Dave Winfield Statue Project
The Story
Fairbanks Alaska Dave Winfield Statue Project: Dave Winfield is a former Alaska Goldpanner (1971-1972) who played Major League Baseball for 22 years and is a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. There was an article in The New York Times describing how Brett Boone, another former Goldpanner, was teasing Winfield because Winfield didn’t have a statue. As a Goldpanner, Winfield hit a legendary home run out of Growden Field that crossed First Avenue and landed on the roof of the Fairbanks Curling Club. The concept was born, Winfield needs a statue. Given Winfield’s tenure in Fairbanks with the Goldpanners, and his home run, Fairbanks is the perfect place to locate the statue.
Dave Mark Winfield
Born in 1951, Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He is the special assistant to the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Over his 22-year career, he played for six teams: the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians. He accumulated statistics that affirmed his incredible power (3,110 hits, 465 HRs, and 1833 RBIs), stout defense (7 Gold Gloves), 12 time MLB All Star, six-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Atlanta Braves.
In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He is a member of both the Baseball Hall of Fame and College Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2023 Winfield was honored with the Rawlings Lifetime Achievement Award.
Winfield Statue Update
Early in 2023, a group of Fairbanks residents approached Mr. Winfield about erecting a statue in Fairbanks honoring him and his home run legacy while playing in Fairbanks. He agreed. Gary Lee Price, who created the Walter Harper Statue in front of Doyon, Ltd’s Fairbanks headquarters was contracted to design and complete the statue. Mr. Price is shown in the image with the full-size clay model.
The statue was to be located across Second Avenue from Growden Field, on Fairbanks North Star Borough property to the west of the Fairbanks Curling Club building, where the home run ball hit the roof. The location required a series of governmental approvals including a City of Fairbanks Building permit and a FNSB Permit. The FNSB granted a permit in March 2024, but, unfortunately, the FNSB legal department issued a ruling on April 2nd that declared the permit invalid. A new permit would have to be obtained with the approval of the FNSB Parks and Recreation Commission and a subsequent approval by the FNSB Assembly and an agreement evidencing the donation of the statue to the FNSB.
The first step in the approval process didn’t occur when the Parks and Rec Commission cancelled its May 21 meeting due to lack of a quorum. Thus, no approval was possible prior to the June 21, 2024 date of the dedication which couldn’t be delayed, and the completed statue (“Midnight Sun Moonshot”) was delivered to Fairbanks.
So, in true Fairbanks fashion, improvisation ruled. The statue was delivered to the parking lot of the Curling Club on a snow machine trailer, set up on a stage provided by the Carlson Center, and the dedication ceremony held as planned. Additionally, Mr. Winfield was gracious enough to throw out the first pitch at the Midnight Sun Game.
Mr. Winfield and his family attended, the speakers were outstanding, the weather cooperated, the ceremony went off without a hitch, and Mr. Winfield and his family were very appreciative of the honor, as is Fairbanks.
Following the ceremony, given the temporary nature of the location, the statue has been moved to storage while plans for a permanent location can be finalized. It is expected a re-dedication will occur early next summer. Although there were a large number of donors, whom we thank profusely (a list will be posted on the website), fundraising still fell short. When the plans for the permanent location are finalized a revitalized fundraising.
