Winfield found success even when his team did not. In 1979, he had 118 RBI in a season when the Padres only scored 603 times. He had 34 home runs, 27 doubles, 10 triples and a .308 average. He also scored 97 runs, stole 15 bases and drew more walks than the number of times he struck out. He was also the best defensive right fielder in the National League, winning the Gold Glove that year, and adding another the following season.
From San Diego, he moved onto New York in 1981 where he found much success. In 1982 he launched a career-high 37 long balls. He followed with a career-best in RBI with 116 in 1983. The following season he hit a career mark with a .340 batting average. His accomplishments were evident during his entire stint with New York. He drove in more than 100 runs in every season with the Yankees, except for two of them. Five more Gold Gloves were also added to his total before he left the team.
Playing for the Angels, on June 24, 1991, he became the oldest player to hit for the cycle, at the age of 40. Winfield became a member of the Blue Jays as a free agent in 1992. Despite being more than 40 years old, he batted .290 with 26 home runs and 108 RBI. He led Toronto to their first World Series win with a run-scoring double in the top of the 11th inning of Game 6 to take the championship against the Atlanta Braves.
Following his stint with the Jays, he went back to his hometown and played for the Twins. He collected his 3,000th career hit with Minnesota in 1993. His career later ended after he spent 46 games playing for the Indians in 1995.
Winfield was a 12-time All-Star selection who amassed 3110 hits, 465 home runs and 1833 RBI. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001, and the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Winfield continues to utilize his experience, knowledge and relationships from four decades in and around Major League Baseball, to most recently joint the Major League Baseball Players Association in New York, as Special Advisor and Assistant to the Executive Director. This follows 12 previous years he served as Executive VP/Sr. Advisor to the San Diego Padres, stints in the media including ESPN, FOX Sports, syndicated radio programming, book publishing and speaking forums.
A unique resume of sports, business and compelling life experiences has made him a much sought after keynote speaker. His dynamic, relevant and timely presentations cover a wide range of topics from sports, education, business, teamwork and leadership, achievement, personal development, health and wellness.
He’s recently been a baseball analyst for ESPN Baseball Tonight & SportsCenter, an ambassador for the Ritz Carlton Destination Clubs, and remains an International Trustee for the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS). After ownership of fast food franchises and being a small business owner for years he remains on the board of a few privately held companies and a business advisor to others. He continues as one of the most positive, respected and enduring sports figures of our time.
