Dave Winfield

Lore & Background

Winfield is a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner. The Padres retired Winfield's No. 31 in his honor. He also wore No. 31 while playing for the Yankees and Indians and wore No. 32 with the Angels, Blue Jays and Twins. In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 in his second year of eligibility, and was an inaugural inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across Candlestick Park, swirling dust around the warning track as Dave Winfield stepped into the batter's box. The crowd hushed, aware that this was the man who could crush a fastball from either side of the plate. He adjusted his batting gloves, took a deep breath of the salty Bay air, and watched the pitcher wind up. With a smooth, powerful swing, he connected, sending the ball soaring over the right-field fence into the San Francisco fog.

Reader's Guide

Winfield was a right fielder. He did not play for the San Francisco Giants according to the source. The source does not mention switch-hitting.

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.
• On August 4, 1983, Winfield accidentally killed a seagull by throwing a ball during warm-ups in Toronto, leading to a charge of cruelty to animals that was later dropped.