His baseball resume is about as complete as it gets. In twenty-two seasons, Dave Winfield was a first round draft pick by the San Diego Padres, won a World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays, was a seven time Gold Glove outfielder, won the Silver Slugger six times and played on twelve All-Star teams. In 2001, Winfield was enshrined in Cooperstown, as a Padre, who retired his number the same year.
Before the big leagues, Winfield was standout pitcher at the University of Minnesota, winning MVP of the 1973 College World Series (despite the Golden Gophers lost to USC). Not only was a pro prospect on the diamond, Winfield was also drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Vikings. Winfield stuck with baseball, and the rest is history.
These days, the hall of famer is still involved with the game, working as special assistant to MLBPA Executive Director, Tony Clark. Winfield is also working with Capital One as they look to crown the Capital One Cup champions for the top men's and women's programs college sports.
First off, with the College World Series underway, tell us about what you are doing with the Capital One Cup.
Five years ago Capital One created a challenge for Division I schools where they could earn points for their success on the gridiron or the field, or wherever. National champions would get the most points, top ten finishes would get points.
Essentially, the eventual winner would get $200,000 for their school's program, but it seems that the winner wouldn't be decided until after the College World Series. It's an interesting challenge, not only for the kids that play, but also vie for this too -- it's bragging rights.
It's just a good thing to be around these young people who are still building their lives and their careers and they get to do something for their schools.
Can the stage of the CWS pull a player away from the minor leagues and to the college game?
Everybody has their own thing. For me, I just think that college was a great experience, a place to grow as an individual, socially, physically and competitively. You travel the world, get to meet people, your more worldly and you get your education. College sports for me, was a great thing and I would always advocate it. It's different for different people.
If someone asked you for advice, would you push them towards college rather than the minors?
I would, but I would look at their families. Some people aren't cut out for the academic situation, or their family may need that money.
Actually, I coached a couple of kids, one was a first round draft pick. A very intelligent kid from out here in Los Angeles who said, 'I'll take that $3 million dollar bonus and I may go back to school.'
How has the college game changed from the time that you played?
In a nutshell, I think that kids are growing up and they're kind of funneled into one sport, and I don't think that's a good thing. You should play multiple sports, because you don't want to burn out. You want to develop all your muscles and you could have missed out on something that could have been your strength.
I'd like to know that some of the kids have fun growing up with the sport, and it's not just training, training, training...practice, practice!
Take a break, try another sport. Walk away for a while. Revitalize yourself. I even did that at the professional level. I didn't go twelve months a year at the sport. I'd take a break, walk away, take a vacation, relax the mind, and I thought it was good for my longevity and my well-being.
You don't want to take away the love of the sport by making it a job and a grind too early. Hopefully the kids are still loving it.
In college, it seems like they still love it. I like the intensity, because some of the kids know it, that's the last go-round of competitive sports. So you see the best come out of them. That's why I love college sports.
Now you had opportunities to play professionally not only in baseball, but also the NFL and the NBA. How did you make the decison to stick with baseball?
Basically, since I was twelve years old, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to play professional baseball. I was drafted out of high school and I chose not to sign, because I wanted to go to college and get my education. You do that for four years, and those four years helped me grow in size, stature and ability.
So I went from a thirty-fifth round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles as a pitcher, to a first round draft pick by the San Diego Padres.
With your playing days in the past, do you still keep up with the game and are you still watching it?
Oh yeah, I'm still watching, all the time, and I've been working the Baseball Players Association. I see all the guys during the course of the year. Hopefully, I can give them some sage advice on how to maximize their small window of opportunity at the professional level.
It works and I'm pleased with what I'm doing.
Speaking of your playing days, what was the best ballpark you ever played in?
The one year I played in Toronto where they would sell out every game, and we were the first to get four million people to come and watch us play. I have to give them credit. The fans support at the ballpark (they call it Rogers Centre now) made it best for that one year.
Who is the toughest pitcher you ever faced?
The answer to that is that it's someone you've never heard of. There are a couple of guys that I was 0-for-15 against, and I wanted them to come out of retirement and face me again. It's not Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton or JR Richard â you knew they were coming at you, and at least I got a hit off those guys.
But Buzz Capra, I think I was 0-for-15 against. Phil Niekro, who played with him said, "Really Winny? Buzz Capra?" As if he snuck in there somehow. I don't know.
How about the best hitter you've ever seen?
I played against Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. They weren't at their best, but it inspired my awe to play against them.
Don Mattingly had a couple of great years. Rickey Henderson too, as an all-around player...steal a hundred, walk a hundred, hit twenty-five home runs, hit .310.
So is Rickey Henderson the best all-around player you've ever seen?
Bo Jackson was out there for a short while. Talking about a guy that did everything. Rickey would do everything.
Who is the player you learned from the most?
Willie McCovey was like a mentor to me when I didn't know really anything coming into baseball, and he looked out for me.
I have to give Cito Gaston credit too. He was helpful to me. We roomed together for a short period of time, early in my career. It was a pleasure to play for him twenty years later and win a World Series.
And one more, Kirby Puckett. A guy who had fun, played the game and was just a great teammate.
