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CNN Live At Daybreak
Future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield Offers Insight On Today's All-Star Game and His Future Induction Ceremony
Aired July 10, 2001 - 08:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LAURA OKMIN, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT: We're going to talk about a former All-Star who should know a lot about tonight's game because it's the 72nd All-Star game, which takes place tonight. And this morning, we bring in a guy who's pretty familiar with the game, 12 time All-Star and in exactly 28 days, baseball's newest member of the Hall of Fame, Dave Winfield. He joins us now from Seattle.
Dave, good morning, first of all.
DAVE WINFIELD, FUTURE HALL OF FAMER: Hey, Laura how are you?
OKMIN: Good, thank you. Let me ask you, because there's a little controversy about tonight's game, which we can really call the Farewell to Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn Game. Some cynics have criticized that, saying it's not a game for career accomplishments but this season's success. Your thoughts on that?
WINFIELD: Well, these guys have been pillars of baseball for so long. Give them the opportunity. I think I would have loved that opportunity my last year as well. These guys have played 20 years, been All-Stars perennially and they represent the game. So, give Cal his due. And whether he earned the spot to -- you know in terms of numbers, that's questionable but let him go. The same with Tony. Everybody say good-bye. It's good for the game.
OKMIN: Dave, Ichiro Suzuki, of course, huge right now for this game. The Mariners, the Twins, your former Twins, Barry Bonds, what's been your favorite story so far, first half of baseball season?
WINFIELD: Wow! I mean there's so many. I mean whatever city you want to go to. I mean Cal and Tony retiring. But I mean, my former teammate Manny Ramirez with triple-crown numbers. Just the Seattle Mariners playing so well. And I'll tell you, my first time up here in a long time and to see the international media surrounding this. Ichiro Suzuki, I got to see this kid play.
OKMIN: In less than a month, you're going to be a Hall of Famer. Have you been practicing yet? Have you been kind of introducing yourself Dave Winfield, Hall of Famer. Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, nice to meet you?
WINFIELD: No. No. You know, this past week, I put a few words on paper. I'm usually not at a loss for words. But I just want to make sure I kind of hit everything and condense it and all of that. So, I'm working on a few words. But I'm excited about it. And I know Kirby is and the same thing with Bill Mazeroski.
OKMIN: Why the Padres? A lot of people thought that you might be going in as a Yankee. You've decided to with San Diego?
WINFIELD: The first team that drafted me. Some people -- I mean there wasn't as much -- I mean there wasn't CNN National and all these other media things covering me. But I played eight good years out there before I went on for nine-plus in New York and then, you know, one championship in Toronto. So, I just kind of went with the first team and that's what felt right in the heart.
OKMIN: Well, they're sure glad you did. Now, 22 seasons, of course, in the majors, you played. Playing on a major league field is really old hat to you. But you and MasterCard are doing something that's pretty cool for some lucky baseball fans. Explain what this contest is.
WINFIELD: You go that right. Well, essentially go on-line, click onto MasterCard.com. You don't have to buy anything. But they've put together a promotion called Field of Dreams. I mean -- excuse me, Take Me Out To The Ball Game. But you can win your field of dreams for a day.
The winner -- you know, there's going to be prizes everyday, but the grand prize winner will get control of a major league ballpark, a major league stadium for a full day, take 11 of their friends, if they've got 11 friends, and they're going to play with and against former major leaguers from that area. And I'm going to be their manager.
So, it's going to be a wonderful prize. It's a way for them to give back to the fans and Major League Baseball. I think Atlanta is one of the stadiums, Boston, Baltimore, Synergy Field and Cincinnati. So, they'll have their choice. So, from today, July 10 to the 23rd of September, you can register and get involved.
OKMIN: Very cool. I think I'm going to log on and see if I can find 11 friends and try that.
Dave Winfield, have fun tonight and of course on August 6 and your induction. Thanks for joining us.
WINFIELD: I appreciate it. See you.
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