Yes, Dave Winfield was drafted in three sports: baseball, basketball, and football. In 1973, four professional teams selected him across those sports, even though he built his career in Major League Baseball.
Here’s which teams drafted Winfield, what his college sports background was, and why the story is sometimes misstated. The key distinction: he was drafted in football, but he did not play professional football.
Was Dave Winfield drafted in 3 sports?
Yes. Winfield was drafted in baseball, basketball, and football in 1973. Four teams selected him: the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Stars, and Minnesota Vikings.
The Hawks and Stars both played basketball, but in different leagues. The Hawks were an NBA team, while the Stars competed in the American Basketball Association (ABA). That means Winfield was picked by four teams across three sports, not four.
| Team | Sport and league | What the selection means |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | Baseball, MLB | Selected Winfield fourth overall in the 1973 MLB draft; he signed with the Padres. |
| Atlanta Hawks | Basketball, NBA | Drafted him in 1973, reflecting his college basketball ability. |
| Utah Stars | Basketball, ABA | Also selected him in the 1973 ABA draft. |
| Minnesota Vikings | Football, NFL | Drafted him in 1973, although he did not play professional football. |
Which teams drafted Dave Winfield?
The Padres made Winfield their first-round pick, choosing him fourth overall in the 1973 MLB draft. That selection gave him a direct route into professional baseball, the sport that became his career.
The other selections show how unusual his athletic range was. The Atlanta Hawks and Utah Stars each drafted him in basketball, while the Minnesota Vikings chose him in the NFL draft. The basketball picks came from separate leagues, so lists of his draft history may count four teams but only three sports.
Drafting a player does not mean the player joined that team. A draft gives a team the right to negotiate with a player under that league’s rules. Winfield chose baseball, signing with the Padres rather than pursuing the basketball or football opportunities.
Did Dave Winfield play college football?
No. Winfield played college baseball and basketball at the University of Minnesota. His football draft selection can cause confusion, but it does not mean he played college or professional football.
His standout college performances in baseball and basketball helped make him attractive to professional teams in more than one sport. The Vikings’ selection was based on his athletic potential, not a professional football career he had already established.
This is the detail many quick summaries leave out: being drafted in a sport is different from playing that sport professionally. Winfield’s NFL draft status is real, but his professional playing career was in baseball.
Why was Winfield drafted by teams in several sports?
Winfield had rare athletic ability and played two sports at a high level in college. Teams in different leagues saw potential in him, even though each selection came with a different path and set of expectations.
The Padres’ first-round choice was especially significant because it led to his baseball career. His selections by the Hawks and Stars reflected his basketball skills, while the Vikings’ pick showed that an NFL team also saw promise in his physical abilities.
It is best to describe the story precisely: Winfield was drafted by four teams in three sports, then chose baseball. Saying he “played three professional sports” would be inaccurate.
How to check a claim about a multi-sport draft
If you see a post saying an athlete was drafted in several sports, separate the draft record from the playing record. These steps make the claim easier to interpret:
- Count the sports, not just the teams. Winfield had four team selections, but two were basketball teams.
- Identify the leagues. The Hawks played in the NBA; the Stars played in the ABA.
- Check whether the athlete signed or played. Winfield signed with the Padres and pursued baseball, not professional football or basketball.
- Keep “drafted” and “played” distinct. A draft selection records a team’s choice; it does not prove the athlete joined the team.
That distinction is useful beyond Winfield’s story. Multi-sport drafts can make an athlete’s résumé sound broader than the professional career they actually pursued.
Was Dave Winfield drafted in three sports or four?
He was drafted in three sports: baseball, basketball, and football. Four teams selected him because two of those teams—the Hawks and Stars—were basketball franchises in different leagues.
So both figures can appear in a description of his draft history, but they count different things. “Four teams” counts franchises; “three sports” counts the kinds of competition.
Dave Winfield was selected by four professional teams across baseball, basketball, and football, but he chose baseball and became an MLB player. The NFL selection does not mean he played professional football.
For a quick fact-check, compare the team names with their leagues and separate draft selections from teams an athlete actually joined. That resolves the common question: was dave winfield drafted in 3 sports? Yes—he was.