Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfieldis an American former Major League Baseballright fielder. He is currently special assistant to the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Over his 22-year career, he played for six teams: the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth3 October 1951
CitySaint Paul, MN
CountryUnited States of America
To the people out there, baseball is a simple sport. But it is complex. It is never easy.
All good balls to hit are strikes, though not all strikes are good balls to hit.
And I found out, the other part of it is that I found out and in my desire to life successfully, that baseball fit very well into my life. It's been a great teacher, trainer, mentor and you'll see what I mean in the next few minutes that I have to speak.
You have to go understand that life and baseball is littered with all kinds of obstacles and problems along the way. You have to learn how to overcome them to be successful in life.
I chose baseball because to me baseball is the best game of all.
Tom Cruise only makes one or two film appearances a year. A baseball player can be the hero or the goat one-hundred and sixty-two times a year.
Good hitters don't just go up and swing. They always have a plan. Call it an educated deduction. You visualize. You're like a good negotiator. You know what you have, you know what he has, then you try to work it out.
These days baseball is different. You come to Spring Training, you get your legs ready, you arms loose, your agents ready your lawyer lined up.
There are other people like Henry Aaron. Man, just for being the best and breaking records at a time when people didn't want you to.
Roberto Clemente, not only because you played right field like it was supposed to be played, but your humanitarian efforts will live on forever.
He was the first person I met in pro ball because we both wore a size 14 shoe. He had interesting comments on exactly how far to stand away from the plate. He introduced me to the importance of being prepared for everything that you do. I took that in, on calling games and accepting responsibilities as a catcher.
He didn't bask in fame or glory or the money he made. He relished in the notion that a little short kid from the projects in Chicago couldn't accomplish anything in life.
The people in my life that were not only what I call heroes, but these are the people that overcame extraordinary circumstances in life.