Former Blue Jay Dave Winfield won the 2024 Curt Flood Award

On Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Dave Winfield has received the 2024 Curt Flood Award. The award is “awarded to a former player who demonstrates commitment to the Major League Baseball Players Association and the support of players’ rights.”

Winfield began his career with the San Diego Padres in 1973, spending eight seasons there. After the 1980 season, Winfield signed with the New York Yankees, signing a 10-year contract worth $23 million, which was the largest salary received by a baseball player at the time. During the 1990 season, he was traded to the California Angels, where he played for two seasons.

After the 1991 season, he signed with the Blue Jays for the 1992 season, hitting .290/.377/.491 with 26 home runs in 670 plate appearances. The then-40-year-old made his second postseason appearance that year, hitting .239/.327/.413 with two home runs in 54 plate appearances. As you may know, the 1992 Blue Jays won their first World Series in franchise history, largely due to their game-winning hit that lifted the Jays over the Atlanta Braves.

In 1993, Winfield signed with his hometown Minnesota Twins, spending two seasons there. His last season was in 1995, when he was 43 years old with the Cleveland team. However, Winfield’s best days were long behind him, and his last All-Star caliber season came in 1992 with the Jays.

Over his 22-year career, Winfield hit .283/.353/.475 with 465 home runs in 12,358 plate appearances. He is one of 33 players in league history to record over 3,000 goals. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, the first year of his career.

Throughout his career and post-playing days, Winfield was active in his community through philanthropic activities. It’s “Winfield’s Children,” where he bought Padre tickets for families, and the Winfield Foundation. Winfield, 73, is currently a special assistant to the executive director of the MLBPA, a position he has held since late 2013.