Upon his graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1973, Dave Winfield was the most wanted athlete in the country. Teams in both the NBA and ABA drafted him, but Winfield stuck with his first love – baseball. San Diego won out and Winny played the next eight years in Padres brown and gold. Each summer Winfield increased his power hitting and defense, culminating in his 1977 All-Star Game appearance. The game, held in New York’s Yankee Stadium, was Winfield’s introduction to the baseball world at large. On a national stage, Winfield went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI. The next year he was named the Padres’ team captain and in 1979 led the NL in RBI. By this time Dave Winfield had become arguably the best player in the National League, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner had never forgotten his commanding performance in the ’77 All-Star Game. The Yankees snatched up Winfield as soon as he became a free agent in 1981, resulting in another pennant for New York.

The 12-time All-Star retired after the 1995 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001. Winfield’s Padres-era Adirondack DW20model bat is un-cracked and exhibits excellent use. Several ball marks with stitch impressions are found on the right left and back barrel and cleat imprints are present on the left and back barrel. The handle has been scored from the knob to the white ring on the upper handle and a light coat of pine tar has been applied to enhance the grip. The model number “DW20” is stamped into the knob over which Winfield’s number “31” is handwritten in black marker. An impressive bat with all the details wanted on an early-career Winfield gamer. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B16661 for the game use and has been graded a near-perfect GU 9.

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