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
Those are real heroes. Hilton Smith, guys that played in the Negro Leagues, never got a chance in the Major Leagues. But you kept on playing.
To give you an idea what it feels like to be going in with some of the best baseball players of all-time, I mean it is fantastic. I have to say this about them, there are so many of these guys up here that were my role models, people I looked up to, people I wanted to be like.
Roberto Clemente, not only because you played right field like it was supposed to be played, but your humanitarian efforts will live on forever.
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.
It won't taint (his memory). Leave it alone.
Baseball realizes it's not the only game in town. You have to do these kinds of things to introduce people to baseball.
You know, many of you kids can't relate to what it takes to get to the top rung, the top of the heap, to have success. We're looking for things that come in a minute. It just doesn't happen.
I went to jail. I looked like one of those savings-and-loan guys leaving the jail house.
I've experienced a lot of things in baseball, but I've never been traded during a strike. At least I know I'll be in a new uniform the next time I put one on.
I'm just glad to get off three-hundred ninety-nine (career home runs). It sounds like something you'd purchase at a discount store.
I guess I'm the only guy old enough to figure him (Nolan Ryan, 1-Hitter Game in 1991) out.
You know, heroes are ordinary people that have achieved extraordinary things in life.
And then 45 years later, as I finished my career in the great city of Cleveland, that was another great way to end my career, going to the World Series.
There is no way, believe me, despite my name being Winfield, and loving the game dearly. It wasn't in the cards. I didn't know what it was going to take to get here.