Dave Winfield Biography, Career, Net Worth, Philanthropy, Books

Talking about Dave Winfield brings to life the story of a man who carved out a niche for himself both on and off the baseball field. With a net worth of $12 million, it’s clear that his journey from humble beginnings in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to the pinnacle of professional baseball and beyond is both inspiring and remarkable.
What strikes me about Winfield is his success on the field and how he chose to navigate life after MLB. Unlike his peers who leaned towards coaching, Dave ventured into real estate, corporate ventures, book writing, and entertainment. This diversification bolstered his net worth and kept him relevant in various spheres.
Although most of his income comes from his MLB career, his net worth of $12 million is bolstered by his investments in real estate and assets, a post-playing career in the corporate world, and a brief stint in television.
Before you dive in, here is the profile summary for Dave Winfield.
Profile Summary
NameDave WinfieldDate of birthOctober 3, 1951Age72 years oldCollegeUniversity of Minnesota Net worth$12 millionWifeTonya TurnerChildrenShanel, David II and Arielle.Current JobManagement ConsultantRetirement 1996Career Earnings$23,095,088
Dave Winfield Net Worth
Dave Winfield significantly impacted on and off the field, culminating in a net worth of $12 million as of 2024.
His story gets even more interesting when you look at the numbers. In December 1980, he signed a record-breaking ten-year contract worth $23 million with the New York Yankees, making him the highest-paid player at the time. This contract, averaging $2.3 million annually, was a game-changer and a financial boost many players can only dream of.
After several years with the Yankees, where his annual salary was just under $2 million, Winfield’s salary saw a notable increase when he joined the California Angels in 1991, earning $3,300,000. He subsequently moved to the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and finally the Cleveland Indians, where he concluded his MLB career in 1995 with a salary of $600,000.
Winfield’s career earnings from these salary figures amount to $23,095,088.
Beyond his playing career, Winfield’s involvement as a special assistant to the Major League Baseball Players Association executive director likely contributed to his financial stability and net worth in his post-playing days.
Beyond his athletic prowess, Dave Winfield is a versatile entrepreneur with ownership stakes in art galleries, a lighting design and contracting company, and multiple Burger King franchises.
Dave also earns a living as a keynote speaker. He has engaged many audiences – from youth organizations and educational institutions to corporate giants like Xerox, IBM, and General Motors.
Winfield has also significantly contributed to literature with his book Turn It Around: There’s No Room Here for Drugs” (1987). In it, he explores the drug abuse crisis, detailing its history, the variety of substances involved, and advancements in prevention and treatment methods, incorporating his efforts in the fight against drug abuse. His autobiography, Winfield: A Player’s Life, is a New York Times best seller.
Dave Winfield Real Estate
A key component of Winfield’s wealth comes from his investments in real estate. Notably, he engaged in significant transactions such as leasing a luxury condominium in Manhattan for an initially quoted $1,500 monthly rent, which then doubled to $3,000 upon the landlord’s recognition of Winfield’s celebrity, according to NYTimes.
Further expanding his property holdings, Winfield purchased a home near New York and acquired and sold properties in Minneapolis and California.
Dave Winfield Philanthropy
From the outset of his professional journey, Winfield demonstrated a deep commitment to giving back.
In 1973, during his inaugural year with the San Diego Padres, Winfield embarked on a philanthropic endeavor by purchasing blocks of tickets for Padres games for families unable to afford attendance, an initiative known as “pavilions.”
This act of generosity marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to community support and set the stage for the creation of the David M. Winfield Foundation for Underprivileged Youth in 1977.
As the first active athlete to establish a philanthropic foundation, Winfield pioneered a path for athletes seeking to leverage their platforms for the betterment of society.
The Foundation’s initiatives quickly expanded beyond game tickets to include health clinics. Mobile clinics were brought to the stadium parking lot by partnering with San Diego’s Scripps Clinic.
Upon joining the New York Yankees, Winfield allocated $3 million of his contracted salary to the Winfield Foundation. The Foundation partnered with Hackensack University Medical Center to establish The Dave Winfield Nutrition Center and collaborated with Merck Pharmaceuticals to create “Turn it Around,” a bilingual substance abuse prevention program.
Despite facing challenges, including a public feud with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner over allegations of financial mismanagement within the Foundation, Winfield’s philanthropic vision remained unblemished. The Foundation received all its funding, and the accusations were ultimately proven unfounded.
Winfield’s influence extends beyond his Foundation, inspiring a new generation of athletes to embrace philanthropy. Yankee Derek Jeter, who idolized Winfield for his athleticism and humanitarian efforts, cites Winfield as the inspiration for his Turn 2 Foundation. Winfield continues to support Jeter’s Foundation and numerous other causes.
Dave Winfield Career
Winfield played college baseball for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was also a talented basketball player. His potential in basketball was significant, with Winfield’s 1971 – 72 Minnesota team securing a Big Ten Conference basketball championship, the school’s first outright championship in 53 years. However, his basketball career took a decisive turn during the 1972 – 73 season following a brawl in a game against Ohio State, leading him to focus solely on baseball – a decision that paved the way for his iconic status in MLB.
Winfield played college summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks for two seasons from 1971 to 1972 and was the MVP in 1972.
After college, Winfield was drafted by four teams across three sports. The San Diego Padres picked him in the MLB draft. In contrast, the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (American Basketball Association), and Minnesota Vikings (NFL) also drafted him, despite him not playing college football. He’s one of five athletes drafted in three sports and one of three drafted by four leagues.
Winfield was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 1973 MLB Draft, marking the start of a remarkable 22-year career in the big leagues. Uniquely, he bypassed the minor leagues, jumping straight to MLB.
Over his career, Winfield played right field for six teams: the Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians.
During his tenure with the California Angels, he hosted his own drive-time radio show, “On the Ball.”
His tenure with the Padres solidified his reputation as a formidable right fielder, but his time with the Yankees brought him into the national spotlight.
In December 1980, the Yankees signed Winfield to a ten-year, $23 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in the game. Despite a public feud with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, which included controversies and legal battles, Winfield’s performance on the field remained unaffected. He consistently demonstrated his worth as an all-around player, contributing significantly to his team’s successes.
He amassed 3,110 hits, 465 home runs, and 1,833 RBIs, with a batting average of .283. Perhaps one of his most cherished achievements was playing a pivotal role in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 1992 World Series Championship.
After retiring in 1996, Dave Winfield transitioned into a new role as a studio analyst for Major League Baseball on Fox. His career continued to evolve when, in 2001, he rejoined the San Diego Padres as an executive vice president and senior advisor, a position he held until 2013. That same year, Winfield’s outstanding sports contributions were recognized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2006, he partnered with conductor Bob Thompson to launch The Baseball Music Project, serving as the project’s host and narrator. His expertise in baseball analysis was further showcased when he became a sports analyst for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight on March 31, 2009.
On December 5, 2013, Winfield took on the role of special assistant to the Executive Director Tony Clark at the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Throughout his playing career, Winfield’s jersey numbers became iconic: He wore No. 31 while with the Yankees and Indians and No. 32 while with the Angels, Blue Jays, and Twins. The Padres retired Winfield’s No. 31 on April 14, 2001.
Dave Winfield Biography
Dave Winfield was born on October 3, 1951. At three, he faced the challenges of his parents’ divorce. Despite this early adversity, he found solace and strength in the close-knit bond with his mother and older brother, Stephen.
Growing up in Saint Paul, Winfield and his brother became fixtures at Oxford Field. Under the watchful eye of coach Bill Peterson, Winfield’s talents began to shine. However, it wasn’t until his senior year at Saint Paul Central High School that he reached his towering height of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), a physical trait that would become one of his many advantages on the baseball diamond.
Winfield’s personal life took a joyful turn in 1988 when he married Tonya Turner. Together, they have raised three children: Shanel and twins David II and Arielle.
Today, the Winfields make their home in the prestigious neighborhood of Bel Air, California.
Dave Winfield Movies
Aside from his career in the sports industry, Dave had a brief stint in the entertainment industry, appearing in a few TV series and shows.

Arli$$ (1998)
The Tony Danza Show (1998)
The Drew Carey Show (1995)
Married…with Children (1994)
Sibs (1992)

Dave Winfield Awards

12× MLB All-Star
7× Gold Glove Award
6× Silver Slugger Award
World Series Champion
Roberto Clemente Award (1994)
YMCA Brian Piccolo Award for Humanitarian Service
Branch Rickey Community Service Award
American League Joe Cronin Award
Josh Gibson Leadership Award
Doctorate of Laws from Syracuse University, Concordia University St. Paul, Minnesota, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Dave Winfield Books

Winning It All: Inning By Inning: A Gameplan for Business & Life from a Baseball Hall of Famer
Dropping the Ball: Baseball’s Troubles and How We Can and Must Solve Them
Winfield: A Player’s Life