1982 Profile: Dave Winfield

1982 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Winfield paid big first dividends on his 10-year, $15 million contract with the Yanks, leading the club in RBIs and providing some exceptional outfield defense. He made what many observers consider the greatest catch ever on September 25, when he climbed the left field wall and reached nearly four rows deep with his long arms to haul in a drive by the Orioles' Doug DeCinces. He was easily the Yanks' most valuable player. He doesn't like to sit.
Winfield was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 3, 1951- the same day Bobby Thomson hit his 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' to beat the Dodgers in a playoff. He played on the University of Minnesota basketball team and was MVP of the College World Series in baseball. He's very active in charitable work for underprivileged youngsters.
Last season ended on a very disappointing note when he went 1-for-22 in the World Series."

-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition

"Physically, he's much more imposing than any television screen or photograph can make him out to be. Dave Winfield, at 6'6" and 220 pounds, could have been a pro basketball player as evidenced by the fact that he was drafted by both the Utah Stars of the old ABA and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He could have played pro football since his hometown Minnesota Vikings drafted him. But his greatest game is baseball and in his second season with the Yankees, Dave is determined to make the most of his extraordinary-super talent.
Last season, his first as a Yankee, Dave hit a strong .294, with a team high 114 hits. Thirty-nine of those hits went for extra bases, 25 of them being doubles, with 13 home runs and one triple. Of his greatest accomplishments during the '81 season, you'd be foolhardy not to note his team high 68 RBIs and nine game-winning RBIs. But his greatest accomplishments of them all were his easy-going mannerisms, his ever-present calm in the eye of the baseball storm and his philosophy of just being himself.
This season Yankee fans will see Dave continue his winning ways and continue his grand contributions to the Yankees. They will see an AL pennant flying high at Yankee Stadium that he contributed to last year and they have hopes for another World Series Championship soon. But one thing they enjoy most of all is Dave Winfield playing ball with the enthusiasm of a rookie, being himself and being one of the greatest players on the field today!"

-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook

"1981 was an outstanding first season in pinstripes as Winfield did everything expected of him. He led the Yankees in games, at bats, hits, total bases, doubles, RBIs, game-winning RBIs and sacrifice flies.
Winfield batted .324 in the first half to lead the team with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. He hit his first home run as a Yankee on April 29 in Detroit off Jack Morris, his first Yankee Stadium homer on May 23 off Rick Waits, and hit an inside-the-park home run on August 29 in Chicago off Lamar Hoyt. The Yankees were 11-1 in games in which he homered.
Dave got off to a poor start in the second half, batting just .143 in his first 16 second half games, but hit over .300 the rest of the way to raise his average close to .300. He had two nine-game hitting streaks and 27 multi-hit games during the 1981 season.
He was superb in the outfield, mainly patrolling left field, yet played 23 games in center capably when Mumphrey was injured. Winfield had appeared in every Yankee game until a sore shoulder kept him out of the September 11 game.
He appeared in his fifth consecutive All-Star Game and made his first appearance in postseason competition. He was named to the UPI AL All-Star team and won the Sporting News Silver Bat award.
Dave went right to the major leagues off the campus of the University of Minnesota and never played in the minors. He's missed only 14 games in the last five years. He played eight seasons with San Diego and holds many Padre batting and outfield defense records.
In 1979 Winfield finished third in the NL MVP voting behind co-winners Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez. He was also voted by players to the Sporting News NL All-Star team and named to both the AP and UPI NL All-Star teams.
At the University of Minnesota, Winfield was 13-1 on the mound in his senior year, while batting over .400 in the outfield. He was the Gophers team captain, named first-team All-American and was MVP in the 1973 College World Series. Winfield also played basketball for Minnesota and was drafted in three different sports: Padres in baseball, Vikings in football, and Utah (ABA) and Atlanta (NBA) in basketball. He hit safely in his first six major league games.
The David M. Winfield Foundation has received much acclaim for its work with youth groups and contributions to the community. Winfield set up a college scholarship program in his native St. Paul/Minneapolis area and was named 1979 winner of the YMCA Brian Piccolo Award for humanitarian services."

-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide