Dave Winfield retires as oldest active pro baseball player after 23-year career

Jet, Feb 26, 1996

Future Hall of baseball star Dave Winfield recently announced that at age 44 and after a 23-year career, he's calling it quits.

"Boy, let me tell ya, after 23 years, I'm going to step back and finally exhale," Winfield told Jet of his retirement plans. "I'm going to be busy, you know, I'm not going to be one of those guys who goes hunting and fishing after he retires and you never see him again.

"If you ask me that question four months from now, I'll have a better idea of what I'm going to do, but right now, I'm going to sort through my priorities and consider the different options.

"I've thought about this and I'm okay with it," Winfield added. "But all of your emotions are tied up in uttering those words: `I am going to retire from professional baseball-' not from life or anything else, but clearly it takes a Iot."

Winfield made his decision to retire after surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He explained that the severity of the tear would prevent him from being ready to compete on opening day so, "It's time to quit a game I love so much."

As the oldest active professional baseball player, Winfield retires as baseball's active leader in hits (3,110) and RBIs (1,833).

He ranks 11th on the career list in RBIs 12th in hits and 19th in home runs (465). Winfield and three other baseball legends (Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Stan Musial) are the only players to have 3,000 or more hits and 400 or more home runs in their careers.

In addition, Winfield played in 12 All-Star games, won seven Gold Gloves and six Silver Slugger awards.

The 6-foot-6 Saint Paul, MN, native is the only athlete to be drafted in three pro sports (baseball, basketball and football) after being named the MVP of the College World Series in 1973 at the University of Minnnesota. He signed with the San Diego Padres.

During his 23-year career, he played with six teams (San Diego, New York Yankees, California Angels Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians).

"When I started years ago, I didn't know what I would accomplish. I started with a dream and a prayer, and three things I wanted to do.

"Number one," Winfield continued, "I wanted to play up to my God-given abilities. I did that. Number two, I wanted to win a World Series--that's what every kid talks about when practice is over, pretending they're up to bat with the bases loaded and bam, I get a hit. I did that."

It was Winfield's clutch two-run double in the 11th inning of Game 6 of the 1992 World Series that enabled the Blue Jays to become the first foreign team to win a World Series.

"And third, I hope people will remember I played the game with dignity and respect," he said.

Winfield and wife Tonya have 15-month-old twins, daughter Arielle Arline and son David Mark II.