“I don't believe that [a person who is successful can't be recognized in their own home] and this is a perfect example that that is not the case. So, I appreciate you all very much for the recognition and the support over the years.”

Speaking about the statue unveiling in his hometown.

“So, let me do this because someone mentioned that like the young kids even over at Central didn't know who I am. And that's okay. That's okay because I started 50 years ago, you know, right on these fields. I mean, I'm just going to tie a few things together so you understand who I am and why we got to today for a statue that that not only represents baseball but community.”

Addressing the audience and connecting his past to the present event.

“I knew all these streets, you know, walked them, ran them, did all kinds of things here. Even when my brother had a little paper route, you know, I'd make a little little chump change doing his route every once in a while, but walking. So I knew everybody's name where they lived. We all went to school.”

Recounting his childhood experiences in St. Paul.

“And when I came along 1951, I look back, see, I can remember when there was no freeway 94. I remember when St. Paul Central looked like a castle. Uh the the town of St. Paul is not that much different. It's just about the same amount of people. The suburbs have blossomed.”

Describing St. Paul during his youth.

“And part of St. Paul, part of the lifeblood, part of the foundation of this city was um parks and wreck department. I did a little research on it. Uh when when St. Paul was young, parks and wreck was integrated into the way they established this city. They wanted to beautify the city. They wanted to keep kids off the street. They want to keep them motivated and who would know that it would play such a big part in my life.”

Highlighting the role of the parks and recreation department in his life and the city.

“I chose baseball because that's what I always wanted to do in life. I remember at 12 years old after seeing guys like man Tony and Killer Brew and Rich Rollins and Bob Allison and Earl Baddy and Camilo Pasual and Vic Power and you know I could go on. a zoyo vert. That's who I wanted to be like. And people say, 'Why? He only had 240 something.' I don't know, but he could play, man. He could play.”

Explaining his lifelong passion for baseball and his childhood idols.

“I went to the Toronto Blue Jays and we won the championship. I'm playing for a manager Cedto Gaston that that was a teammate of mine in San Diego. And then you play for a team that had never won it before and you know they drew 50,000 people every day. We were the first to draw 4 million fans. So we won for a country, not a city, not a state, not a region, but a whole country. And it changed the way even people looked at me, the way I felt about m”

Recounting the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series win.

“Good afternoon. Appreciate you all being here. You know, leading up to this event event, I've been thinking about how our city has so many remarkable people, but few have left a mark on this community or on the broader story of American sports than the way Dave Winfield has.”

Opening remarks at the event.

“Dave Winfield is the greatest all-around athlete the state of Minnesota has ever produced. The record speaks for itself. A Hall of Famer, a World Series champion, an athlete so gifted that he was drafted by multiple professional leagues, Major League Baseball, the NBA, the ABA, the NFL.”

Praising Dave Winfield's athletic prowess.

“But before Dave was a Hall of Famer, Dave was a kid from St. Paul, rooted in the Rondo neighborhood. He grew up in this community. He played on the fields down the street at Oxford and in this very park. He attended Central High School right next door.”

Highlighting Dave Winfield's St. Paul roots.

“This statue will remind every young person that passes by that greatness can begin right here in our neighborhoods, our schools, our parks, and our city.”

Emphasizing the inspirational purpose of the statue.

“I am so grateful to be here with all of you. You know, I I thought about what I would say here in this moment in this occasion and I will just say before I start this speech officially that like I was a kid girl who grew up. I came to this country as a refugee and girls my generation weren't allowed to play sports. So I used to forge my parents' signatures so that I could play and um I think about what it means to be people who come from humble beginnings.”

Personal reflection on humble beginnings and rising to greatness.

“He is a symbol for all of us and what can happen regardless of where we start or where we're from that we can rise to greatness because no one can take what we have inside of us away from us.”

Describing Dave Winfield as a symbol of possibility.

“Dave is a St. Paul kid. From Rondo just across the highway to Central High School to the new University of Minnesota, it all started here.”

Reiterating Dave Winfield's St. Paul origins.

“We might have set you up, given you a place to start, but you turn grit into greatness. That's what I hope to provide for all the students here and across St. Paul, a starting place, a platform for them to jump from as they try to reach 3,000 hits or whatever milestone or marker they are seeking.”

Commenting on grit turning into greatness and providing opportunities for students.

“What a beautiful beautiful day. We are just here. I was just thinking I believe it was last year around in July we were here announcing the the statue and now we're here all the way home run going to unveil it. So, it's just such a beautiful day.”

Reflecting on the journey from announcement to unveiling.

“We are here today to preserve legacy. A legacy that started right here on these dusty fields and made its way to the highest levels of achievement across the nation. A legacy that was built on talent, grit, discipline, determination, and a belief that where you come from does not define how far you can go.”

Defining the legacy being honored.

“For every young person who walks past this display, I hope that they see not only a baseball legend, I hope they see possibility. I hope they see greatness that can come from not only our neighborhoods, our schools, our families, but importantly our cities.”

Expressing hope for the statue's inspirational impact on youth.

“And as a daughter of Rondo and as a council member representing here Ward 1, I am proud of that future generations who'll be able to learn not only about the hometown but chart out a legacy of their own.”

Personal pride in representing the Rondo community and its legacy.

“On behalf of the city council, we declare May 30th, 2026 Dave Winfield Day.”

Official proclamation.

“Wow, what a day. Um, always always great to be in St. Paul and you know this is an honor to be here today. I want to offer congratulations to the city of St. Paul, to Mayor Her Council member, um to Andy, to all the people that have been involved in making today possible because I think today matters.”

Opening remarks and congratulations.

“When I think of Dave Winfield, I think of four words. One is Hall of Famer. He probably would have been a Hall of Famer in basketball and football, too, but thank God he played baseball.”

Describing Dave Winfield with key attributes.

“The second word would be Minnesota. When you think about where he grew up, uh you think about his storied career at the University of Minnesota as a Golden Gopher. You think about his return to Minnesota in 1993 to play for his hometown Minnesota Twins. And you think about everything he's done along the way to demonstrate commitment to the state of Minnesota and more importantly the city of St. Paul. I think of Minnesota with I think of Dave Winfield.”

Connecting Dave Winfield to the state of Minnesota.

“The third word is community. Um, I got a chance over my career to work with a lot of players, a lot of great players and a lot of players who were good individuals, great individuals on and off the field. One of them sitting right here, Tony Oliva, maybe the best. Very few players, in fact, no player that I came across was as forwardthinking about commitment to community than Dave Winfield.”

Highlighting Dave Winfield's commitment to community.

“And then the last word is probably the most important word is family. Family has always been number one for Dave Winfield. And we're so thrilled today to see this family here.”

Emphasizing the importance of family to Dave Winfield.

“I just I'll just say this that um I'm very proud of my brother, of my community, my family, you know, that's here, whether they're sitting out here or whether they're standing over there by the dugout. Uh, you know, I just hope that we're all proud of, you know, what not only David has accomplished, but how all of us are a part of that. All of us are a part of that.”

Expressing pride in his brother and shared community.