|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Cooperstown bound Winfield 'excited' about the honor
Updated: Wednesday January 17, 2001 3:35 AM
Dave Winfield was one of two players elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Winfield who played 22 seasons with six teams was joined by former Minnesota Twins teammate Kirby Puckett. Winfield now lives in Bel Air, Calif., and he was interviewed by CNNSI.com's Jeff Fischel. Jeff Fischel: Dave, first thing, how surprised were you to get in on your first ballot? Dave Winfield: I felt pretty good, I honestly did. I had a long, pretty good career. But nevertheless, you sit there and wait and you know it's a special day. Since at our house we celebrate Christmas, it's almost kind of like kids waiting for Santa to come. But when I got the call, it was very special. I'm really appreciative of the writers and everybody that's been behind me. So I'm excited. First ballot or whenever it would have happened, Hall of Fame is, [pause] Hall of Fame, man. Fischel: I hear you. You did your job with [more than] 3,000 hits. But it's got to be hard waiting for someone else to make that decision for you.
Winfield: Yeah, but I'm fully aware of that. Part of it I'm sure is a way that a person plays and part of it is what kind of person they are. I think I just had a unique career in a lot of cities. Where it's different than some of the guys is that they played for just one town most of their career and that's it. But I played for six different teams, I played in both leagues [and] made a contribution everywhere. And I think I did use the platform of baseball to reach out, give back and influence people in a positive way. So, you add it all up and I'm glad they said, "Winfield, come on in first time." Fischel: You talk about contributing in a lot of different places. Is there one moment you look back on and say, "This is the moment that typifies my career"? Winfield: Well, I can't say that it "typifies" it because I was only able to reach that mountain top [win the World Series] that one time up in Toronto in 1992. But for so many years, not only would I play to be the best player I could, but I did other things to help other players be better at what they did. And when you win as a team that is probably the biggest thrill you can have as an athlete. I mean I did a lot, I accomplished as lot as an individual. Once I reached a level of play I was an All-Star each year. But if we didn't win there's a little bit of disappointment. So, to be able to win it all and knowing that's what I was all about to win as a team, that is, I won't say it typifies, but that's really what's in my heart and my head and that's what I like to be remembered as. Fischel: Now the question is, will you be remembered as a Padre, or a Yankee? Which hat will you be wearing in the Hall of Fame?
Winfield: Well, right now because I didn't get ahead of myself and I didn't say, "Well, I'm going in." I knew it would be because of my whole career and not one team. I'll have time to think about which team. And that's not to be positioning myself among the people or anything like that. I really want to enjoy this time with my family and friends and bask in this Hall of Fame glory, I guess. I'll come back to that other question later. Fischel: All right, no pressure but there's no Padre that's wearing a hat in the Hall of Fame. That's okay. That's just a little point I figured I'd point out. Kirby Puckett gets in as well. You guys are the seventh pair of teammates to get in on the same ballot. I know you've had a lot of good words about Kirby. Talk about Puckett and why he was a valuable member and why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? Winfield: Kirby had a 10 year career ... not only what he did on the field. How do you amass more hits in your first 10 years of play than anybody in the history of the game? That's a telling statistic. But off the field the intangibles that people that were never in the locker room or on the field with him at the same time, that personality, ebullient, exciting. He just gave so much to everybody and he was so excited and he never let anybody get down. If they weren't up for the game, Kirby would say, "Jump on. [laughs] Jump on my back, I'll carry you." He might go 0-4 or 0-5 or whatever and he may go 5-5, but nevertheless he came back with a smile on his face and you never got him down. And the other thing, until he got hurt, these things are amazing to me, the man never missed a game to injury. He just didn't get hurt. He took a lickin' and kept on tickin.' So he did all right. Fischel: Did injuries ever keep you out play for a period of time? Winfield: Oh, yeah, when I had a back problem I had back surgery one year, but it took 17 years before that took me down for a year. But most people never even play that long. I was pretty good too. I didn't miss much. I missed more time to work stoppages, which I hope they never face that again. I didn't get hurt much. Or if I was hurt I kept on playing. Fischel: Dave, you got drafted in all three major sports. Would we be sitting here today talking about this, would you be in the Hall of Fame for football or basketball? Is this kind of day only because of your baseball career? Were you that good an athlete in the other sports? Winfield: [pauses] Yeah. Very simple, yeah I was good in those other sports. But if I played football I might be in the hospital right now. Or if I played basketball I might be on a crutch right now [laughs]. I don't know. Baseball is great and it's still America's sport. I came out of it with no knee surgery or anything like that, a little shoulder a little back [surgery]. But put it this way, I love basketball. And that's why I still go to as much as I can. Football, I like to watch it, but to play is another thing. I made the right choice. I really did. I have no regrets. I mean Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson are friends, guys that I talk to and I respect and all that. But you see what happens when you play too many sports? Do it when you are young. But when you get to the professional level you've got to make a choice. Unless I go into wrestling or something like that [laughs]. Fischel: That will be entertaining. Dave, congratulations on a great day making the Hall of Fame. Thank you very much, Dave. Winfield: Thanks, see you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
