vikings (NFL).
• He is one of five players ever to be drafted by three professional sports and one of three athletes to be drafted by four leagues.
• In 1973, Winfield was named All-American and voted MVP of the College World Series as a pitcher.
• Winfield did not reach his full height of 6 ft 6 in until his senior year at Saint Paul Central High School.
• He played college summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks for two seasons (1971–72) and was the MVP in 1972.