Perhaps the most prolific athlete in Minnesota history turns 62 years old today.
Dave Winfield was born in St. Paul in 1951, on the same day Bobby Thompson hit one of the most famous home runs in baseball history, “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World.”
Winfield went on to star at the University in Minnesota in both baseball and basketball, being drafted out of college by two professional basketball teams and the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Winfield was also drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 17th round of the NFL draft, and is believed to be one of just two people in sports history to be drafted in three different sports.
Winfield went on to play 22 years of pro baseball for the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians. He was a first ballot hall-of-famer, collecting over 3,000 hits and 12-time all-star.
In one of his most incredible accomplishments, Winfield was named the third-best all-around athlete in the history of sports by ESPN.
