Dave Winfield Biography

David Mark "Dave" Winfield (born October 3, 1951) is an American previous Major League Baseball (MLB) right defender. He is at present exceptional aide to the official chief of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Over his 22-year profession, he played for six groups: the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians.

Dave Winfield received a second chance and took it fully.

Haunted by the memory of a 22-1 offensive slump in the 1981 World Series with the Yankees (and subsequent characterization of him as "Mr. May" by George Steinbrenner due to its inability to produce in October), Winfield wine to bat in the eleventh inning of the sixth game in the Fall Classic 1992 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. With the score tied 2-2 and two outs, Winfield hit a double to left field to give the Blue Jays a lead 4-2 and then win their first World Series.

It was sweet vindication for a man who had won seven Gold Gloves (two with Parents five with the Yankees); it had been an All-Star every year from 1977-1988, started in the All-Star in 1979 and 1981, and in every year from 1983 to 1988 and hit .361 in those twelve games.

Known as "Daddy Longleg" (Daddy Long Legs) Winfield, 6 feet 6 inches tall, he was a pitcher at the University of Minnesota, completed his advanced years with 13 wins and one lost, batted .400 and was chosen MVP of the College World Series. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, the Utah Stars of the ABA, and the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL even though he had not played football in college. Winfield was also selected by the Padres on June 5, 1973. As Sandy Koufax and Al Kaline, Winfield had no experience minor league, and made his major league debut two weeks later.

In 1980, after leading the National League in RBIs with 118, he signed a free agent contract with the Yankees; however, a misinterpretation of a clause on the cost of living took Steinbrenner to owe Winfield US $ 7 million extras and a dispute simmered prompting the Yankees owner to pay a convicted felon, Howard Spira began in exchange for supposedly damaging information related to Winfield. On the contrary, the damage fell on Steinbrenner, who was banned from baseball by Commissioner Fay Vincent.

Despite his problems with Steinbrenner, Winfield drove in 100 runs or more from 1982 to 1986, the first Yankee to get that figure in five consecutive seasons since Joe DiMaggio.

In 1984, Winfield consciously reduced its swing in a bid to win a batting title and came close; he batted .340 and finished three points behind Don Mattingly. Due to a back surgery lost the 1989 season; he entered the team in 1990. Angeles Angels drove 72 races in 112 games and won the Comeback of the Year Award.

He finished his career in 1995 with Cleveland, finishing with 465 home runs, in ninth place behind Stan Musial and Willie Stargell on the list of All Time.

In 1996, Winfield entered the broadcast booth as an analyst for Fox TV.

He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2001.