Dave Winfield Skips The Minors. Houston Astros at San Diego Padres, June 19, 1973 (Recreation)

Dave Winfield Skips The Minors. Houston Astros at San Diego Padres, June 19, 1973 (Recreation)

From Classic Baseball Radio by Ewan Spence

January 12, 2026 · 2h 53m · Season 1 · Episode 113

About this episode

This episode recreates the first game of Dave Winfield with the San Diego Padres against the Houston Astros in 1973.

The San Diego Padres have lost their last nine games, and with rumours of the franchise moving to Washington, the management is looking for anything to bring the winning ways, and the fans, back to San Diego Stadium. Is the answer Dave Winfield? San Diego picked Winfield with the fourth overall pick in the first round draft. Winfield was a pitcher, but the Padres needed bats in the lineup, so they not only put Winfield out to left field, they also brought him straight into The Show. Winfield remains one of the handful of players to accomplish this feat. Winfield developed into an All-Star with San Diego before moving to the Yankees for a then-record 10-year, $23 million contract, popping up next with the Angels, before heading to the Blue Jays to get a World Series ring in 1992. We’re winding the clock all the way back to what is Dave Winfield’s first game. The Padres are anchored at the bottom of the National League, 20 games back behind the top spot held by the Dodgers. The Houston Astros are faring much better - third in the League and 4 and a half games back. Can Winfield’s bat be the spark that lights up the Padres' season? Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team…

People in this episode

Host: Ewan Spence

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays

Books & works: Classic Baseball Radio

Places: Washington, San Diego Stadium

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