gpt2 deadball bios

" [Wyoming] is a great baseball town. I'll give you 100 percent.
"'And he's looking good,' said Dodger veteran outfielder Tommy Henrich.
"'Babe'" had become a national icon, a symbol of the United States of America and the world at large.
"'Durocher's way," said the very serious Tom Meany of the New York Times.
"'Go on out to the big leagues," he advised me. He was out of baseball in four years.
"'I wanted to make him happy,'" recalled Dickey. "I knew he'd like it.
"'I'll take care of him," Peter said. "He's a good boy.
"'I'll take it.' I said I would take it, and the rest is history.
"'I've got something that's going to help my batting average," he said.
"'If you're going to do something, you're going to do it until death do you part.
"'Just a kid,'" the kid said, "I'll be out as soon as I can.
"'Tis the season of the great player movement," the New York Times reported in mid-October.
"'Tite' was the name of a hard-luck loser who got beat.
"'Trout is our man," said the St. Louis Browns manager, Bucky Harris.
"(H)e was a wonderful person and a wonderful father.
"(N)o .245 hitter, no .300 batting average, no big league home run.
"A Bicycle for Every Day," the New York Times, September 24, 1926: D .
"A Boy," and "A Woman," are the lone records of his official baseball career.
"A Christmas Carol, Or How the Negroes in 1941 Made the Yankees," April 5, 1942: 21.11 Charles P.
"A Good Man" is a baseball storybook in which we imagine ourselves as the players we've seen on screen.
"A Groundhog Remembered ," September 5, 1951: 85.17 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"A High-Pitched, Wide-Mouth Voice," Sport, August, 1925: 6.
"A History of Nasty-Quitty Defensemen," New York Times, December 10, 1968.
"A Living Legend," Sports Illustrated, May 8, 1974, 29.
"A Man in the Arena" (New York: McFarland and Co., 1955), 77.
"A Matter of Time" sure looked like a labor of love from the start.
"A Thief in the Night: The Life and Death of W.E.B.
"A Wonderful Life," the 1946 book by Ralph S. Davis, is generally regarded as the bible for the postwar player movement.
"A ballplayer for the New York Yankees," noted The Sporting News, "gets a lot of publicity for his good works.
"A ballplayer, to me, is the greatest person who could possibly be on the field for a game.
"A ballplayer, you know, comes back to the United States, and he has to play with a bat.
"A bat and some speed," Dickey said. He had seen Miguel Cabrera play.
"A batboy walks up to me and says, 'Look, they're going to send you down to the minor leagues.
"A beautiful bird of paradise," wrote a biographer, "Billy was a country boy.
"A beautiful girl, and she's in love with me," Dickey said with a laugh.
"A big kid playing baseball, I think I'd outgrow it," he said.
"A big relief pitcher," he recalled in 2007, "and I was the relief pitcher.
"A big, fat man playing a little sweeper for me…has to be the shortstop.
"A big, powerful man," said Bucky Harris in 1933, "and he can run like hell.
"A big, strong man in the middle of the infield," Wittich said of his appearance.
"A big-league outlook," Wittich said of his choice to retire.
"A boy with a disability should never be afraid to ask for help," said Raiders owner Charlie Finley.
"A boy with a small bat is the key to victory in any pitcher's arsenal," said Casey Stengel.
"A bright young man was born, and he paid the price.
"A bright young man with a distinctively "U" sound in his voice — that was his promise.
"A class act," the Chicago Tribune's Jim Murray wrote in an obituary of the outfielder.
"A classmate told me that he was reluctant to talk about it because he was afraid it would hurt his future.
"A common class of the time was the athletic, the graceful, and the graceful," wrote reporter Everett Zanardi.
"A couple of weeks ago, I was driving down the road and I heard a gunshot," he recalled.
"A couple of years ago, I pitched a no-hitter against the Yankees in New York City," he recalled.
"A couple of years ago, I'd have given him a few years, but he never grows on me.
"A creepy-crawling, moth-eaten-bird stalker? That sounds like a model for a model airplane.
"A few years ago, I was working as a guard at a baseball field, and I was on the pitching team.
"A fine pitcher," wrote The Sporting News, "the kid from San Diego is a pitcher of uncommon talent.
"A fter the loss of Worrell, the Yankees' starting shortstop, he was assigned to play first base. He played well.
"A funny thing happened on the way to the plate," Joe Cronin recalled.
"A good catcher moves the ball between the infield and the outfield," and he does that by using his body and head.
"A good catcher must be able to handle three-quarters of the plays in the game.
"A good example of his ability to handle pitchers was in a game against Cincinnati.
"A good example of the difference between a good pitcher and a bad pitcher can be seen in this game.
"A good friend of mine, a deckhand at the Ritz, told me that he was going to take a train for the trip.
"A good hitter always wins the batting title," Ed Swaine once said.
"A good hitter has a good arm," wrote Brooklyn Dodger writer Ray Scarborough.
"A good hitter is a guy who can hit the ball, and he can run like hell.
"A good hitter," Slapnicka explained, "is a player who hits the ball to all fields.
"A good hitter," he said, "can take a batter to a whole other level.
"A good man," Roscoe McGowen, later a teammate and coach with the Giants, said of McGowen.
"A good pitcher has a good fastball, a curve and a screwball.
"A good pitcher is a knuckleballer. That's the way I see pitching.
"A good pitcher is a tough pitcher," said McClendon. "A good hitter is a hard hitter.
"A good pitcher is an artist in the bullpen," said Roberts. "He can do a lot of things.
"A good pitcher is one who can make you pay attention. A good hitter is one who can hit you.
"A good pitcher must have his own idiosyncrasy to help him pitch," said Byrd. "I had to be myself.
"A good pitcher never loses his spot in the lineup," said Maglie.
"A good pitcher will get better, and that's what I'm going to do," he said.
"A good pitcher, a good hitter, and an aggressive outfielder is what you need to win the pennant," said Joe.
"A good pitching staff is like a sultry candle in the morning.
"A good player should never be afraid of being out of position," said the great Bill Werber.
"A good sign for a ballplayer is to be able to take a big hit," said former Athletics catcher Yogi Berra.
"A good story always has something inside, whether it's good or bad," he said.
"A good story," he said. He then added, "I'm not interested in a publicity stunt like that.
"A good thing about baseball," Wagah recalled, "is that you've got a lot of friends.
"A good way to start off a season is to play the reserves.
"A great athlete is an athlete who can fly," said Durocher.
"A great big slugger like me," Piersall said, "is well enough to play in a World Series.
"A great catcher cannot be intimidated by a great hitter," said Whitey Ford.
"A great catcher is in the catcher's glove," said 1922 World Series MVP Babe Ruth.
"A great catcher must be mentally tough," said Willie Mays. "A tough catcher must be mentally tough.
"A great defensive player cannot be made popular by a rose by his teammates," said Joe Cronin.
"A great hitter has to have a certain attitude. If you don't have a competitive attitude, you don't win.
"A great hitter is a man who can hit the long ball.
"A great hitter is the same to all. He has a great bat, a great throwing arm, and a good head.
"A great hitter never fails to be thought of as a good hitter," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"A great pitcher can throw hard, but he can also throw a little too hard.
"A great pitcher develops his control," said Joe Black, "but you get tired of them.
"A great pitcher is a man who can do the batter in three strikes," White said.
"A great pitcher is a man who can throw a ball more than his opponent can hit it to the corner of the plate.
"A great pitcher is like a mother to a son. Five guys beat you until you lay him down.
"A great player has to have consistency. That's what I have," he said.
"A great player should be a perennial. . .exactly like a great ballplayer. Every manager and coach wants him.
"A guy like him, he's going to be a great one," said Mantle.
"A guy with his vision, he's a great guy. He's going to be a great ballplayer.
"A hundred men, mostly big leaguers, came out to the plate to tie the ball and it was a beautiful sight.
"A hundred thousand? That's nothing. A million is nothing. A couple of hundred is nothing.
"A kid was at home recovering from an accident. He was playing with his father and another boy. He had broken an ankle.
"A little birdie" — as he was known in his hometown — was a name familiar to many New Yorkers.
"A little birdie," he was called, and was the youngest son of relative giants of the Negro Leagues.
"A little black dog," said the Washington Senators' Mickey Vernon after the Senators' six-game losing streak.
"A little boy can dream. He can see the ceiling, the floor. He can lift a heavy box.
"A little boy will play baseball for his dad," said Grissom.
"A little chicken," the third-string catcher, recalled in 1947.
"A little different from the rest of the kids," he observed.
"A little girl will do anything for the love of her daddy," said Arroyo.
"A little girl's first love," wrote Harry Silber, "is a boy.
"A little girl," wrote The New York Times, "and all the world.
"A little kid" in a big city, But the kid was actually a big man.
"A little ol' boy," his father called from the front porch.
"A little street kid from the Bronx," wrote Tom Meany, "I just wanted to get him out of the way.
"A little too late," he said, "the Cubs were going to win the pennant.
"A little while ago there was a bicycle race, and I was one of the teams that won the race," he recalled.
"A little while ago, I was working in a car dealership in Florida.
"A lot of ex-major leaguers are not going to play ball for the Yankees now," Kiner said.
"A lot of guys had to do things that I didn't do," he recalled.
"A lot of guys in my situation are not inclined to make the effort. I'm not one of them.
"A lot of guys with me, they're afraid to talk to me," Sturm said.
"A lot of guys would have gotten better," he said. "Mays was the only one who stayed in the game.
"A lot of guys, if they don't play well, they've got to give it up.
"A lot of my life was spent in the minors," Burdette told The Sporting News years after he retired from professional baseball.
"A lot of my memories from that time have been nightmares," he said. "I dreamed about that little black dot.
"A lot of people didn't know he was a big-league ballplayer," Wills recalled.
"A lot of people have asked me why I don't like to talk about it.
"A lot of people have told me that I've had affairs," he told a reporter.
"A lot of people said I wasn't strong enough," Burdette said.
"A lot of people thought that I was too slight," he recalled. "That I had a big head.
"A lot of pitchers would just turn the corner and look for a fastball.
"A lot of the guys were afraid to come out and say they were going to quit because they were scared the club would fire them.
"A lot of the players would slap each other," he recalled. "Frank would smack me in the ribs and back.
"A lot of the time I'd play golf, which was a much slower game.
"A lot of these guys, they're just not good enough.
"A lot of times I'd go to the ballpark and all of a sudden people would be rushing out to get me.
"A lot of times in October," he recalled, "I was seeing the same old guys.
"A lot of times the defense was good, but I was drawn to the offense, and … I was signed to a contract.
"A lot of times, the veterans would play in front of guys like myself, Don Mueller and Mickey Vernon.
"A lot of us cried," he remembered. "That was a big reason why I stayed in in the big leagues.
"A lot of young pitchers, I think, would have preferred to start big, because they think it's the risk.
"A man can't win this thing until he wins it for himself.
"A man may be in the middle of a battle, but he is always ready to fight." — John F.
"A man should never be afraid to take a chance on a ballplayer," counseled the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
"A more humane alternative is to allow people to choose among competing offers," said Harvey "Durocher" Cohen.
"A must-have for any club that wants to win," wrote The Sporting News.
"A nice girl," He was a tough competitor. He never lost his temper.
"A nice thing about pitching is that you learn to control the little guys," McGuire said.
"A nice, sure-handed hitter," said manager Bill Killefer of the Washington Senators.
"A passion for baseball came out with me, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed learning about the game. I enjoyed watching the games.
"A person has to be strong in order to be able to handle the ball.
"A pincer who does not have a blade in his hand will be slow to cut.
"A pioneer and friend of mine," Don Johnson, has died at the age of 77.
"A proud man is a fellow who always has his eye on the prize.
"A rabbit has one of my joints. I've got a couple of them.
"A real diamond in the rough," said one observer, "He was one of the best that ever played the game.
"A real gentleman," said Dick Siebert, a teammate of O'Neil's at Louisville in the 1930s.
"A real professional," Frankie Frisch, said, "I like to win.
"A shame to lose to the Yankees," said Mickey Mantle after the Red Sox won the 1945 World Series.
"A squad of posh Southern blokes is the best you could ever hope to have on hand," said Rickey.
"A stop in Florida" was the first major-league assignment of the war-weary Dodgers, who were faring poorly.
"A strange thing happened on the way to the big leagues.
"A tragedy strikes the family of a Atlanta boy with a dream of playing professional baseball.
"A twenty-year career in professional baseball was a long journey," said Durocher.
"A very enjoyable and relaxing experience," he said.
"A very fine lineup," Leonard said of the Tigers in 1954.
"A very fine young Negro is a Negro who plays baseball.
"A very good friend of mine, George Heckman, was the manager of the St.
"A very intelligent kid," he recalled. "He knew what to say and what not to say.
"A very, very big thrill," he said. "I had a lot of respect for the game.
"A wonderful guy, very understanding, very understanding. … He was the opposite of a disciplinarian.
"A young fellow, who sometimes played good for a team, but he certainly was able to take a game no matter where it was played.
"A young man from Texas comes to the South and he finds his way to the South.
"A young man, a catcher, will never be an effective manager.
"A-ha!" — The Great Tiger Snooze, The Sporting News, January 1, 1933.2 Ibid.
"Achilles' Disease," The Lancet, May 9, 1999, p. 357.
"Acknowledge," he said to the crowd, "that I was wrong.
"After 18 years of marriage, the day will be a day of regret and humiliation for me," Conley said.
"After a bad break," he said, "I swung at the first pitch and missed.
"After a futile tryout, the club gave the 19-year-old his contract and signed him.
"After a year of being in and out, I finally was able to get in and play," he said.
"After a year of competition," the Yankees announced their players for 1947, "and we'll take what we can.
"After his heroic battle with leukemia, Monk is in good spirits at the hospital," reported the Associated Press.
"After my first year, I was in the Army," he said. "In France they were shooting at the Americans.
"After seven superb years, the time is now for a change in managers," wrote the New York Times.
"After seven years, they've got to be better," he said.
"After that day, we could not go out for supper. We had a meal at a hotel. But we ate all day long.
"After the first inning, I was called to the mound," he recalled.
"After the war, I was asked if I wanted to go to Japan or stay in the United States.
"After the war, I went back to West Point and took a job there teaching.
"After two years of inactivity," he was sent to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in September 1953.
"After two years of playing, I was ready to move on to the big leagues.
"Ah, but he was just a young kid," "He didn't know anything about baseball.
"Ain't no blacker glove to play than Al Kaline" — New York Times, August 2, 1947.
"Ain't no blacker hand than a Mickey Mantle one," said an astonished grandparent.
"Ain't no death in the family of a boy that a man can live.
"Ain't no reemergence," said Duffey. "I'll be back in 1932.
"Ain't no swine, no swine, no swine," sang the Chicago Cubs' Billy Herman.
"Al's a good boy," Superman gushed after his famous rookie year.
"Alex Rodriguez is the greatest pitcher I ever saw, period. He has everything – natural talent, a fine arm, speed, and confidence.
"Alfonso 'Tito" Escobar was a quietly imposing figure in the Polo Grounds.
"All I can do is hope and pray that he can come back," said Jimmie Foxx.
"All I can say about that is, I was good." It would turn out to be a pivotal year.
"All I can say about this is that it is the craziest thing I ever saw.
"All I can say is that I get a kick out of the fact that he's making me look good.
"All I can say is that I had a great spring," he said.
"All I can say is that it was a good thing," he said.
"All I can say is, he did it in a different way," the veteran catcher recalled.
"All I ever wanted was to play professional baseball," Dyer said.
"All I know about baseball is from my father," said Mays.
"All I know about baseball is from seeing you play," said Boudreau.
"All I know about baseball is from the people that have been here and played.
"All I know about baseball is from watching the games. I've never seen anything like this.
"All I know about the game is what I read in the papers," he said.
"All I know about the sport is from watching the matches. I have never seen a game of golf.
"All I know about these things, I learned from my dad.
"All I know is that I had the opportunity to enter the game with a chance to win it," he said.
"All I know is that I learned to pitch to the southpaw," he said.
"All I know is that I played in the big leagues, and I was grateful for the opportunity," he said.
"All I know is that I was a big leaguer and I was a workhorse for the Indians," he said.
"All I know is that I was a catcher, and I was the catcher, at the University of Michigan.
"All I know is that I was a good hitter, and that I used to play catch with the Yankees.
"All I know is that he is a great player, a great competitor. He is a real competitor. He is a winner.
"All I know is that he was a good ballplayer, and that he played in the big leagues.
"All I know is that it was a pretty hard hit," he recalled in 2010. "I was expecting a fastball.
"All I've got to do is hit him in the eye and you'll understand what I've been through.
"All he ever wanted was to play baseball, and he could do it better," said his son, Walter.
"All he has to do is win a few games and he's a winner," recalled former teammate Mickey Mantle.
"All he wanted was to play baseball," his brother Frank said.
"All hell broke loose. I could feel it. I couldn't tell you what it felt like.
"All in all, Willie's season was one of the best of his career.
"All in all, it was a tremendous year," he told Byrnes.
"All my life," said Curt Simmons, "I was a lefthander.
"All of a sudden, he was like a father," she recalled in a 1999 interview.
"All of a sudden, we were on the road, and they came up to us demanding money and threatening to arrest our players.
"All of the sudden, there's a rumor going around that Whitey is interested in playing in the big leagues.
"All of us were surprised when the White Sox won," Smith recalled.
"All right, I'll bite," he said, "but I'll bite only when you start biting.
"All right, I'll take you out. You're my guy. I'll get the other one.
"All right, all right. If they don't like it, maybe I'll start singing.
"All right, don't throw the ball. I won't throw the ball.
"All right, let's get out of here," the announcer announced.
"All right, let's get rid of him," roared Chicago Tribune managing editor Irving Vaughan.
"All right, let's get rid of the ringer," Carpenter said.
"All right, let's get rid of this goddamned ballplayer," shouted the Yankees' bench.
"All right, let's get this over with," the manager said.
"All right, let's go," the manager said after the game.
"All right, let's go." He turned and walked. He turned and walked again.
"All right, let's play catch," said the Pirates' Bill Mazeroski.
"All right, let's stop him," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"All right, off we go!"" Enos called time and time again for the ball.
"All right, we just did it," Holst said. "What you got from us is a chance to win.
"All right, well, I'll tell you what you ought to do. You have got to hit the ball to left field.
"All right, what are you going to do, Doc?" Harry asked.
"All right, you two, you two. You're not going to get them any more.
"All right, you'd better watch out," Yost told him.
"All right, you've got it," said Red Sox manager Joe Cronin.
"All right. This is the end of my first year." It was the only year of his professional baseball career.
"All the better to get a few hits in the right places," he told a reporter.
"All the boys," said Lom, "will like to play ball for their manager.
"All the greatness in baseball is in the little things.
"All the players were very excited, and I was the only one who stayed in the clubhouse all day.
"All the players were very serious," Paul said. "But I was a little kid.
"All the same," he said later, "I am proud of that bat.
"All the sudden, I was on the ground, and I was like, 'Who's that,' I thought.
"All there was to it was the foul tip. I was scared to death," he recalled years later.
"All they wanted was my autograph," Wehmeier said, "and that was a long time ago.
"All three of us would be happy to be on the Yankees," Mantle said.
"All you had to do was look at the numbers in the press box to know that you were right," he said.
"Allow me to introduce you to Bobby 'Mitt' Robinson.
"Always make your partner proud." That was George Case's advice when he joined the New York Yankees in 1946.
"Always remember that you've got to win them all," Whitey said.
"Amigo was the best third baseman in the big leagues in my time," said Lefty.
"An artist can paint a picture, but he can't make a man understand the picture.
"An individual who plays baseball for a major-league team is a paragon of human nature.
"An isolated incident, but one that demonstrated the depth of feeling of the people of the State of Missouri against tyranny." –Source.
"An old man in white would have been a better choice," said Walters.
"And I know that the hitters just love it when I hit them.
"And I'll be back, and I'll be back. I'll make my third consecutive World Series appearance.
"And I'm going to give you the ball for the rest of the season.
"And I'm not going to take any chances with that," said Wilson.
"And I'm the guy who's going to make him pay," said Reds manager Bucky Harris.
"And I'm the only one who can stop him," DeWitt said.
"And he had this big bat, I think he was about 5-feet-10, a little bit taller than I was.
"And he was the most famous homeless man in the country.
"And he's going to be a great one," said the Pittsburgh Pirates' Joe Cronin.
"And he's going to be one of our cornerstones for many years." Chicago Tribune, March 31, 1995.
"And here I was thinking I was going to make a hero out of Richard Nixon.
"And now I'm moving on to the next level," he told a reporter.
"And now he's going to play in Brooklyn." He was a New York Giants fan.
"And that's where I got to be, I guess. I get to be a big league ballplayer.
"And that's where I'll be starting next season," he said.
"And that's why I'm here," he continued. "I'll tell you something.
"And the good news is, I'm the guy who's going to put this club on the move.
"And then Marty Marion, he was a great one. He was a great fielder and a great bunter.
"And then the great thing about being a Yankee is that you've got to work," he said.
"And then there was the bat." When he reached the majors, he was a left-handed batter.
"Antoni is a great guy," said Walters. "He's not a fighter.
"Anxiety is a back pain that is relieved with rest. It is a symptom of old age, aching joints and lots of rest.
"Any kid who is big can go somewhere," said Bucky Harris, the Yankees' new manager.
"Any time he's on the bench, he's playing. He's a relief pitcher.
"Anybody could be the shortstop for the Chicago Cubs in 1941," said Utah.
"Are they going to bring him back?" The concern was that he would injure his back.
"Ariadne was a wonderful manager, always ready to talk to me about anything, especially about my anxiety," he recalled.
"Aristotle thought it was a beautiful thing to see a ballplayer die," Mays recalled.
"Aristotle" is a misleading title, since Aristotle was a mathematician not a philosopher.
"Arms and legs were the new words," recalled Lou Fone.
"Arms and legs! They're the only things I can think of," said the lanky hurler.
"Arthur Young, one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, was a great hitter, but he never hit .
"As I grew up, I went to church and I read the Bible and I was a staunch Christian.
"As I look back on my baseball career, it was the greatest thrill and thrill was fear," Mr. Kelly said.
"As I looked around, I realized that there were at least ten people in the stadium, and they were all Negroes.
"As I sit here, the only thing I can say is that I'm humbled.
"As a child growing up in the Depression, no sport was too big for him," said his son.
"As a child growing up, I had a tremendous fear of flying.
"As a hitter you have to keep the ball down and away from the outfielders and all fields.
"As a kid growing up in the 1930s," recalled Don Gutteridge, "I never had a car.
"As a kid, I was interested in baseball," he recalled. "I always wanted to be a ballplayer.
"As a matter of fact, I don't believe he's a bad influence on young players.
"As a result, he developed into the world's number one sweeper," the New York Times asserted.
"As a result, the young man spent the next two seasons in the Army, where he played baseball for the rank of junior major.
"As a young boy, I had the ambition to be a professional ballplayer. But I was not ready for that goal just yet.
"As a young kid, I was always a fan of the Yankees.
"As a youngster, I was a big fan of the Cleveland Indians.
"As a youngster, I was always interested in baseball," he said.
"As a youngster, I was determined to be the best baseball player in the world," he said.
"As fast as a bunny," a fellow named Puddin' Head and a half-brother named Jerry.
"As he reached the big leagues, he looked like a big-league shortstop.
"As he's getting older, he's going to be a tough competitor," said DiMaggio.
"As long as I have been in the game, I have been impressed with the way they treat each other.
"As long as he stays healthy, I think he will be able to play.
"As long as you're out there playing, you're a big leaguer," he said.
"As the old saying goes, 'If it's on the money, it's on the wall.
"Ashes to Ashes" (SABR, 2018), edited by Matthew Silverman and Bill Nowlin.
"At 33, I didn't want to be a benchwarmer, I wanted to be a starter. … I never panicked.
"At first I was afraid he would kill me. But he didn't.
"At first sight, the little town of ­Larimer looks like another American Indian reservation.
"At first, I didn't really know what to do. I just let it go.
"At first, I didn't want to talk about it," he said.
"At first, I just wanted to leave," he said. "But you know what happens when you get old.
"At first, I told him that I didn't think he was a big leaguer.
"At first, I was afraid I was going to pass out," Hallahan recalled.
"At that time there was not such a thing as a baseball pension plan," said Spahn.
"At the age of 32, he was in great shape," said his former teammate, Red Ruffing.
"At the age of forty, I felt the need to be in the major leagues," he said.
"At the end of 1940 the Red Sox, with the help of the Yankees, won the American League flag.
"At the end of the season, Dobson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He had, indeed, a tremendous year in 1940.
"At the plate he's the same as ever," said Mets catcher Mickey Owen.
"At the time, I was a pretty good ballplayer, but I didn't know how to pitch.
"At the time, we were told he didn't want to play the game. He felt he could earn a living by playing.
"Athletics Manager Now Major-league Batting Wonder," Washington Post, May 21, 1950: 47.
"Atlas Shrugged," argued the New York Times, "everybody and their mother knew that beer was poison.
"Aunt Lydia," the sweet-spoken Augusta National in the United States National League, lived the dream.
"Authority" was the key word in the secret handshake of this historic deal.The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen.
"Ave Maria," or "Ave Maria, the Cat," was arguably the greatest cat burglar in history.
"Avengers" were the granddaughters of New York Yankees farmhands and wards.
"Avengers" – August 10, 2008. By David E. Porterfield.
"Babe Ruth is the greatest hitter I ever played baseball against," said Young.
"Babe Ruth never suffered from a lack of confidence," said teammate Red Ruffing.
"Babe Ruth was a dandy," Boston Red Sox pitcher and manager Jim Kaat said.
"Babe Ruth was a great ballplayer, a great manager, a great leader.
"Babe Ruth was a great hitter, but he was a great ballplayer.
"Babe Ruth was a great player," said Marshall, "but he was also a very, very smart guy.
"Babe Ruth was a great teammate and a fantastic leader.
"Babe Ruth was the greatest player I ever saw," said Heydler.
"Babe Ruth was the greatest," said Boston Braves manager Billy Southworth.
"Babe Ruth would have been perfect for the role of Felix Maglie's partner in crime," said Maglie.
"Babe Ruth, Incentive King of New Era," New York Times, June 3, 1994: 47.
"Babe Ruth, the greatest player ever, is dead," the New York Times announced.
"Babe's odd look is a sign of his sanity. He's got the stench of desperation.
"Babe, I like to see that, you know, you go out there and play, you know, like a clown.
"Babe, I've been waiting for you for years," said Marian "Minnie" Minoso.
"Babe," was the refrain that came from the Yankee Stadium crowd on Opening Day 1954.
"Back from the war," he said, "I have the feeling I'll make the All-Star team again.
"Back in my own time," Cy Young said in 1973, "I was an outsider.
"Back in the Saddle," New York Times, August 3, 1963, 26.
"Back in the south, they called him 'Duke' Duke," said teammate Artie Burns.
"Back then, I'd get up for days with no rest and needles," he told The Sporting News.
"Bad Guys Finish Last," proclaimed the headline in the June 11, 1959, issue of The Sporting News.
"Balance and Style," then the official magazine of the National League, described the Yankees as "the greatest baseball team ever assembled.
"Barry, I'm very happy to have you back. I'm glad you can see me.
"Bartell had the guts of a lion and the gumption of a sheep.
"Bartell has been terrific. He's a tough competitor. He's a real competitor.
"Bartell was a great hitter, and I could tell right from the start," he recalled about his years in the minors.
"Bartell was our number-one catcher, but he was our number-two catcher.
"Baseball can't decide who's a hero and who is a villain," said Sam Greene.
"Baseball is a game of nerves," said Ed Raney, who played center field for the Yankees in 1946.
"Baseball is a great game," said Mickey Owen, "but the dream is to play in the World Series.
"Baseball is my life," the second of Eddie Miller's four straight victories.
"Baseball was always a casino for me. I was always making little money by playing baseball.
"Baseball was my life," Kiner told his daughter, Mary. "It was my passion.
"Baseball was my life," he said. "I loved the game.
"Baseball," however, was no longer a pathway to the big leagues.
"Basically, I was a relief pitcher," he said. "I wasn't a starting pitcher.
"Basketball is my life," said Gee. "I love that game.
"Basketball was my life," said Isabella, "and I was a cheerleader and a pretty good athlete.
"Beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series," August 2, 1954.
"Beaver Stump" was a pitcher who had a tremendous arm, but didn't have a great fastball.
"Because I have the money, I can't say no," said McCormick.
"Because he was only 15 years old when he was sold, he was in the dark and didn't know what the future held.
"Because of his prowess at the plate and his fearlessness, the Phillies are well placed in the pennant race.
"Because they are real, they have a chance to be great.
"Because you know how it is," he said. "The Yankees won and you win and they win.
"Before I started playing, I was a pretty good baseball player.
"Before that, I used to think that I was the luckiest kid in the big leagues.
"Before the war, Dixie had a chance to be the greatest player in the history of baseball.
"Before, he was just a kid. He was very wild, very wild.
"Being a Red Sox fan and knowing the team, I always knew they were going to win," he said.
"Being with the Yankees is like being with a family," Gromek said.
"Believe it or not, I couldn't sleep for nine nights straight.
"Benedictine was a real professional," said Giants teammate Chuck Diering.
"Better watch your step," the crooner said to the hitters.
"Big Bill" was the name of one of the most famous baseball players of the 19th century.
"Big Jim," "the big, big news," wrote The New York Times.
"Big, tough, tough," The Braves in 1940 were a mediocre team.
"Bill hurled the ball five times," recalled teammate Eddie Robinson, "and was looking pretty good.
"Bill was a great guy and an even better ballplayer. He was a great team player and he was a great ballplayer.
"Bill," he said, "the visit is over." That's when I knew it was over.
"Billy was a real good catcher," Garcia said. "He knew the hitters and how to handle pitchers.
"Billy," said his father, "this is your last chance.
"Blonde, blonde, blonde… I had to do something to distinguish myself," he added.
"Blood on his hands," wrote the New York Times, "and so does his money.
"Bob Cerv was the most famous player in baseball in the 1930s.
"Bobby Bragan was a fine manager," Don Newcombe said.
"Bobby Richardson was the best center of his time. No center could say that.
"Bobby Richardson, the Yankee shortstop, is a natural," said Dick Groat, a coach with the Boston Red Sox.
"Bobby shot the ball back to me. 'I think I did it,' I said.
"Bobby was a real attitude-setter. He was always ready to talk to anyone.
"Bobby, Bobby," the Yankees chanted in unison after each of the next two seasons.
"Bobby, I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself," said Red Sox manager Joe Cronin.
"Bobby, I'm going to take you out." He was not up to the task.
"Bobby, if you're listening, please hurry up and come out to the table.
"Bobby, you keyed a car!" "What? No, I just bolted.
"Bobby, you're a big-league hitter and you're more than capable of hitting the ball to the corners.
"Bobby, you're a much better player now than you were when you first came up.
"Bobby," said the voice of the young, handsome chief of police, "You're doing very well.
"Bobo craves the spotlight," said Davey, "and I'm no exception.
"Bobo," he called the young left-hander. "You're one heck of a pitcher.
"Bobo," the name of the dog that carried his name, was a familiar one in the Paw Paw world.
"Bogart was the best 'spinner I ever played with," said Spahn.
"Bone-Deep in the Oatmeal," Leo Durocher was a big-game hitter.
"Boss, I'm not leaving you. I'll go out there myself," said Durocher.
"Bow down before the mighty!" This was the refrain of the Yankees when they faced the St.
"Boy, I was wronged," the then-23-year-old outfielder said.
"Boys and Girls," Sports Illustrated, February 1970: 93.4 Harry T.
"Boys will be boys," he said, "and you're going to play them.
"Boys" was a play on words from the Italian term for boys.
"Boys' Play—What Does It Mean?" The Sporting News, August 13, 1948: 19.
"Bring the kid back to Benswanger," the manager told the rookie.
"Bringing up a young pitcher in the majors is like opening a champagne bottle," said Whitey Ford.
"Browne was a great guy. He was a much better player than he was a leader.
"Buck" -- he was a name that had a life beyond baseball.
"Bucky Harris is the greatest manager in baseball," said Harris.
"Bucky Harris is the greatest manager you ever played for," Grissom said. "He had confidence in me.
"Bucky Harris, the great raconteur, is my man." The deal was a blockbuster.
"Bucky" Beavers, wide receiver with the mighty Yankees, had the most impressive career in the majors.
"Bucky" Gillespie was a tenacious, self-confident young man who was both shy and insecure at the same time.
"Bucky" Goodman was born on October 30, 1919, in San Francisco.
"Bucky" Harrell was the manager in 1962, and had some pretty great players in his ranks.
"Bucky" Higgins, a former big-league outfielder, was the Yankees' manager for the 1948 and 1949 seasons.
"Bucky" Higgins, his high-school coach, began working with him in the spring of 1931.
"Bucky" Reis was a "nice guy" who was "always there for you.
"Bucky" Welch was a legend on the Yankees' barnstorming team in 1946-47.
"Buddy" Parnell, a 19-year-old infielder who batted .
"Buddy" Stanky was born Buddy Lewis on November 20, 1921 in Hartsville, Georgia.
"Buddy" still could not shake the itch, and he started slowly.
"Buddy" was the name given to the ace reliever who relieved in the first inning of the World Series opener at Yankee Stadium.
"Buh-bye" is a term that refers to a farewell usually given to the player who has been of value to his club.
"Buh-bye" was the final farewell from the last hurrah of the great Chicago Cubs dynasty.
"Bunny is in the woods," barked the voice of Tom Yawkey.
"Bunny" Dubose was a quiet, studious type. He seemed to wear his job very seriously.
"Bunny, the squirrel, was one of my favorite players. He was smart, defensive minded, and had a great arm.
"Burgess will be an outstanding addition to the Athletics as soon as he is able to recapture his natural swing.
"Bushmaster and Berger have been very cooperative and helpful to me.
"But I have to get into the clubhouse and the movies," he said.
"But I knew he was going to be there for me," Scooter told the Associated Press.
"But I like hitting, and I'm a pretty good bunter," he said.
"But I think he's right. … I don't believe in superstitions.
"But I think if the batsmen are not quick, the ball will be hit.
"But I told him that I was a catcher, and I would get to the quarterback as fast as possible," said Barrett.
"But I was the first one to admit, you know, I was a sore loser," said Stengel.
"But I would have given you a lot more credit if you hadn't been hit in the eye by that ball.
"But I'll be back," said Jones, "and when I will, I intend to win it.
"But I'll do it for my country," Fordham University president Lawrence S. Katz said.
"But I'll tell you what the biggest thrill was, coming into the big leagues," said Ben Chapman.
"But I'll tell you what they're going to do this year.
"But I'm not going to say anything about Joe," said Mays.
"But I'm not going to take it anymore," said Davis.
"But he was a hot-blooded guy, and he wanted to win. If he didn't win, he got mad.
"But he was hot, and I never saw him slow down before a pitch.
"But he's a good looking kid and, at 18, he should be in the big leagues by now.
"But he's a great team man and he's going to be a great ballplayer," Walker said.
"But in Minnesota, I got my chance," he said. "I was able to pitch my way out.
"But it was a great thrill to play for Phil Rizzuto. He was a great competitor. He was a great teammate.
"But it's true," he said. "I had to wait until my son graduated from high school.
"But that was a long time ago. Today I have a better arm than I did when I was a rookie.
"But the boy was very strong," recalled Al Kaline. "He was a real hunt, really.
"But the kid was just a kid," said Andrews. "He was only 15 years old.
"But the long ball, you know, in the pros, they don't like it.
"But the only way I'll ever make good is if they let me," said Ford.
"But we were getting old. Our arms were out of shape. The trainers couldn't do anything about it.
"But when I was in the Army, I was always against the war," he said.
"But where was the good stuff?" its critics would ask.
"But you know, I felt my arm went strong," he said. "I kept it in there.
"Butterfly" (as he was known in his youth), was a player who attracted the attention of the press.
"By popular consent, I'll say that the size of the strike zone is a legitimate target for umpire interference.
"By the end of the year, he's going to be a real good big league player," said Whitey Ford.
"By the time I was playing [in the minors], I had a .
"By the time he was 18, he was a big, strong kid," said his father.
"By the time he was two years old, he was so big he could hardly fit in the seats.
"By the time the boys got to Brooklyn, I took over the front office," he said.
"By the time we're through with those guys, they're no longer stars.
"Bye, bye, bye," the Chicago fans would ring in unison with their appreciation of their baseball team.
"C'mon," he crooned. "I'm not going to take this anymore.
"Call me a showboat, but I want to win," said Stengel.
"Call me a splinter," he said. "But hearing that I'll never get out.
"Call me a weirdo, but I'm just a regular person," he said.
"Can't miss franchise" buzzwords, but Willie's career in baseball was far from over.
"Cards" became a nickname for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, a farm team of the St.
"Cards" meant a lot of different things to different people in different parts of the country.
"Cards" was the name the New York Giants gave their hard-luck losers in the World Series.
"Cards' Ball Lightning," Sport, July 24, 1948: 65.3 Ibid.
"Cards' Stadium was the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the oldest major-league team ever," wrote Upton Sinclair.
"Carrasquel is the best pitcher I ever saw," remembered Bohl.
"Carrasquel will be our number two catcher for a long time," said Chicago manager Charlie Grimm.
"Carson and I have been friends for 30 years," he said.
"Catcher was a big influence. He taught me everything. Fielding was a big lesson for me.
"Catching a Goldfish," Baseball Digest, July, 1964, 41.
"Cecil Howell, in the early stages of his career, was a top prospect for the St.
"Cecil Moore was a quiet, soft-spoken, moderate, and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
"Cecilia used to be so cute!" "She was a super nice girl.
"Certainly there was a racial element to it," Stump recalled.
"Cerulean Joe" Watson had long been a beloved figure in Cincinnati's native heartland.
"Charlie, you can't hit a ball anywhere. You'll never hit a ball anywhere.
"Chico's a great performer. He can run, throw, and his center-field arm is long.
"Chico," the nickname of the fourth outfielder, was a popular nickname in his era.
"Christmas is upon us," cried the Yankees' banner-bearer.
"Cimoli is a natural leader," said Chapman. "He's got the leadership skills.
"Cincinnati," however, is the sort of place where instant clichés are too credulous.
"Clean, simple, and effective, and I'm glad to have it.
"Clement was my best friend," recalled his wife, Margaret, years later. "He was like a father to me.
"Cletus" Whitehead was born on April 20, 1920, in Seattle in the state of Washington.
"Coach was a real help to me. He was a great motivator. I learned a lot. I think he was the main thing.
"Cobb set a standard for all right-handed pitchers," said Joe Black, "and he did it without thinking.
"Cochrane was the greatest manager I ever played for," Dunning remembered.
"Cochrane would have been a great manager for the Dodgers. He made me feel like a big brother.
"Cocky" — as he was known in St. Louis — had a long career with the Reds.
"Cocky, the big red one," was the nickname for the ubiquitous Negro League catcher.
"Cocky, you never get used to it. You go from being a star pitcher to a loser.
"Cocky, you're going to be a great one," said Jack Kramer.
"Cocky, you're wearing out your welcome," said New York manager Miller Huggins.
"Cold Cases" — The Mystery of the Missing Malaysian Airliner, The New York Times, March 1, 1995, A .
"Come back to New York in a few days," he told the Post's Shirley Povich.
"Communist revolutionaries have realized that the old order is gone and that the only order that matters is the socialist order.
"Cookie is the best catcher I ever saw," said catcher Joe Gordon.
"Cooper was a favorite target of mine," said Meyer.
"Cops Hate Gangs," The Sporting News, July 13, 1937.
"Could he help us?" said Terry, "He's got a good fastball and can hit it.
"Coward," said the former Yankee great, "is the only way to win a ballgame.
"Crazy Harry," a popular nickname in both Anaheim and the New York Giants, was a big-game pitcher.
"Cronin was a great player, but he was also a great team player. He was a great teammate and a great negotiator.
"Cronin was my best friend," Dazzy Vance said. "He was always smiling, never serious.
"Cronin, I'm counting on you," said manager Billy Herman.
"Crow was a great pitchman, but he was a great guy in the field.
"Cubans always had bad timing," said Vitt, "and this is no exception.
"Cue the laughter," he said. "I'll bet it's a lot of laughter.
"Cunningham was a great clutch hitter," said the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio.
"Curtis Porterfield," as he was known by the Phillies fans, was, by all accounts, a good ballplayer.
"Curtis had everything — a fastball, curve, and change of pace. He could go out there and beat you.
"Curtis would be the greatest. He was a real quiet guy. But he could play the game at any time of his choosing.
"D'oh!" In another game, he had a questionable at-bat that cost him a leadoff slot.
"Dahlgren is a great man. Great character. Great spirit. We'll miss him.
"Daisy Wood had a great arm and could run like a hog. We were a ballclub that played a lot of outfield.
"Dalton was the answer to many of our prayers," Wyrostek said.
"Damn it," said Archie, "that was a shitty day for a day.
"Damn it." "Damn it again."After being traded from Detroit to St.
"Damn straight he's going to be a great outfielder," said Stengel.
"Damn, this is the best thing I ever had to eat," said Johnny Pesky.
"Day after day, I'm going to hit it over the left field fence at the ballpark.
"Dead Man Walking," New York Times, February 27, 1977.
"Denman was the best defensive catcher in the league in my opinion," said Cavell.
"Denny, I've decided. I am going to take a chance on this young fellow named Denny.
"Determine the best man for the job," the Giants' manager, Bill Terry, told him.
"Did he ever hit a home run? No. But he was the best one I ever saw," said teammate Al Smith.
"Did he have a good year?" Raschi said. "He didn't have one.
"Did he hit the ball?" "He did and it was a triple.
"Didn't know what I was getting myself into," he said.
"Didn't see a ballgame in forty years. Called it quits.
"Didn't see anything," Dylan's father, Wally, recalled.
"Didn't want to play for him," recalled the Dodgers' Jim Gilliam.
"Dixie" Dix was one of the most popular and most beloved players in major-league baseball.
"Dizzy Dean was the greatest of them all," San Francisco 49er teammate Moe Drabowsky said.
"Do you know how many people listen to the game?" he asks rhetorically.
"Do you remember when I stopped drinking and started to drive?" Mr. Piersall said.
"Dolf Luque, the great Dominican right hander, was the epitome of perfection.
"Dolf Luque, the great German batter, was my favorite. He was like a father to me.
"Dolores," a Spanish for "doll," was a term of endearment and contempt.
"Dolph has all the tools to be great," said teammate Vern Stephens.
"Don't Call Me Chuck," Dizzy Dean told a reporter after the Giants defeated the Yankees in the 1933 World Series.
"Don't Let Me Go," was a familiar refrain heard throughout Allen's career.
"Don't Let The Dogs Bite Your Achilles" of the 1924 season.
"Don't Let The Tigers Take Advantage Of The Phillies," The Sporting News, May 16, 1962.
"Don't Let the Dogs Bite You," was a slogan of the time. But biting was not always possible.
"Don't Let the Dogs" Jimmie Dykes was the manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and 1955.
"Don't Let the Dogs" was the title of a song by Bob Johnson that he composed in the late 1940s.
"Don't let a wild pitch scare you," he told his cat, as he cut loose a cigar.
"Don," he called you, "is my boy!" He was almost five years old.
"Don," the Bronx Bombers' catcher, was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with a blazing fastball.
"Don," the chauffeur of a nearby car firm, was already working for a local shipping company.
"Don," the young player, "has the whole ballclub on his shoulders.
"Dr. Strangeglove" Jansen was a different pitcher from his predecessors.
"Dr. Strangeglove" began as a joke and soon became a serious exercise in prejudice.
"Dr. Strangeglove," groused the New York Times." He was dismissed as a fading player.
"Dr. Wortley was great. I like his work with so many pitchers, and he was great with me.
"Ducky" Staley was born on September 8, 1910, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
"Dud, I know you. I love you. But you can't stamp your approval on anyone.
"Dudley's 'Duty,' " Baseball Digest, February 1957: 55.11 Ibid.
"Dug out," he barked at the Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Blair. "Leave him alone.
"Duke is in the middle of a playoff race," he said. "I think they're going to win.
"Duke was the lowest-ranked team in the National League," he said.
"Duke, I'm going to get you," he told his shortstop.
"Duke, I'm just a kid," Mickey mused several years later.
"During the course of the investigation, it became apparent that he had done it to himself, and not out of any anger or spite.
"Durocher has the temperament of a lioness," said Joe Cronin.
"Durocher is a cool guy, but he's got a cool swing. He's got a gorgeous bat.
"Durocher's No. 1 pick has been almost universally panned," wrote Shirley Povich of the Washington Post.
"Dynie is the most underrated player in baseball," said Casey Stengel.
"Each year, a different set of circumstances would come along that would interfere with my ability to fulfill my obligations as a loyal Canadian citizen.
"Early in the season, I was offered a job with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"Eddie" Berra was a good ballplayer, but so was Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams and Billy Martin.
"Eddie" Bockert was born in San Francisco on December 1, 1903.
"Eddie" was a disruptive force on both sides of the ball.
"Eddie" was a son of the humble Irish immigrant. He was the product of an English mother and an Irish father.
"Eddie" was not a nickname that came easily to most Americans.
"Eddie" was the nickname given the big, hard-throwing left-hander who threw the big curveball.
"Eliza, the pride of Davenport, was born July 10, 1909, in Davenport, Iowa.
"Elmer was a better outfielder than I was," Grissom recalled.
"Elmer was a fine player, and an especially fine hitter, for two reasons.
"Elmer was a good-looking guy," recalled his friend Al Hirshberg.
"English is the language of love and honor. … But it is a language that is being slowly eroded by the increasing influence of television.
"Even though he had played eight years, he served in the Army during World War II, and was discharged in 1946.
"Ever since I was a little boy I have dreamed of playing baseball," he said.
"Every day I was a little different," said Glynnis.
"Every good fortune you can name, you could name the rough one. That was mine.
"Every great player is an all-time great at one position.
"Every little kid in America should have a baseball team," he said. "That's the end of school.
"Every little town has a Little Rock church," he said.
"Every little town in America is an adventure," said Charlie Gehringer.
"Every little town in America needs a Little Rock Nine," said Little Rock skipper Lou Smith.
"Every little town in America should have a Little League," Trump said. "I want to make college football great again.
"Every major-league manager I talked to wanted me in the big leagues," he said.
"Every time I have been in that stadium, I have felt that I've seen something," said Gibson.
"Every time I look at him, I'm glad I didn't," said Newcombe.
"Everybody looks up to me. I want to be a big league manager, but I don't know if that is or not.
"Everyone is going to have to do something different," he said.
"Everyone knows baseball as a religion, but few at least once have heard of its politics.
"Everyone was friendly," Kreutz recalled years later. "All the major-league managers were friendly to me.
"Everyone was happy to see him play. He's a quiet guy, no fuss. He got along with everybody.
"Everything I learned, I learned from my mother. Everything. Everything. She taught me everything. She raised me.
"Everything You Needed to Know About the Big Leagues," New York Times, September 7, 1959: 45.
"Everything came together for me. . . . I was in the lineup and I did what I did.
"Everything that I have in me was in the Army. All the things I learned I got from the Army.
"Ewell the Vigilante," The Sporting News, January 19, 1961, 10.
"Farming was a big part of my life," he said. "I was a farm boy.
"Farming," Mays, Jr., and Donald Honig, Jr. were two of the biggest sports stars of the time.
"Fate is a bitch," said Jesse Owens. "In a perfect world, I'd be a superstar.
"Fatty would have been a great addition to the team. He was a good-hitting outfielder and he was smart.
"Feller is a freak," said Cleveland teammate Mays. "He can do things that other people can only dream of.
"Feller is the greatest pitcher in the history of the game," said Professor Torgeson.
"Feller was a great pitcher, but he was a real tough competitor," recalled Clark Griffith, a big-league manager himself.
"Fiberglass Rod and Wigfart." He was a bundle of contradictions.
"Finding parking while driving is a routine part of being a good parent," said New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
"Finishing in a Pincer?" The Boston Globe, May 20, 1945: 20.
"First I'd like to apologize to the fans, then to the organization and finally to my family," he said.
"First off, I'm very happy to retire. I'm very proud that I was a major league baseball player.
"First they came for the bums," Billy Herman said of the Browns.
"First, I'll give you a simple trick: You're supposed to jump. And this is how you do it.
"First, I'll say that he's a great guy and an amazing teammate.
"First, I'll try to be realistic. I played in the major leagues for seven years, and I know all about veterans.
"First, he's a good young man and I'll take him," said manager Bucky Harris.
"First, we have to stop making excuses. . There is no excuse for doing something that is illegal.
"Flipper," wrote sportswriter Jack Rossiter, "has as much stuff as Big Bertha in his hands.
"Foam" was a nickname that remained with him for the rest of his career.
"Folks, this is a growing pains, not a win. Let's just say that this is a losing streak for us.
"Folks," he said, "the Yankees are going with their hearts and their heads.
"Folks," he told them, "you're going to have to earn your own way.
"For 15 years I played in the big leagues, and the major leagues were just horrible for women.
"For Walker's part, he'd never sign him," recalled his uncle.
"For a while there, I'm just going to stay in the ground.
"For a while, I'm feeling a bit better," said Miller's son, Joe.
"For a while," he recalled, "I was able to get better.
"For a youngster, the big leagues are his oyster," said Yankees broadcaster Whit Youngs.
"For five straight years, the Cardinals front office had quietly filled the Cardinals' roster with quality players.
"For his part, Tony is a clever operator, quite possibly the best handler in baseball. But he also knows his limits.
"For several years they've been trying to get me out of baseball," Groat said.
"For some reason," he suggested, "I'm the last one standing.
"For the first few years," he said, "I just couldn't wait to get out.
"For the first time in his career, Billy Goodman was not the exclusive bench partner of the 'King of the Hill.
"For the first time in his career, Boudreau was not in the lineup," he said.
"For the first time in his career, he was able to take his offensive improvement in stride and put it behind the plate.
"For the first time in his career," he said, "I'm proud to be a Yankee.
"For the first time in his career," reports Charles Einstein, "the outfielder is going to have to work on his hitting.
"For the first time in his life, I can't believe this," he told The Sporting News after the trade.
"For the first time in his life, I have the feeling that I've been lucky," said Durocher.
"For the first time in his professional career, Jeff recalled, he'd had enough," the Associated Press reported.
"For the first time in my life, I am afraid to go out alone," he told a reporter after the Boston outing.
"For the rest of his life," the old man said, "I knew I was a bad mother.
"For the rest of my life, I would have loved to get my hands on a baseball glove," he said.
"For those who didn't know, the White Sox are the American League's farm club," said Sprague.
"For three straight years I was the only one who played shortstop," Dickey recalled years later.
"For three years I played for the team, and then the last year I played for the San Francisco Seals.
"Forever and ever," the New York Yankees' manager Bucky Harris declared.
"Forget the card games; I like to play," the outfielder said. "I like to be out there playing.
"Forget the history. I don't even know what's going on with the team.
"Forget the story about the boy who cried wolf," said Cleveland manager Ossie Vitt, "the story is over.
"Forty thousand dollars. It was a big bonus, coming in at a time when the war was going on in Europe.
"Frank Sullivan was a great catcher on the Yankees, but he was also a great ballplayer.
"Frank, you're going to have a great year," said Joe Cronin.
"Frank," the old man said, "the war is over. You're going home.
"From his very first start in the big leagues, the right-hander had already made an indelible mark on baseball.
"From my beginning, I wanted to play baseball in the big leagues," he said.
"From the moment he was born, he was a pioneer. He was like a son to us.
"From the start, I wanted to win the pennant," Rickey explained years later.
"From the start, he was a legend on the mound. He was an awesome competitor.
"From the very beginning, he was a leader," recalled former Cleveland teammate Al Rosen.
"From this day forth, I will win baseball games no matter what team I play," he promised.
"Fuck you," said the first baseman. "I like to play for you.
"Funny thing about it, I've got a better glove hand than most." Bing cared about his hands.
"Funny thing is, I don't think I've been able to shake him," said DeWitt.
"Funny thing is, he didn't have a chance. He was a good enough outfielder to be a starter.
"Funny thing," said Bartell, "I was saying the same thing to the Marines when I joined the Navy.
"Gee Walker is a great guy. He made my job easy. He's like a father to me.
"Gee whiz, I'd like to get a job in the hat business," he said.
"Gee whiz, I've played lots of good ball," he said.
"Gee whiz, if I get a hit, I'll go to the big club," said Lee.
"Gee whiz, what a play that is," said the big redhead.
"Gee whiz," Terry Fox said, "you're no fun to be quarterbacked by.
"Gee! What a day!" Samuel Johnson, he recalled. "We were in the middle of nowhere.
"Gee, Gee Whiz," he would say. "You're almost as good as Ted Williams.
"Gee, Gee, Gee," the rah-rah voice of the Volkswagen Beetle could be heard on the radio.
"Gee, I wonder what they're going to do with Lee," said Richie Ashburn.
"Gee, I'll be glad to stick around for a while longer.
"Gee, I'll tell you what they're going to do to me," the Yankee said.
"Gee, I'm just lucky to be playing for him," said Jimmie Foxx.
"Gee, I've never seen a couple of them run like that.
"Gee, the young man looks like he's going to be a big leaguer after all.
"Gee, these are just some of the things I remember about the war," said Schwartz.
"Gee," he said, "those are the best looking fans in the business.
"Geez, I'm getting a little old to be doing this," George Case said after the 1944 World Series.
"Geez, I'm glad I wasn't in the big leagues," he said.
"Gentleman," the bouncer said, "we have a problem you're going to have to deal with.
"George Jiménez" was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, on August 1, 1910.
"George Michael Cerv would have been a good choice for the Yankees," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"George Sisler was a fine player and a fine gentleman, but he was a phony.
"Get a life!" Today's baseball coach is looking for a life-long hitter.
"Get him out of the lineup," manager Billy Herman said. "We're not going to bench him.
"Get it over with," he barked at the pitcher. "You can't win this game.
"Ghostbusters" (1986) was the movie that established the modern megastructure of the baseball world.
"Ghostbusters" is a baseball movie noir, set in the New York City underworld in the 1930s.
"Give me a break," said Chicago Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett, "and you'll get one.
"Glory Days of 2016," Baseball Magazine, October 1947: 8.6 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"Go back to the drawing board," manager Billy Herman said.
"Go down to the West Coast and pitch for the Niners," said Robbins.
"Go to the movies," he advised his son, Michael. "You'll like it.
"Go! Go! Go!" He was a tough, tough guy, but he didn't have a chance.
"God, I'll miss baseball as a whole if I don't play professional baseball.
"Good Lord," Crandall said the first time he saw the 30-year-old hurler grow up.
"Good afternoon," he said, "I'll be talking about baseball.
"Good morning!" he rasped, as he greeted his new morning coffee customers.
"Good morning," Elvis," you said. "'Morning,' I said.
"Good morning," the president said. "I'll be meeting with business leaders in New York City.
"Good morning," the president said. "I'll be signing off with you in a minute.
"Goodbye Goodbye" was the last song Bobo Kuykendy ever sang for the Reds.
"Goodbye Goodbye," soon became a refrain heard in all clubhouses.
"Gotcha," MacPhail announced, "I'll bet you won't be playing for us again.
"Granny," as he was known in Atlanta, was a natural athlete.
"Gussie," "The Tall Tactician," and "The Yankee Killer.
"Hack Wilson, he's a good hitter, but he doesn't hustle like the other guys.
"Had the most fun on the team," Mickey Owen recalls about the 1950 Indianapolis Indians.
"Half a century ago, the Yankees won four straight World Series," wrote Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich.
"Hall of Famer," Mays was a second-rate all-star at age 26, hitting .
"Hallahan has a great arm," said Yankees skipper Bucky Harris.
"Handsome Jack" became a national icon and a symbol of American masculinity.
"Hang on," the man behind the curtain asked with a growing fanfare.
"Hank Bauer for the Dodgers," The Sporting News, May 14, 1943, 1.
"Hank is going to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game," said Sanders.
"Hank is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, slugging third baseman in the history of the game.
"Hank was a fine ballplayer, and he was a fine manager.
"Hank was a great competitor and he was a great teammate and a great teammate for me," said Hegan.
"Hank was a great player, and he was a great teammate.
"Hank was a real good pitcher," recalled former teammate Dick Sisler. "He was just too good.
"Hank was the greatest third baseman I ever saw. He was a great team player and he was just a great guy.
"Hank, I have to say this: I never thought you'd play baseball for the Yankees.
"Hank," they called him, "is the greatest thing that ever happened to baseball in the twentieth century.
"Hard Luck Favors the Bold" by Bill Madden, New York Times, August 5, 1927: 41.
"Harlie the Cat" was the most popular baseball player of the 1930s.
"Harrison was a great team player, and he's one I'll take a chance on again.
"Harvey," Dick Schaap said, "a man can't run if he doesn't get hit.
"Hawkish" Russell Wilson, "It's not the numbers," he said after the season.
"He [Durocher] was the greatest. When he got a hit in the majors, you knew it.
"He also brought a lot of friends to the show," Moore said. "He was a real good boy.
"He always wanted to be a big leaguer, but baseball was his first love," Ed Sr. recalled.
"He became a friend to us, and we became a better baseball team.
"He came to me with a plan, and I listened to him for three days.
"He came to my house and said, 'I wish I could go to the White Sox," my father said.
"He can hit the long ball, but he can't hit the ball anywhere. He's too high.
"He can throw the ball to the opposite field. That is, he can catch it with his foot, then turn it into a fastball.
"He can't even read." Those were the words of Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Bob Murphy.
"He can't even stoop down to the ground to fetch a strike once.
"He can't hit the ball the way he used to," said manager Luke Sewell.
"He can't hit the long ball enough to be a threat to right field.
"He can't win," said Dodgers manager Charlie Dressen.
"He changed my life," said Barney, "changed my path and all of a sudden I was able to play baseball.
"He could have been a great one," said former Dodgers teammate and Chase's teammate, Nolan Ryan.
"He could have been a real star, just a bit nervous," recalled his friend.
"He could have been the best there ever was," Jimmie Dykes laughed years later.
"He could have done it. He could have gotten the ball and hit it. He could have knocked it down and gone for two.
"He could have played for anybody, but he's a good player.
"He could run the bases, fielders would be afraid to hit him. He was that powerful guy.
"He couldn't wait to get out there and play for the Yankees," Ruth said years later.
"He cut the corners, he's like a grinder," said outfielder Dave Philley of his days at Syracuse.
"He did a good job for us," said Ned Garver, who played center field.
"He did an admirable job," said Mazeroski. "He was a good-hearted guy.
"He did it for the love of the game," said Willie Mays.
"He did it for the money. He was a good ballplayer, but he did it for the money.
"He did not know how to pitch, that's all. He was scared to death.
"He did what he was told and he did it without thinking," recalled Bill Werle, another of his teammates.
"He didn't carry much weight in the lineup," recalled his teammate Gus Suhr.
"He didn't take the bait," recalled teammate Roy Sievers. "He was pretty hostile.
"He earned a reputation for being a great competitor, but he also earned a reputation for being a great teammate.
"He earned his keep by doing the right things," called manager Bucky Harris.
"He feels he has a lot of explaining to do," said Browns general manager Bill DeWitt.
"He found out how important it was to be a good team player," recalled his wife Erica. "That was his motivation.
"He found that he could win 'em on the ground, and he did a great job with the bat.
"He gave me a chance to play. He was like a father to me. It was a miracle, really.
"He gave me a good lesson in the meaning of pitching," Hallahan said of his father.
"He gives me hope that someday I'll play in the big leagues. He's been very helpful.
"He got me to do my best and make sure I did my best.
"He got rid of me. I'm very glad," the Brooklyn Dodgers catcher said.
"He had a beautiful swing, and he was a style. He was a good hitter, and he was a good fielder.
"He had a big throw. He was just a live long one. His action was great. He was always hunting for base hits.
"He had a fine fastball, but he had no good curve, so we had to work in the outfield.
"He had a fine left-field swing and was a good-hitting third baseman.
"He had a good base hit. He was a good outfielder, a good base stealer, a good bunter.
"He had a great arm and he could run, so he was the best of all the runners," recalled Marberry.
"He had a great arm, and he could pitch a tune," his son, Tom, recalled.
"He had a great arm, and he was a good hitter, but he was also a competitor," said Mickey Mantle.
"He had a great arm, but he had to work as a hitter and he hit for power.
"He had a great arm, he could throw it, he could run, he could throw the ball, he could field.
"He had a great fastball, the best curve I ever saw," Maris recalled.
"He had a hot breath," said teammate Red Embree. "He was getting hot. He was going to get hot.
"He had a new job," said his son, Dick. "He worked for a construction company.
"He had a tremendous arm, and he was fast. His speed was outstanding. He was a real danger to right field.
"He had a wonderful fastball, a curve and a change-up. He could make a ball go by, and keep it moving.
"He had it in him to win for the Red Sox," recalled Mantle.
"He had the best arm in the majors," said his former teammate and Cleveland teammate Paul Waner.
"He had the perfect temperament for a first baseman. You could count on him to do what it takes to win games for you.
"He had to have the stamina to play every day. He had a great arm, so he could swing and miss.
"He had to work because he did not have the money to eat properly," his neighbor Ed Scott recalled.
"He has the natural ability to run around all day long, and he is also a clever fielder.
"He helped me immensely," said Young. "The whole club was amazed at what he did.
"He is a big, fat kid," said Dodgers third baseman Al Smith.
"He is a fine young man and must have been a great kid to begin with," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He is a great competitor and a great teammate. He has proven he can handle himself on the mound.
"He is a great guy, but he has his own personality," said Lakers coach Leo Durocher.
"He is not the manager that we've had in Baltimore. He does not have the authority.
"He is the best thing that has happened to baseball in the last six years," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"He is the greatest clutch hitter I ever played with. He never hesitated, whether we were ahead or behind.
"He is the greatest guy I ever played for," recalled former teammate and Yankees hurler Bob Turley.
"He is the greatest passer of ball I ever saw. He is the finest passer I ever saw.
"He is the most underrated and most powerful player in baseball today," said former teammate and now television commentator Vin Scully.
"He is the nicest guy in the world," said teammate Al Smith. "He always gave me the shirt.
"He is the only one who can do it," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He is truly a fine player. I have always considered him the best utility infielder in the game.
"He just brings it every day," said former Browns teammate Gary Kroll.
"He just couldn't wait for the ball to hit him," said his teammate Ted Williams.
"He just has to do it," The Times's Arthur Daley said.
"He just kind of fell out of the sky," recalled teammate Clint Courtney. "He fell and cracked his right elbow.
"He just loved to fight," recalled his son, Terry. "He was a big, powerful guy.
"He just moved to the ballpark, and he was supposed to be a catcher.
"He just played like a great regular," recalled teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He just seemed to be a better defensive player than Red Embree.
"He just seemed to slide," said former teammate and roommate Mickey Mantle.
"He just wants to win, that's all I remember," said recalled teammate Bill Werle.
"He just would not let me go up to the plate and he would not let me get hits.
"He knew there was a good pitching staff and he knew he could get a good one out of them.
"He liked to pitch. He liked to play. And he was a good hitter," his younger brother recalled.
"He liked to relax and he had a great arm," said George Case. "He was a real good outfielder.
"He likes the quiet, and he likes to be left alone. He cannot be stirred up by any noise. He likes to sit alone.
"He likes to be a hero," said Mays. "He wants to be the big bad guy.
"He lit up my fuse. He took some of the hits off me and he'd really get me going.
"He lived and breathed the game," Bill Werber remembered, "and he was a wonderful exhibition man.
"He looks a lot like Jack Dempsey," said teammate Vin Scully of the Cubs.
"He loved baseball," Perkins said. "He was a massive baseball fan.
"He loved to play bridge and softball, and was a fine all-around athlete.
"He loved to play golf and did everything by candlelight. When he was on his feet he would swing by the dozen.
"He loved to win. He was a big kid. When he won, he was very happy.
"He made a good impression on the soldiers," recalled his son, Alan, on the baseball diamond.
"He made a mistake," said Walker, and "I'll tell him that.
"He made a mistake," said his friend and teammate, Al Kozar.
"He made me look good and I was so proud," the rookie shortstop recalled.
"He made me look good, that's all he'd say. He'd be like a pro.
"He made up the stories and gave the lies," said his biographer, Alan G. Williams.
"He makes me feel like he's my father, like a father to me. He's always helping me.
"He may have been great, but he was nothing close to a great pitcher.
"He may have been the greatest pitcher I ever saw," said his friend Grover Cleveland Alexander. "He was the greatest.
"He may not have had the brightest career, but he was a great teammate and a great teammate for so many years.
"He might have hit the wall," says teammate Chuck Diering, "but he was still a good player.
"He moved in with me. I had a house in Detroit and he bought me a house in St. Petersburg, Florida.
"He never did anything on purpose, but I had him do it.
"He never did it on purpose," said the Phillies' Roger Craig. "He was just a natural.
"He never was a star, but he was a good player," said former Browns teammate Hank Foose.
"He played a great, smart game, and he was a fun guy to be around.
"He played in the minor leagues, and he worked his ass off to make it to the big leagues," Wally Richman said.
"He really knows his stuff," said Sam Goldrick, who played for the Giants from 1948 to 1950.
"He said I was the best he had ever seen," Spahn said.
"He seemed to yell, and he seemed to laugh, and he seemed to make everyone laugh.
"He should have stayed in the minors," said former Cleveland pitcher Bob Fothergill.
"He showed me how to throw a curveball and later how to manipulate a curveball, all the while keeping a cool stride.
"He spent four years in the Navy, and three more years on the baseball field.
"He sure was the mother of all the hitters I ever saw," Mickey Owen said.
"He turns his back to the hitter and takes a big swing.
"He used to make coffee for us, and he was our caffeine source," said Yogi Berra.
"He walked on out to the plate," said Umpire Jocko Conlan in a curious comment at the time.
"He was a "really good pitcher," said former Cubs coach and fellow Hall of Famer Cy Blanton.
"He was a better clutch hitter than I was," recalled former teammate and Dodgers great Al Dark.
"He was a big baby bear. He was a big-hearted guy. He was just a great kid.
"He was a big man and he knew it," said Don Gutteridge, who played for the Yankees from 1929 to 1940.
"He was a big, powerful guy," said Whitey Ford. "He could do everything.
"He was a breath of fresh air," said Billy Pierce in his typically serious manner in a 1990 interview.
"He was a bright boy, but he was also a smart boy," recalled his mother, Alice Titus.
"He was a brilliant fielder and a fine hitter," said his son, Billy.
"He was a bully. He wanted to be the best. He wanted to take care of you.
"He was a competitive guy. He always wanted to win.
"He was a cool guy," Mariners announcer Whit Wyatt said of Hill.
"He was a cool, steady centerfielder. He had no secret of the ball.
"He was a cool-headed, quiet guy. I really admired him.
"He was a dandy, and he was fun to play for," golfer Marty Marion said.
"He was a decent hitter but he never wanted to play the game. He wanted to win for the fans, so he played the game.
"He was a fantastic hitter, a great line-drive hitter, and he could hit a ball exactly where he wanted it to go.
"He was a fine first sacker. He was our number one first sacker.
"He was a fine outfielder, a fine glove man and a fine team player. And he was a racist.
"He was a fine player, but he just didn't have enough left," said Cuyler.
"He was a fine, all-around athlete," recalled Bob Allison, who played with him in the minor leagues.
"He was a fine, all-arounder," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"He was a fine, all-arounder," said Lakers coach Leo Durocher.
"He was a fun guy to be around and he was great at what he did," former Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle said recently.
"He was a funny guy, a likable guy. He was a nice guy. He was a good family man.
"He was a funny lad, and we all liked him," Cerv explained. "But I always felt he deserved better.
"He was a genuine cool guy, not a little kid. He was a real happy-go-lucky guy.
"He was a good athlete," said his third baseman, Bill Werle. "He could run, jump, and field.
"He was a good ball player and he should have stayed in the majors for many years. He was a fine ball player, a fine hitter.
"He was a good ballplayer," Macht recalled. "He could run, throw, and field.
"He was a good boy," said his son, Kevin. "He was a real good human being.
"He was a good catcher, and he could have used a little more work, but he was a good player, and he never stalled.
"He was a good catcher, but he was also a very, very good first baseman.
"He was a good center fielder, and he could run and throw. He was a good fielder, but he was also smart.
"He was a good hitter and fielder, and he was a good fielder," said son Tyrone.
"He was a good hitter," said Whit Wyatt. "He could run. He could throw. He could bat.
"He was a good little pitcher," said the 1936 American League Rookie of the Year, Joe DiMaggio.
"He was a good outfielder, but he was also good at playing the shortstop position," Valdez said.
"He was a good pitcher, and a very strong one," said Whitey Ford.
"He was a good pitcher; he could throw the ball around and he could win.
"He was a good sportsman," said his third baseman, Billy Herman. "He was a good family man.
"He was a good student," recalled his friend and teammate, Yogi Berra. "He had a wonderful imagination.
"He was a good, hard-working kid," said his father, Thomas Nelson. "He was proud of himself.
"He was a good, hungry catcher and he was walking on water," said his teammate, pitching great Mickey McDermott.
"He was a good, smart kid, a good hitter, tough guy. He was tough.
"He was a good, tough competitor, and I just loved playing for him.
"He was a good, tough competitor," recalled his friend Frank Taaffe years later.
"He was a good, tough competitor," said teammate Bob Rush.
"He was a good-hearted guy and he always will be," his brother Dick said.
"He was a good-hearted guy who tried to help all of us," said Cerv.
"He was a good-hearted guy, a family man, straightforward, straightforward and with a straight face," his son said.
"He was a good-hearted guy," recalled his former teammate, "but he had a wicked temper.
"He was a good-hearted guy," said Steel, "a boy never doubted that he'd make it.
"He was a good-hearted guy," said his third baseman, Billy Martin.
"He was a good-hearted, down-to-earth, rarely flashy guy," said former teammate Al Tunstall.
"He was a good-hearted, gentle, non-judgmental person. He just didn't drink or go out much.
"He was a good-hearted, good-hearted, little ballplayer," recalled his friend and teammate Norm Siebern.
"He was a good-hearted, sincere guy who always stood up for people like me," said Mickey Mantle.
"He was a good-hearted, smart person, a lovely person. And he was a joy to the fans.
"He was a good-hearted, soft-spoken, polite, gentle, humble, and even kind, person.
"He was a good-hitting left-hander, a good-fielding first baseman. He was a smart fielder and he could run.
"He was a good-looking fellow and a cool fellow, and he was a big, strong fellow.
"He was a good-looking fellow, and I liked the way he strutted around.
"He was a good-looking fellow, and he was well spoken of. He was an adult who had seen the big leagues.
"He was a good-looking fellow, and the name of his middle name is Rip.
"He was a good-looking fellow, and there was good humor, too. He was just a fine guy.
"He was a good-looking fellow. He had a big round face. He had a big smile.
"He was a good-looking kid, but he didn't have an I in his name," said Kit.
"He was a good-looking kid," said his mother, Mary.
"He was a great athlete, a great athlete," recalled his friend Doby. "He never let anything get past him.
"He was a great athlete, but he was a great team player. The Yankees were a great team, and he played on great teams.
"He was a great athlete," [Stengel] recalled. "He could run, and he could throw.
"He was a great ballplayer, a great guy. Wonderful teammate.
"He was a great big guy," said Wills. "He was a very strong, quick runner. He was agile.
"He was a great big kid," recalled Earl Wilson, "who liked to run and like to throw the ball.
"He was a great boy," Tennis alumnus Ted Williams recalled. "He was shy, not arrogant.
"He was a great clubhouse guy. He was a really good guy off the field. He was a good family man in real good shape.
"He was a great clutch hitter and he was a great team player.
"He was a great clutch hitter who could do everything.
"He was a great clutch hitter," said Mickey Mantle. "He was like a father to me.
"He was a great clutch hitter," said Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle. "He knew how to put together a team.
"He was a great clutch hitter," said former Red Sox teammate Del Crandall.
"He was a great clutch-pusher, a great team player.
"He was a great competitor and a great team player. If you were on the Yankees, he was the biggest Yankee you played against.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate," recalled his replacement, Eddie Robinson, who spent a decade with the Red Sox.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate," said Bush.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate," said former teammate Joe Gordon.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. He was a great clubhouse eater. He had a great laugh too.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. He was a great family man. And he was a great teammate for me.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. He was a real competitor.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. He was a real good shortstop, a great team player.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. He was just a great athlete and a great competitor.
"He was a great competitor and a great teammate. I had great respect for him.
"He was a great competitor and a real good person. He was a real good family man.
"He was a great competitor and a real good team player," said his friend, former teammate Whitey Ford.
"He was a great competitor and an even better guy off the field. He was always smiling and joking, and he was a great team man.
"He was a great competitor and an underrated and underappreciated player. Every team I went to in the National League tried to get him.
"He was a great competitor and had a great attitude. He just loved to win. That's what everybody loved about him.
"He was a great competitor and he was a good ballplayer, too," said Maglie.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great person.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great teammate and a great representative for us. He was a great teammate.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great teammate," said Greenwood. "He was just a cool dude.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great teammate," said a source close to the situation.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great teammate. I've always prided myself on my playing with him.
"He was a great competitor and he was a great teammate. The guy who won the No.
"He was a great competitor and he was an inspiration for a lot of young pitchers who came up in the big leagues.
"He was a great competitor and he was great in the clubhouse and on the field.
"He was a great competitor and hell-raiser," said his teammate Tony Kubek.
"He was a great competitor and was a great teammate," said West.
"He was a great competitor and was a great teammate." He was also a joy to be around.
"He was a great competitor, a credit to all the coaches in baseball," recalled teammate Dick Groat.
"He was a great competitor, a great competitor in every sense," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"He was a great competitor, a great team player, and he was a great teammate," recalled former teammate Peavy.
"He was a great competitor, and I just loved the way he played. He was a great competitor.
"He was a great competitor, and he could really throw the ball. I always felt he was a little bit better than the average pitcher.
"He was a great competitor, and he wanted to win. But he was a great competitor with a great attitude.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate too. He was a great team player.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate, and he was a great leader on that team, too.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate," said former Cardinal teammate and Cleveland Indians great Hank Bauer.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate," said former teammate and Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a great teammate. We'm just so happy to have him on our club.
"He was a great competitor, and he was a real good player," recalled former teammate Whit Wyatt.
"He was a great competitor, and he was fun to watch. He had a great personality and was a great team player.
"He was a great competitor, and he was just a great competitor. He never gave up, never gave up on anybody.
"He was a great competitor, and he would have been the first one to admit it.
"He was a great competitor, and knew how to win," recalled former teammate Al Kaline.
"He was a great competitor, but he was also a little skittish.
"He was a great competitor, great on defense. He wasn't a good hitter, but he was a great competitor.
"He was a great competitor, proud and smart. He was a fighter. He was a real competitor.
"He was a great competitor," Hartnett said. "He was a fun competitor.
"He was a great competitor," McClain said. "He was a real standout player at both ends of the bat.
"He was a great competitor," recalled family friend Steve Gromek.
"He was a great competitor," recalled former teammate Bob Porterfield.
"He was a great competitor," recalled former teammate and Cubs shortstop Pops White.
"He was a great competitor," recalled his son. "He was a great student, very curious.
"He was a great competitor," recalled teammate Dolf Luque. "He never complained about anything.
"He was a great competitor," said Dick Stuart, a teammate at the time.
"He was a great competitor," said Gorman. "He was a real scrappy competitor.
"He was a great competitor," said former Pirates teammate and Cleveland Indians third baseman and manager Bob Lemon.
"He was a great competitor," said former teammate and Cleveland Indians hurler Bob Fothergill.
"He was a great competitor," said former teammate and Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle. "He was just a wonderful competitor.
"He was a great competitor," said his teammate, Whitey Kurowski.
"He was a great competitor," said teammate Dizzy Trout.
"He was a great competitor," said teammate Ike Delock. "He just had a great attitude.
"He was a great competitor," said teammate Steve Bilko.
"He was a great competitor. He never lost his desire for the game. There was no doubt he wanted to be a professional ballplayer.
"He was a great competitor. He was a great team player. He was a great teammate for a club like Detroit.
"He was a great competitor. He was hard-nosed. He could play any position, and he could hit anybody.
"He was a great competitor. He was just a great competitor. He was a great team player and he was a great baseball player.
"He was a great defensive player," recalled Lou Sboada, who caught for the Red Sox in the 1946 season.
"He was a great father," said his son, Steffan, "a wonderful husband to every one of his children.
"He was a great fit for the Giants," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"He was a great football player with a great arm," says Florida home run legend Stan Musial.
"He was a great guy and a great athlete, and played great for his club. I played for Pittsburgh when he was with Cincinnati.
"He was a great guy and a great competitor," said Gibson.
"He was a great guy and he could really play the game," teammate and off-season nemesis Carlton Fisk recalled.
"He was a great guy and he knew the game," said Mets broadcaster Mel Ott.
"He was a great guy and the greatest player I ever saw," said Baldwin. "He was the greatest.
"He was a great guy who was just a pleasure to be around, never tried anything.
"He was a great guy, a great competitor, and he was just a wonderful person," recalled Womble.
"He was a great guy, a great family man, never had a bad word to say about anybody.
"He was a great guy, a great teammate, and I just loved being around him.
"He was a great guy, a wonderful father, and most of all, he was a good ball player.
"He was a great guy, a wonderful father, grandfather, and friend.
"He was a great guy, and he was a good team player. He was smart and he had good stuff.
"He was a great guy," Durocher said. "He was a real professional.
"He was a great guy," said Pie Traynor. "He was a great teammate.
"He was a great guy," said former teammate and future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey. "He was.
"He was a great hitter and tough guy," recalled teammate Eddie Stanky.
"He was a great hitter for so many years," said his teammate, Babe Dahlgren.
"He was a great hitter, a great base runner, a good defensive player, and he could run like a deer.
"He was a great hitter, a great baserunner, you name it. And he was a great fielder, too.
"He was a great hitter, a great fielder. He could run, jump, kick, and he could throw.
"He was a great hitter, but he didn't have the greatest power.
"He was a great hitter, never afraid to take a chance on a ball.
"He was a great hitter, one of the best ever," said manager Eddie Dyer.
"He was a great kid and a real trooper. He was a real down-to-earth kid.
"He was a great kid, a wonder kid," said former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bob Feller.
"He was a great kid, really a great kid." He was born August 28, 1927, in Springdale, Arkansas.
"He was a great kid," recalled Patsy Clavin, "and so was I.
"He was a great locker room player and a great team man. He was a quiet fellow but he was a smart fellow.
"He was a great partner for us," said former Giants teammate Mickey Owen.
"He was a great pitcher, but he had to teach you how to win.
"He was a great pitcher," recalled Tom Ferrick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"He was a great pitcher," said teammate Tony Oliva. "He had a great throwing arm.
"He was a great pitcher. He had a great fastball and a curve, but he used them all over the park.
"He was a great pitchman, and he was a wonderful speaker. He could lighten up on you a little bit.
"He was a great player and a great person," his son, Frank Walt Disney Jr., said years later.
"He was a great player and the best hitting catcher in the game," his friend Rob Neyer recalled.
"He was a great player, a great competitor, and very well liked by his teammates.
"He was a great player, and yet he was a little guy. He was a quiet, unassuming type.
"He was a great player, but he was also a great guy," said Stengel.
"He was a great player, but he was going to be a great player.
"He was a great player, he was a great fielder, but he didn't have a chance.
"He was a great relief pitcher," said Heinie Sand, who played with him in the minors.
"He was a great student, a fine student, a wonderful family man. He was smart, he was excited, and he was happy.
"He was a great student, and he wanted to be a professor," said his adviser, George Will.
"He was a great team player and he got on in his own way. … He scored nine runs and handled seven others in that game.
"He was a great team player and he was a great team leader. He was a big-time leader in the clubhouse and on the field.
"He was a great team player," recalled former teammate Billy Pierce years later.
"He was a great team player," said longtime Boston catcher Tom Umphlett.
"He was a great teammate and a great person," said Kluszewski.
"He was a great teammate and a great teammate for the Yankees," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He was a great teammate and an excellent competitor," said Whitey Ford.
"He was a great teammate and an outstanding athlete for so many years. He could run, throw, and shoot.
"He was a great teammate and one of my favorite players," recalled Phil Niekro.
"He was a great teammate and one of the great teammates in the game," said Jimmie Foxx.
"He was a great teammate for a while, and he was the same when he left.
"He was a great teammate, and he was a great ballplayer," said Barry Bonds.
"He was a great teammate, great team player, and he was a great leadoff hitter.
"He was a great teammate. Everyone liked him for his big, friendly smile and gentle demeanor.
"He was a great teammate. He was a great team player and a great competitor. He was a great leader in all our departments.
"He was a great teammate. He was a real good fielder, really smart. Just a great teammate and a great guy.
"He was a great, great ballplayer, and he's still one, but he was a big, big loser.
"He was a great, great competitor," said former coach Bill Killefer, "and he just had great poise.
"He was a great, great guy," recalled teammate Ed Lopat. "He was a good-hearted guy.
"He was a great, great guy," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"He was a great, great-fielding first baseman," said his teammate Joe Gordon.
"He was a grumpy old man, and I wouldn't have slept with him.
"He was a guy who knew how to get a hit and he was a tough competitor," said Seahawks great Chuck Bednarik.
"He was a guy who was like a roller with a bad habit," recalled his catcher, George Culberson.
"He was a huge inspiration to me as a player, manager, coach, and owner. I was fortunate to play with him.
"He was a joy to play for," said former teammate Paul Waner.
"He was a lanky, and that was his best position," recalled former teammate and Yankee teammate Bob Cerv.
"He was a lefthander and a switch-hitter, and he could do everything.
"He was a little bit of a thorn in our side," said Cox.
"He was a little boy who wanted to be a baseball player.
"He was a little more than a year old when he was sold to the Cleveland Indians," recalled his mother.
"He was a little more than a year old," recalled his mother.
"He was a lovely, gentle, soft-spoken person, but he had a powerful arm, and he could dunk a basketball.
"He was a marvelous fielder, yes, but he was also a very powerful guy," Stengel said.
"He was a master at handling pitchers and hitting them outside. He made them hit.
"He was a monster," recalled Wally Moon. "He was a tough competitor. He had a great arm.
"He was a nice guy, but a hot dog is not a fresh-frozen hot dog.
"He was a nice guy," recalled his good friend and roommate, Paul Waner.
"He was a nice guy," said former teammate Bob Porter, "but he was a tough competitor.
"He was a nice, well-mannered kid," said Joe DiMaggio.
"He was a quiet stopper," recalled teammate and future Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner.
"He was a quiet, easygoing person, never really made any trouble," recalled his neighbor, Pauline Hemingway.
"He was a quiet, soft-spoken guy," recalled his cat, Spud.
"He was a quiet, soft-spoken guy. He was shy about his own personal life, but he was a very private guy.
"He was a real clean-cut kid. He never had a drink in his mouth and worked in the mines.
"He was a real fighter, and he was smart," said former New York Giants teammate and Cubs great Carl Erskine.
"He was a real good baseball player," said former Braves teammate Paul Waner.
"He was a real good catcher," said Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto.
"He was a real good catcher. He was smart, he was strong, he could run.
"He was a real good first sacker, always hustling and making the plays.
"He was a real good outfielder and he could do everything. When he was on he was a real good outfielder, in the lineup.
"He was a real good pitcher, if a little bit of a sensitive one.
"He was a real good pitcher," recalled former teammate and Cleveland Indians great Yogi Berra.
"He was a real good pitcher," recalled teammate Phil Rizzuto.
"He was a real good pitcher," said his friend Al Rosen.
"He was a real good third baseman," said his friend Ralph "Bubba" Cox.
"He was a real nice guy," recalled Dizzy Dean. "He always took care of me.
"He was a real professional, not a kid. When I went up in 1936, he was managing the St.
"He was a real proud guy," said his buddy and teammate, Red Ruffing.
"He was a really fine catcher," said manager Jimmy Dykes.
"He was a really good catcher. I used to watch him with the big club because he was a good switch hitter.
"He was a really good switch-hitter," recalled teammate Gus Triandos.
"He was a simple, straightforward guy," said teammate Wayne Seals.
"He was a smart kid, a pretty good hitter, for a first baseman.
"He was a smart player, and he was tough on you," said former teammate Russ Nixon.
"He was a splendid fielder, and a wonderful baserunner.
"He was a swell utility player," recalled Boston Braves broadcaster Russ Hodges.
"He was a terrific clubhouse man, and he could really hit.
"He was a tremendous competitor, a tremendous worker, a great team player. … He was a competitor to win ballgames.
"He was a tremendous competitor, and he was a great teammate.
"He was a very charming guy. He was never pretentious. He just wanted to be liked.
"He was a very fine catcher," Staley recalled. "He was a smart catcher.
"He was a very fine pitcher," said Mets manager and former White Sox star Pee Wee Reese.
"He was a very gentle giant, and I felt he was a very gentle giant, too.
"He was a very intelligent boy," said his father, "a very thoughtful and thoughtful-looking boy.
"He was a very intelligent catcher, definitely a thinker," said Weiss. "He had a great temperament.
"He was a very intelligent young man, who wore glasses because he didn't have them.
"He was a very thoughtful, very astute person," recalled his fourth wife.
"He was a wonderful company man. Anytime you were going to a bad club, the manager would come out and welcome you in.
"He was a wonderful team player, not only for the Giants, but for the league as a whole.
"He was a yiffing, yah-ing, yah-ing little fellow," recalled Lefty Gomez.
"He was ahead of his time. He was a perfect mathematician, a perfect passer, a perfect hitter.
"He was all about the hustle. He was all about the fighting. He was all about the winning.
"He was always smiling, always laughing, always having fun," said former teammate and Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He was always so nice, never had I ever thought anyone would be this nice to a guy," said former teammate Wally Post.
"He was an angry fellow, and the way I put it was that he was a little nutty.
"He was an excellent handler of pitchers," said a later teammate.
"He was an excellent hitter and a fine fielder," Prince said of the former Detroit Tiger.
"He was an excellent hitter and fielder, but he exceeded expectations in his bat.
"He was an excellent hitter, not just in the field but also in the hole. He had a good head for the game.
"He was an excellent passer, extremely clever, and good in the clutch.
"He was an excellent pitcher, but he was an excellent hitter, too," McGraw said.
"He was an excellent player and one of the best defensive players in the game," Carrasquel recalled.
"He was an excellent player, a good skipper, a fine handler of pitchers and batters.
"He was an excellent skipper and he led our team to a World Series in 1940.
"He was an excellent track man," recalled his former teammate, "a fine glove man, a fair hitter.
"He was an experienced skipper," said Cleveland manager Roger Peckinpaugh. "He knows how to handle pitchers.
"He was an extraordinary skipper. He had a sense of humor.
"He was an incredible competitor, and I really admired him for his competitiveness and his ability to win." Pauline recalled.
"He was an outstanding catcher, and he could throw his knuckleball and line drive to right field.
"He was an outstanding hitter, and a fine-field hitter.
"He was an outstanding pitcher, a tough competitor, and an excellent team player.
"He was an outstanding pitcher, an outstanding hitter, an outstanding fielder, but he was not a slugging pitcher.
"He was an outstanding student, excels at school, can play the outfield, and can throw the ball with authority.
"He was approaching the plate like a lion with fangs and spikes.
"He was as good a hitter as I ever saw," recalled his old teammate Dixie Walker.
"He was as good a pitcher as I ever saw," said Bob Fothergill.
"He was as good a shortstop as I ever played behind," Grissom said.
"He was as good a shortstop as I ever saw. He was a good-hearted, down-to-earth guy.
"He was as good a shortstop as there ever was," said John McGraw.
"He was as good as any right-handed pitcher in the history of the game.
"He was as good as anybody in camp," said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. "He was just a great athlete.
"He was at the top of his class in the hitting department.
"He was every bit as good a pitcher as any of the greats who came before him.
"He was every bit the player I expected to be," said Reds manager Luke Sewell.
"He was going to be a great hero," recalled former teammate Johnny Blanchard.
"He was gonna be a great star," Goldwater said. "He had that big heart.
"He was great in the clutch, and I led a great clutch in his years. I was impressed.
"He was great," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris, "very good in the field.
"He was in a prime of his career," recalled longtime Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett.
"He was in terrific shape," said Bartell, "but he was a mystery to everybody.
"He was in the prime of his career, and he was making some money. I think he felt he could handle more pressure.
"He was just a good guy," said Giants' third baseman Willie McCovey.
"He was just a great competitor," recalled his brother.
"He was just a great guy and a great teammate. He was a good guy who was a good teammate.
"He was just a great guy," recalled his friend Klopsche. "He was so positive and fun-loving.
"He was just a kid, a scrubbin, but he was a smart kid.
"He was just a kid. He didn't know anything. He was only 16 years old.
"He was just a natural," said teammate Mel Parnell.
"He was just a natural. He had a great arm, a beautiful head, a wonderful smile, and he was loved by everybody.
"He was just a really good hitting pitcher with a good throwing arm.
"He was just a shy of 30, he didn't have to do much.
"He was just a terrific football player," said teammate Yogi Berra.
"He was just a tremendous competitor," recalled Alfonso "Tite" Rodriguez after his playing career ended.
"He was just a very, very fine player," recalled former teammate Al Kaline.
"He was just a wonderful guy," said former Athletics teammate Gary Kroll.
"He was just a wonderful kid," Cerv remembered. "He was just a wonderful, sweet kid.
"He was just an amazing outfielder," Youngs recalled. "He could do everything.
"He was just like a father to me. He always wanted to teach me something new and he always had things to do.
"He was just like a father to me. He was so great. He was a great individual, but he was also a team guy.
"He was just like me," said Dave Bancroft. "He was my hero.
"He was just one of those great guys," recalled Walker. "But he just had a tremendous attitude.
"He was just so wonderful to me," said his son, Steve.
"He was kind of a cool guy," recalled former teammate Wayne Seals. "He was a real quiet guy.
"He was like a big brother to all of us," said Sam.
"He was like a big brother to me," Elmer said. "He would always be there for me.
"He was like a big brother to me," said Ula. "He was a big inspiration.
"He was like a big kid in uniform," his father recalled.
"He was like a big kid, really. He had a funny voice, a big laugh, and he was always making people laugh.
"He was like a big kid," said his friend Roy Campanella.
"He was like a big kid," said teammate Willie Green. "You couldn't step on his toes.
"He was like a big sister to me," recalled Capuano.
"He was like a big, burly bear. He was tough and really quick. I didn't think I could hit him.
"He was like a big, fat kid on the field, but he wasn't.
"He was like a big, fat kid who had never been to a baseball game," recalled his teammate, pitcher Billy Pierce.
"He was like a big, fat kid, and he was my kid," said Yankees third baseman Roy Campanella.
"He was like a big, fat kid, so big that you couldn't even put a shoe lint roller on him.
"He was like a big, fat kid," his friend Bob Miller recalled. "He was an amputee.
"He was like a big, fat puppy dog," said his third wife, Dorothy Hillerich.
"He was like a blur. … He would get up, he'd be gone, something strange was wrong.
"He was like a brother to me for 20 years," said his son, Joe.
"He was like a brother to me. He gave me confidence. If I had any doubts.
"He was like a dad to me," he said. "He was like a big brother.
"He was like a dad to me," said Cas. "He was like a granddad to me.
"He was like a dad to me," said Lee. It was the first time Lee had ever seen her father smile.
"He was like a family man to me," said Staub, "and I just wanted to be with him.
"He was like a father to me, and I was like a father to him.
"He was like a father to me," DiMaggio said. "I was always looking up to him.
"He was like a father to me," I said. "He was everything I needed him to be.
"He was like a father to me," Youngs said. "He always put me first. He was my hero.
"He was like a father to me," recalled Willie Mays. "He was everything I needed.
"He was like a father to me," said Bob Kennedy, Leonard's future wife.
"He was like a father to me," said Georgia Brown, the first woman to play on the major-league baseball team.
"He was like a father to me. He always had me when he'd go out.
"He was like a father to me. When I was a kid, my father was a workhouse. Work was his life.
"He was like a father to me. … He taught me the joys of the game and the obligations of the job.
"He was like a glove for me," Burdette said of his catcher. "I could feel him.
"He was like a grandfather to me. He approved all my moves and he was great with me.
"He was like a kid in the street with a big platter forkball throwing a fastball.
"He was like a kid on the playground," recalled former Cubs teammate Al Rosen.
"He was like a kid who just wanted to be a big leaguer.
"He was like a light bulb going off. What a player he was.
"He was like a light. He had that contagious smile, and he made everyone smile.
"He was like a son to me," recalled his wife, Patricia. "He was like a god to me.
"He was like a son to me," said his father. "He was so sweet. I loved him.
"He was like a son to me," says Sam. "He was a very gentle, understanding, accepting person.
"He was like a sponge," said his former teammate, Dick Sisler.
"He was like a stepchild to me," Simmons told the Boston Herald in 1990.
"He was like family to all of us," recalled teammate Billy Cox.
"He was like the most perfect fly-on-the-wall guy on my club," Mays said.
"He was my best catcher," said former teammate Al Kozar, "and he was my first baseman, too.
"He was my best friend," Grissom remembered. "He was such a great guy and a great teammate.
"He was my best friend," recalled Charles Walker Jr.'s great-grandfather.
"He was my best friend," said third baseman Willie Stargell. "He and I were always together.
"He was my best friend," says Wallace. "He was wonderful with kids.
"He was my best friend. He got me out of a slump and got me back to playing my best.
"He was my best pitchman," recalled Dick Sisler years later.
"He was my best player," said Brown. "He was the greatest three-sacker I ever played with.
"He was my biggest idol growing up," said Yankees third baseman Willie Stargell.
"He was my biggest inspiration," Munger said. "He taught me the big swing and he showed me the power.
"He was my father, and I loved him," he said. "I miss him so much.
"He was my favorite player for the first few years I was in the big leagues," recalled Knobe.
"He was my favorite player, always hustling, always fighting, always putting the ball in play," recalled Ruppert.
"He was my favorite player," Granville told the author.
"He was my favorite player," Myer said. "He was fun to watch. He was a great competitor.
"He was my favorite player. He was just a wonderful player.
"He was my guy. I didn't even go to the ballpark without him. He was always there for me.
"He was my hero in '47, my idol in '48. I never dreamed he'd go to war.
"He was my hero. He saved my life, and I'm just glad he did it.
"He was my hero. I remember when he came to the World Series for the first time with the Yankees.
"He was never a shy guy," his son, Bob, recalled. "Nobody ever said a word.
"He was never far from the baseball field," recalled Dick Schaap. "He was always on the field with his glove.
"He was not a great passer, but he could make up for it by making nifty plays.
"He was not shy about speaking his mind," his friend Bob Bouty said.
"He was of great help to me. He got me out of the funk that I had in my early years.
"He was one of my biggest inspirations growing up," said Bobby. "I remember when he was on television.
"He was one of my favorite players," recalled former teammate Ron Santo. "He was a great clutch hitter.
"He was one of my greatest influences. I used to think I could never have a baseball career because he would always be there for me.
"He was one of the best all-around players I ever saw in a big-league uniform," recalled teammate Johnny Pesky.
"He was one of the best fielders I ever saw," recalled Curt Simmons.
"He was one of the best fielding pitchers I ever played with," said teammate Ray Jablonski.
"He was one of the best fielding pitchers in the big leagues.
"He was one of the best first basemen I ever played against. He could run the bases and fielders would be running after him.
"He was one of the best left-handed batters I ever saw," recalled teammate Andy Seminick.
"He was one of the finest human beings I ever met," Wills said.
"He was one of the greatest," said his catcher, Bill Werber. "His timing was phenomenal.
"He was one of the most popular players in the history of the game," recalled his friend and teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He was one of the most underrated players in the game," said former teammate and Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"He was one tough competitor. He was a strong competitor and he wanted to be the best. And he had a great attitude too.
"He was only 22, and I was in my thirties, but he was the best young player I ever saw.
"He was our big-league farm boy," recalled Ronald Titt. "He was doing everything right. He was strong.
"He was our bread-and-butter guy, a better second baseman than Boone.
"He was our number-one catcher, and I never wanted to take him away from the ball.
"He was our test topic," recalled his friend Sam Mele.
"He was really a great competitor," said former teammate Vin Scully. "He was a great team player.
"He was right for the Yankees," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"He was smart, and he was tough, and he was hungry," said his former teammate, Billy Martin.
"He was so good he's like our dad," said former teammate Vin Scully's son Joe.
"He was so good the first year I was with him," said former Dodger and current Yankee Dan Marques.
"He was so good, he was the greatest center fielder I ever saw.
"He was so quiet, you just wanted to hug him," recalled Doby.
"He was started in the minor leagues, and he's developed into a fine outfielder. … He was a very tough competitor.
"He was such a great player that many people thought he was a great Babe.
"He was such a nice guy, he was a good neighbor and everyone liked him. He was just a gentle, easy-going guy.
"He was such a nice, gentle giant, and he was a fighter," said his friend and teammate Rex Barney.
"He was the best 2nd basemen I ever played with," said Bucher.
"He was the best I ever saw in the big leagues," said his locker-mate, Red Ruffing.
"He was the best [player] I ever saw. He had a great arm. He could do everything.
"He was the best at his position in the league. He knew the pitchers and he played his position well.
"He was the best catcher I ever played behind," said former teammate and Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He was the best catcher I ever played with," DeMaestri said about Hal Wagner.
"He was the best catcher in the business," said teammate Woody English.
"He was the best catching prospect I ever saw," said Yankees teammate Johnny Blanchard.
"He was the best center I ever played with. He could run, throw, and field. He was a power guy.
"He was the best centerfielder I ever saw," recalled teammate/future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.
"He was the best defensive first baseman that I ever played against.
"He was the best defensive player I ever played for," recalled Henry Aaron. "He was like a dream catcher.
"He was the best defensive player in the history of the game," said Whitey Ford.
"He was the best defensive player in the history of the game. He never missed a play through thick and thin.
"He was the best defensive shortstop in the majors and should have been a star for a long time," said manager Bucky Harris.
"He was the best defensive third baseman I ever played behind," said Royals manager Fred Haney.
"He was the best field hitter I ever played against," said Spence.
"He was the best first baseman I ever played behind," recalled teammate Lee Walls in the 1980s.
"He was the best first baseman I ever played behind," said Stengel. "He was a great dummy fielder.
"He was the best first baseman I ever played with," said longtime teammate and opposing player Eddie Waitkus.
"He was the best first baseman of his day. He was an old-time ballplayer.
"He was the best first baseman that I ever played against, period, until he was hurt.
"He was the best he was ever going to be," teammate Dave Giusti recalled.
"He was the best hitter I ever saw," Miller said. "He was so skilled and so smart.
"He was the best hitting catcher I ever played with," recalled teammate Roger Craig. "He could do everything.
"He was the best in the American League. He was the best in the National League. He was the best in the National League.
"He was the best left-handed pitcher I ever faced," said Ueberroth.
"He was the best of the best," said Joe DiMaggio. "He had everything in his favor.
"He was the best of the best," said a third of Padres fans. "He could hit the ball.
"He was the best of the best. He had all the attributes required for a great ballplayer.
"He was the best of the lot," said his uncle. "He was the toughest competitor. He was the ultimate competitor.
"He was the best pitcher in baseball in his last two years with Detroit," said Yankees catcher Joe DiMaggio.
"He was the best pitcher on the staff," said Burdette. "He knew the hitters.
"He was the best right-handed pitcher I ever saw," recalled teammate Virgil Trucks.
"He was the best second baseman in the majors," said his friend Cramer.
"He was the best second basemen I ever saw," Martin said.
"He was the best shortstop I ever played with," recalled former teammate Wally Post.
"He was the best that I ever saw," said former Yankees teammate and teammate Ralph Kiner.
"He was the best there was in the Hall of Fame," said Stengel.
"He was the best there was in the business," said Casey Stengel.
"He was the best there was," recalled his teammate, Red Ruffing.
"He was the best third baseman I ever played with," Greco said.
"He was the best third baseman in the business," said teammate Johnny Pesky.
"He was the best third baseman in the history of the game," said former teammate and Pirates great Dick Groat.
"He was the best working pitcher I ever saw. He was a genius. He'd make you look up in the stands.
"He was the best-fielding first baseman I ever played for," recalled teammate Ray Jablonski.
"He was the best-fielding right fielder that Babe Ruth ever played with.
"He was the best-fielding shortstop in the history of the game. He got the ball in good spots. He had speed.
"He was the best-fielding third baseman I ever played against," recalled shortstop Willie Keeler.
"He was the best. He could catch all of them, and he could hit them. He was the finest hitter I ever saw.
"He was the biggest influence on my later years. He was the father figure to me.
"He was the bravest of us. He was the realest of us. He was the best of us.
"He was the closest thing to a father I ever had," recalled his daughter, Cindy.
"He was the consummate professional," recalled teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He was the coolest kid I ever played with," said his father. "He was the real deal.
"He was the first guy I talked to about retirement," recalled his brother.
"He was the first guy who did what I had to do," said his third baseman, Roger Peckinpaugh.
"He was the greatest Yankee hitter ever," said his teammate Red Rolfe.
"He was the greatest all-arounder I ever saw in a baseball uniform," said Giants teammate Willie Kirkland.
"He was the greatest all-arounder I ever saw. He was a freak.
"He was the greatest baseball player I ever saw," said former teammate and Cub catcher Mickey Owen.
"He was the greatest baserunner I ever saw. He was like a wild man.
"He was the greatest centerfielder I ever saw play the game," former teammate and Dodgers teammate Duke Snider said.
"He was the greatest competitor I ever played for," said teammate Billy Pierce.
"He was the greatest competitor I ever played for," said teammate Clyde Shoun.
"He was the greatest defensive catcher in the game," said Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully.
"He was the greatest diver I ever saw. He could do everything.
"He was the greatest fielding pitcher I ever saw," recalled teammate Jimmie Foxx. "He was the best.
"He was the greatest first baseman I ever played behind," recalled Arroyo.
"He was the greatest fly in the house," recalled his son Tom.
"He was the greatest glove man I ever saw in my life," said teammate Phil Rizzuto.
"He was the greatest hitter I ever saw," said Maris.
"He was the greatest natural athlete I ever saw," said teammate Chuck Diering.
"He was the greatest natural hitter I ever played for," recalled former teammate Billy Pierce.
"He was the greatest of all time," said his third baseman, Charlie Neal, "exceptional in every sense.
"He was the greatest one I ever saw," recalled Don Gutteridge.
"He was the greatest passer and shifter in baseball," said former teammate and current White Sox player Al Kaline.
"He was the greatest passer of men, and he could run like hell.
"He was the greatest pitcher in the history of the game. He had an awesome curveball. He could do everything.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw, period. From what I saw of him, he was the greatest player I ever saw, period.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," Batts said. "He was the best.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," recalled teammate Frank Robinson. "He was the smartest man on the field.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," said Mets manager Yogi Berra. "He could do everything.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," said Yankees catcher Joe Garagiola.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," said former Cleveland teammate Mickey Mantle. "He could do everything.
"He was the greatest player I ever saw," says former Red Sox teammate Don Mossi.
"He was the greatest player we ever had," said longtime teammate Enos Slaughter.
"He was the greatest power pitcher I ever saw," recalled teammate Roy Partee. "He could do everything.
"He was the greatest relief pitcher I ever saw," said Whitey Ford.
"He was the greatest sort of competitor I ever played for," said Fred Hatfield.
"He was the greatest thing that ever happened to baseball," recalled his teammate Carl Erskine.
"He was the greatest third baseman I ever saw," recalled Yankee teammate Lefty Gomez.
"He was the greatest third baseman I ever saw," recalled his father. "He was a great team player.
"He was the greatest third baseman I ever saw," said former teammate Al Simmons.
"He was the greatest third baseman I ever saw," said teammate Glenn Wright.
"He was the greatest third baseman of the last three years," said Walker.
"He was the greatest third baseman that ever lived," recalled teammate Ted Williams.
"He was the greatest third sacker I ever played behind.
"He was the greatest to ever play the game. He was a big, strong man with a big chest.
"He was the greatest, the classiest, most caring person I ever knew," [Spahn] recalled his boss.
"He was the greatest, the classiest, the most giving kind of player you ever saw.
"He was the greatest, the greatest, the most remarkable ballplayer I ever saw," said his friend Bob Kennedy.
"He was the greatest, the purest, the most exciting, the most exciting guy in the world of baseball.
"He was the greatest, the really best third baseman I ever saw," recalled longtime teammate Matt Batts.
"He was the greatest," said Barney, "exceptional ball player I ever saw. He was a great team player.
"He was the greatest. He hit the long ball, no matter where it was.
"He was the greatest. He made you feel like you could fly. He was the greatest." Jackie Robinson.
"He was the greatest. He was the best. He was such a great guy, and he made his teammates better.
"He was the greatest. … He had the makings of a great player. He could run, throw, and field.
"He was the hardest-working, most conscientious pitcher I ever saw.
"He was the kind of guy that you could put his glove on and go out there and play.
"He was the last man on the moon," said Don Newcombe.
"He was the last man standing on the Titanic," said his widow.
"He was the last person you wanted to see in the clubhouse," recalled George Case.
"He was the leading taker, and he had a great nose," recalled teammate Elmer Flick.
"He was the lesser half of Gordy Cross," said the Yankees' fourth outfielder, Joe Gordon.
"He was the most astute catcher I ever played with," Stengel said.
"He was the most charming guy in the whole world," said the old-timer.
"He was the most consistent right fielder in the league," said former teammate Leo Durocher.
"He was the most dangerous hitter in the National League," said Washington Senators manager Bucky Harris.
"He was the most famous kid in town, and yet he was the least famous.
"He was the most famous, the biggest, the best, the big thing.
"He was the most misunderstood player in baseball," recalled his friend and teammate, Goose Goslin.
"He was the most misunderstood player in baseball," said former teammate and Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"He was the most misunderstood player in baseball," teammate and teammate Kirby Higbe said.
"He was the most misunderstood player in the game. I don't think he understood what was going on.
"He was the most natural leader I ever played for," said teammate Bob Cerv.
"He was the most popular Ranger of them all," recalled teammate Lou Finney.
"He was the most popular figure in our little town," remembers his high-school teammate, Del Crandall.
"He was the most popular guy in the clubhouse. He was a great family man. He was the real deal, really.
"He was the most popular man in town," "he was a great guy and we just wanted to live in his neighborhood.
"He was the most popular pitcher in the National League," said his friend and former teammate, Red Barrett.
"He was the most popular player in my time, and I was a big fan.
"He was the most popular player in the National League," said his teammate Johnny Mathis.
"He was the most popular player in the United States of America.
"He was the most popular player in the game. I don't think he ever didn't want to sign with a team.
"He was the most popular player in the history of the Negro Leagues," recalled a close friend.
"He was the most popular player in the history of the game. He was the most beloved figure in the history of the game.
"He was the most promising prospect in the minors," said former Chicago White Sox teammate Mickey Owen.
"He was the most talked about man in the American League," former teammate Johnny Pesky recalled.
"He was the most underrated player in my career," said Whitey Ford.
"He was the nicest guy in the clubhouse, and the most popular guy in the neighborhood. He was the perfect gentleman.
"He was the nicest guy in the world. He was a cool guy.
"He was the number one starter for us," said Burdette. "He hit the ball to all fields.
"He was the only kid I ever loved that was born in this town," says Bauserman.
"He was the perfect combination of speed, power and bat control.
"He was the perfect fit for Boston," said manager Joe McCarthy. "He was soooo good.
"He was the perfect guy to be a successor to Mr. Mack. He was a good team man and a good teammate.
"He was the perfect team man," said Eisenberg. "He was a nice, quiet, easy-going guy.
"He was the smartest player on the club," Spahn recalled.
"He was the ultimate clubhouse clown, a real good laugh, a great salesman, and a great team player.
"He was the ultimate in everything I tried to do in baseball that I learned. He did everything.
"He was very quiet, not given to much conversation. He was a very strong believer in keeping his thoughts to himself.
"He was very quiet, very serious, and always had a big scowl on his face. He never said a bad word.
"He was wonderful to the fans, and he was a wonderful individual.
"He wasn't a great hitter, but he hit the ball to the right of center for power.
"He wasn't a natural. He was born in a baseball camp.
"He wasn't averse to taking a beating," recalled Ford. "He was a tough competitor.
"He wasn't the greatest at the plate, but he was a very determined guy and that was the most important thing.
"He went on to be one of the greatest players ever to play baseball," recalled partner Al Lopez.
"He went through all my stuff, my tests, all my tests.
"He will be a great addition to the pitching staff," said manager Ralph Houk.
"He will be missed, but he will be remembered for more things than missed.
"He won games for me," said Phillies pitcher Al Widmar. "He was my old roommate, my best friend.
"He would never let me get a move on him," said Frisch. "I always had to go after him.
"He'd say, Go," recalled teammate Puddin' Head, "and you went, Go.
"He'll be a great addition to our lineup," said Joe Cronin.
"He'll be in the starting lineup next year," said Mack.
"He'll be the best center fielder in the majors," said Joe Cronin, then a coach for the Boston Braves.
"He'll be the best." That was the prediction of many. But it was far from the truth.
"He'll stay in Cincinnati," said Newhouser. "I'll just let him go.
"He's a ballplayer. I don't know how you can give him up," said Sonnenberg.
"He's a better hitter than I think he's ever going to be," Dick Curtin said.
"He's a better pitcher than he thinks," said Dick Schaap.
"He's a big, strong kid," said manager Bucky Harris.
"He's a big, strong lad," said the well-traveled White Sox manager, Joe Cronin.
"He's a big, tall kid. I think he's going to be a great one.
"He's a brat," says Mays. "He keeps his emotions bottled up.
"He's a brilliant player, one of the top three or four in the National League.
"He's a dandy, for sure," said his predecessor. "All he ever does is talk.
"He's a fine ballplayer, and I'm going to miss him in my memory," said Baldanza.
"He's a fine fellow and he'll do the job," Cuyler said.
"He's a fine guy, and a good one at that. He's going to be a great one.
"He's a fine hitter, but I'm not sure he's a fine fielder.
"He's a fine young fellow and a fine ball player," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's a fun guy to be around. He's a real good-minded guy with a great attitude.
"He's a good boy. He's got good speed. I'll take him anywhere.
"He's a good catcher, but he doesn't go for the long ball. He goes for the inside pitches.
"He's a good fellow and I've liked him for a while," said the Cubs' Charlie Grimm.
"He's a good fellow, he's a sick fellow," said Gladys Grissom.
"He's a good fellow. He brings us a lot of joy. I like the way he plays.
"He's a good guy," says Sam. "He's just a normal guy.
"He's a good kid," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"He's a good ol' boy," said Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
"He's a good, tough competitor who wants to win," said Yankees manager Casey Stengel.
"He's a good, tough competitor," said former Giants teammate Monte Irvin. "He wants to win.
"He's a good, young kid. He's never going to be a starter.
"He's a good-fielding outfielder who can run, throw, and field.
"He's a good-hearted guy who is always willing to help others," said teammate Dick Groat.
"He's a good-hearted guy," said teammate Jerry Lynch. "He still wears his uniform high.
"He's a good-hearted, sincere guy. He wants to win for the fans and the organization.
"He's a good-hitter, but he's not a spectacular one.
"He's a good-looking fella," said one sportswriter.
"He's a good-looking fellow, but he's got a great personality, too.
"He's a good-looking kid, but he can't hit the ball with his face.
"He's a great competitor and a great teammate. He's a guy that has been through a lot.
"He's a great competitor and an even better teammate," said Tigers manager Steve O'Neill.
"He's a great competitor and he's a great teammate," Elston said.
"He's a great competitor and he's a great teammate.
"He's a great competitor, and he'll be a great teammate for us.
"He's a great competitor, and he'll fight you until the end of the game.
"He's a great competitor, and he's going to have to do a lot of things.
"He's a great competitor, he's a powerful competitor.
"He's a great competitor," Maris said. "He wants to play every day.
"He's a great competitor," said Dodgers manager Durocher. "But he's also shy.
"He's a great competitor," said Franchione. "He wants to win, and he has great poise.
"He's a great competitor," said Hall of Famer Vander Meer.
"He's a great competitor," said Lou Boudreau. "He's a tough competitor.
"He's a great competitor," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins. "He fights every day.
"He's a great competitor," said former teammate Bob Porterfield. "He's got a great attitude.
"He's a great competitor," said his former teammate, "but he wants to win.
"He's a great competitor," said his manager, Connie Mack. "He's a real competitor.
"He's a great competitor," said teammate Cullenbine. "He gets mad when you hit him.
"He's a great figure to the people," said his friend and teammate Eddie Waitkus.
"He's a great guy and a great competitor," said Belich.
"He's a great guy and a great competitor," said his brother, former teammate Pete.
"He's a great guy and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"He's a great guy, a great competitor," said Tom Gage, a teammate in 1963.
"He's a great guy, a great teammate, great spirit," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's a great guy, actually," said his grandfather, Hank Greenberg.
"He's a great guy, and all, but he's a perfectionist and he can get mad.
"He's a great guy, and he's going to be a great player.
"He's a great guy, and he's gonna be a great ballplayer," said Don Mueller.
"He's a great guy, but you got to deal with him," said Joe DiMaggio.
"He's a great guy," said Bartell. "He makes you think you're crazy.
"He's a great guy," said Favors. "He's a real driven guy.
"He's a great guy," said Raiders manager Bill Rigney.
"He's a great guy," said Trump. "I've known him 10 years.
"He's a great guy," said Vic. "Good guy, no mean guy.
"He's a great guy," said a reporter. "He plays every game.
"He's a great guy," said a source close to the negotiations.
"He's a great guy," said former Red Sox catcher and manager Yogi Berra.
"He's a great guy," said his 18-year-old teammate, Mike Garcia.
"He's a great guy," said outfielder Eddie Waitkus. "He really is a good person.
"He's a great guy," said teammate Byron Williams. "I've always admired his competitiveness.
"He's a great guy," said teammate Freddie Fitzsimmons.
"He's a great guy," said teammate Steve Blass. "He puts you in the zone.
"He's a great guy. A great teammate, great competitor, and he deserves everything he gets.
"He's a great lot of fun to watch," said one reporter.
"He's a great mimic, and I'm sure he'll be a great one next year.
"He's a great player, but he has to work hard," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's a great son," said Dodger manager Leo Durocher.
"He's a great team player and a great leader," said Tigers manager Fred Haney.
"He's a great team player, and I've got to like that.
"He's a great, great catcher," recalled longtime Dodgers teammate Willie McCovey.
"He's a great, great guy," said former teammate Whit Wyatt.
"He's a great, great pitcher but you can't just put him in the lineup and expect the result.
"He's a gypsy, that's all," recalled Bobby Thomson.
"He's a hot one right now." In the next inning, he doubled and scored the winning run.
"He's a little like an Old Reliable. He keeps the game moving. He can break a line drive down the middle.
"He's a mechanical genius. He's able to change speeds and he's always able to get a hit.
"He's a nagger. He can run like a deer. His arm can do tricks.
"He's a nice guy, a good family man, and a good ballplayer.
"He's a nice guy, a good-hearted guy. He just wants to make everybody happy.
"He's a nice, quiet guy. You've seen him, he's not about to fight.
"He's a nice, well-mannered boy," recalled Jackie Robinson.
"He's a nice-looking kid, but he's a cold-blooded, brute-force type.
"He's a perfect player and one of the best I've ever seen.
"He's a pitcher, a real good pitcher," Don Drysdale said.
"He's a real class act, and you'll see him in more games than you think he'll play.
"He's a real featherweight," said Randy Johnson. "He can throw strikes.
"He's a real fighter," said Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen, who remembers hitting him with a pitch.
"He's a real fighter," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris. "He likes to fight.
"He's a real fine ballplayer. Nice guy off the field. But he's a real fine ballplayer.
"He's a real fine prospect," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's a real good pitcher," said a reporter. "He's not too fast.
"He's a real package case," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's a real pitcher," said Mickey Owen, the Senators' senior vice president for sales.
"He's a real professional," Yankees manager Bucky Harris said of Durocher.
"He's a really fine pitcher," Wayne Twitty said when he signed Carrasquel.
"He's a sly guy, a sly guy like a snake in a henhouse.
"He's a smart guy, and he knows the score and the crowd and what's going on.
"He's a smart guy," said his brother, "but he's a stubborn guy.
"He's a smart hitter, and he plays hard," said one reporter.
"He's a smart kid, and he can't help himself," said teammate Bob Shankland.
"He's a smart kid," said teammate Ron Santo. "He knows what he's doing.
"He's a smart player, but he doesn't know all that much about the game.
"He's a smart player, one that understands the game and can handle pitchers and catchers.
"He's a smart player. He knows what to do and he does it effectively.
"He's a smart-headed kid, but he also loves to fight," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"He's a stiff competitor, but he wants to win every day.
"He's a terrific competitor, a great team player, and he's a good dude. He plays all the time.
"He's a very fine young man. . .he has a bright future ahead of him.
"He's a very intelligent player, very clever and very aggressive," said Schnozz.
"He's a whirling dervish in the pitcher's hands," said Walsh.
"He's a wonder. He helps everybody, and he's got the most wins of any pitcher in history.
"He's all natural. He can do things no one could ever hope to do.
"He's also a good ballplayer, and I'm sure he'll do a lot of good.
"He's always a good source of humor," said one of his teammates. "He always has a funny story.
"He's always giving us the old-fashioned American way.
"He's an affected kid," said Arroyo. "He doesn't like being late for school.
"He's an excellent fielder, and the ball is going in his direction without being batted out.
"He's as fast as I remember," said Meyer. "He can't wait for a pitch.
"He's as good a catcher as I ever saw," said Stengel.
"He's as good a catcher as the game has ever seen," said New York manager Joe McCarthy.
"He's as good a catcher as they had," said manager Mayo Smith.
"He's as good a pitcher as anyone who ever came to the majors. . .he's a smart pitcher.
"He's been great for us in our early losses," said second baseman Jimmie Wilson.
"He's been in a lot of ballgames," said Dodgers catcher Jimmie Wilson.
"He's been in a lot of heat. He's got a real nice heater, though.
"He's been in the major leagues for 17 years and knows every position," Huffman said.
"He's been in the minor leagues for ten years and he knows the minor leagues.
"He's been in the sun, but he's never been so happy.
"He's built like a penthouse." "A big, fat penthouse like the one J.
"He's cooler than you think," the great Yogi Berra famously said of Durocher.
"He's definitely going to be a great one," Cubs manager Charlie Grimm said of Everitt.
"He's doing a little bit better. He's batting .281, but he's still a raw talent.
"He's done something that makes you wonder what the hell he's doing.
"He's going to be a great one tomorrow," McQuinn said.
"He's going to be a great one," McQuinn said at the time.
"He's going to be a great one," Vogt said of Dickey.
"He's going to be a great one," Wayne Gretzky said of Mantle.
"He's going to be a great one," Yankees manager Miller Huggins predicted of his young left-hander.
"He's going to be a great one," manager Eddie Stanky said.
"He's going to be a great one," manager Mayo Smith said.
"He's going to be a great one," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"He's going to be a great one," said Dale Carnegie.
"He's going to be a great one," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"He's going to be a great one," said George Selkirk.
"He's going to be a great one," said Marlins manager Charlie Dressen.
"He's going to be a great one," said Red Sox coach Red Sox switchman Dick Schaap.
"He's going to be a great one," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's going to be a great one," said the Dodgers' Don Newcombe.
"He's going to be a great one," said the Giants' coach, Bill Rigney.
"He's going to be a great one," the Yankees' manager Bucky Harris said.
"He's going to be a great one. I'm sure he'll win it.
"He's going to be a great one." The Cubs' pitcher of the future was waiting in the wings.
"He's going to be a great player," Jablonski told The Sporting News.
"He's going to be a heck of a pitcher," said [former Indians manager] Gene Mauch.
"He's going to be great," [GM] Charlie Dressen said.
"He's going to be great," said Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky.
"He's going to be great," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's going to be great. He's going to be like a pro.
"He's going to be one of the best catchers in the history of the game.
"He's going to be one of the best players ever in baseball," said Bomberger.
"He's going to be one of the best utility players in baseball," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"He's going to be our leader," manager O'Neill said.
"He's going to be the best one of them all," said Herm.
"He's going to be the greatest player ever. Nothing can stop him. He'll make you forget about the rest.
"He's going to do great things for the St. Louis Cardinals," said Cardinals GM Branch Rickey.
"He's got a beautiful swing," said George Steinbrenner, who managed the Yankees to the 1932 World Series.
"He's got a good arm, he can get out in front of you. He's a good hitter.
"He's got a great arm, a great throwing arm, and he's got a good curveball.
"He's got a great arm, he can run and field, and he's got a good head for the game.
"He's got a great arm, he's got good speed, he can run, throw and he can field.
"He's got a great curve and already has a reputation for hitting the long ball," said former teammate Al Rosen.
"He's got a little bit of everything—a fastball, a curve, a change of pace, and his speed.
"He's got a lot of talent," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's got a wicked fastball, and he's got power as well.
"He's got all the tools to be great. He's got everything.
"He's got everything in his favor: intelligence, aggressiveness, and confidence, just like the rest of the clubhouse.
"He's got everything in his head — a fastball, curve, and away.
"He's got everything – a fastball, curve, and speed.
"He's got guts," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"He's got it in his shoulders, but I'll bet he never stops beating the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"He's got it in spades," said manager Johnny Pesky.
"He's got it," said teammate Chuck Diering. "He can handle the position.
"He's got something I'll never forget. I've always been afraid of heights.
"He's got the best arm in baseball," said Boston manager Joe Cronin.
"He's got the long legs, the smarts, and he can go up and touch the ball.
"He's got the makings of a great catcher," manager Leo Durocher said of Ernie Banks.
"He's got the makings of a great pitcher," manager Casey Stengel said of Dickey before the trade.
"He's got the makings of a great pitcher," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's got the perfect temperament and is a smart player," said manager Bucky Harris.
"He's got the power, he can run the ball and he can catch it.
"He's got the temperament to take care of business," manager Casey Stengel said of Miller.
"He's got to be a big leaguer," said Sox catcher Al Kozar.
"He's got to be a damn sight better than he's showing. What a hand. What hand.
"He's got to be a good one," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"He's got to be the best in the majors," said Red Sox manager Johnny Pesky.
"He's got to work with the ball," said Barry Bonds.
"He's got what I've always thought he should have had," said Billy Pierce.
"He's hot, hot. He's got it all. And he's pitching.
"He's in the right place at the right time," said a smiling Frank Robinson.
"He's just a kid trying to make a big impression on the people.
"He's just a kid," Bill Rigney said. "He can run and throw and can shoot.
"He's just a kid," said Fenway's longtime catcher, Bill Werle.
"He's just a kid," said Veteran catcher Gus Triandos. "I know.
"He's just a kid," said his father, "he can't throw hard.
"He's just a kid. He can't help it. He'll do what he likes.
"He's just a kid. He isn't ready to make the big club.
"He's just a kid. He's never going to make a big-league ballplayer out of me.
"He's just a kid. He's not a big-league batboy. He's not a manager.
"He's just a little guy, but he's got guts," said Bartell.
"He's just a normal kid. . He has a normal temperament. He acts like an adolescent.
"He's just a player," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's just a regular kid, this kid. He's got room to grow, room to learn.
"He's just a regular kid. He plays the game as hard as ever and as often as he can.
"He's just a regular who plays in the big leagues. He doesn't have a chance.
"He's just a regular. Very typical of his demeanor, not very bright, but he's still a pro.
"He's just a small part of the ballpark. He's a turn-off.
"He's just a terrific player," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's just an unbelievable ball player," said teammate Hank Aguirre. "He has so much good stuff.
"He's just another kid who wants to win," said former teammate Eddie Stanky.
"He's just like Al Simmons," said a writer who knew both men.
"He's just not built for this stuff," said longtime Dodgers catcher Eddie Waitkus.
"He's just not good enough," said teammate Robin Roberts. "He's got to be a No.
"He's just not that kind of guy to start with," Daniels said.
"He's just phenomenal. He's such a nice guy. I'll never forget this man.
"He's just too good to be playing the game, that's all.
"He's like a big brother to me," said Joe, "He makes everything right.
"He's like a big brother to me," said Ula. "He helps me more than anyone.
"He's like a big brother to me," said my wife, who knew the Browns' third baseman.
"He's like a big kid in my eyes," said one reporter. "He can run more than I can.
"He's like a big kid right now. He's like a kid in the park. He can do things.
"He's like a big kid. He wants to play. He wants to beat you.
"He's like a coach on the sidelines with you. He can tell you how to play and how to throw.
"He's like a dad to me. He always has something for me, and he teaches me how to be a better hitter.
"He's like a father to me," recalled Al Smith, Al's grandson.
"He's like a father to me," said 17-year-old Keisha McBride.
"He's like a grandfather to me," says Boston Red Sox third baseman Eddie Pellagrini.
"He's like a great big kid who just wants to hang around and play.
"He's like a hot potato. He'll be in there for a long time.
"He's like a kid in a candy shop. He can do things.
"He's like a kid in the room. He goes to sleep every night after he sees me.
"He's like a kid on the playground, trying to figure out what to do with his life," his mother said.
"He's like a kid on the playground," his friend and teammate Yogi Berra said.
"He's like a kid playing with a toy gun, but he has guts and he shoots the crap.
"He's like a kid who has just been dropped in the street.
"He's like a kid with a headache," his colleague Bill White said of Robinson.
"He's like a kid with a hot dog that's been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years.
"He's like a kid with a new toy, and it makes things easier. He gets things in motion.
"He's like a kid with a new toy," said Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine.
"He's like a light switch," his catcher, Joe Ginsberg, said.
"He's like a little kid all the time. He's always crying. He's mad.
"He's like a little kid," said Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Vernon.
"He's like a mechanical man," said longtime Cubs catcher Ron Santo.
"He's like a typewriter! I could write a song and he's putting it together.
"He's like an airnickel in hot water," Red Sox catcher Mickey Vernon said of Durocher.
"He's like an electric fence. He can go right by you and he'll get a better look at you.
"He's like an oil truck, but much more powerful. He's got the ball in his hand.
"He's more like a dad, you know. He takes care of us all.
"He's more of a center fielder," said Red Rolfe. "He can run like a deer.
"He's more of a wizard," said Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg.
"He's my boy," Denny McLain told the Associated Press after Dickey was traded.
"He's my boy," said Dickey. "He's as smart as they come.
"He's my boy," said his father. "He wears my uniform and he plays for me.
"He's my boy." On August 10, they hugged for the first time.
"He's no Jack Dempsey, but he's certainly a better ballplayer than Dempsey.
"He's no secret that he's a little bit heavy," said one reporter.
"He's not a bad fielder," said teammate Don Mueller.
"He's not a bad-ball hitter," said Yankees manager Casey Stengel. "He hits the ball.
"He's not a great ballplayer, but he is a very fine boy.
"He's not a great passer, but he's a hell of a team player.
"He's not a natural right-hander," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's not going to stick," said Gehrig, "but he's going to get a break.
"He's not just a good fielder, he's a good hitter, and he's a good team player.
"He's not playing. He's taking a break. He's not going to play another game.
"He's one of the best I ever saw on the ball field.
"He's one of the best at keeping his pitches on the strike zone," said manager Red Rolfe.
"He's one of the best pitchers in the league," said manager Connie Mack.
"He's one of the best right-handed hitters I ever saw," said teammate Carl Erskine.
"He's one of the best," said teammate Clay Higgins.
"He's one of the biggest luckiest guys I've ever known," said Yankees catcher Mickey Harris.
"He's one of the greatest in baseball. He's wonderful with people. He's like a coach.
"He's one of the most interesting pitchers in the league," said Bob Meusel.
"He's one of the most misunderstood players in baseball. He does not have the ability to hurt you.
"He's only 22, but he's going to be a great player.
"He's our guy," Traynor said. "He's our starting pitcher.
"He's our guy." — Cleveland Indians manager Roger Peckinpaugh.
"He's responsible for making me a major-league ballplayer," said Mays.
"He's responsible for me," said McDougald, "for the first time in my life.
"He's right," said Dodger manager Leo Durocher, "he's fabulous.
"He's so great, he's like a teacher," said teammate Billy Hitchcock.
"He's so wild, he's dangerous," said teammate Nile Ranger.
"He's still got a lot of kids and he's going to keep on growing.
"He's such a nice guy. He gives you a lot of confidence. And he plays the game the right way.
"He's terrific. He's a great competitor and he's a wonderful teammate.
"He's the best I ever saw," said one of his teammates, former Yankee Joe DiMaggio.
"He's the best catcher in baseball today. Period. He is as good as I ever saw or heard of.
"He's the best centre-half I've seen in a long time," said manager Bucky Harris.
"He's the best chance in the history of the game of baseball," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's the best defensive catcher in the majors today," said teammate Dick Groat.
"He's the best first baseman I ever played for," Mack said of Sullivan.
"He's the best in the business," said Yankees broadcaster and former broadcaster Mel Allen.
"He's the best like it or not," said his teammate, Sam Jones.
"He's the best of the best," said Dodgers second baseman Billy Herman.
"He's the best player in the American League," said Phillies manager Mayo Smith.
"He's the best prospect I've seen in 20 years," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"He's the best relief pitcher I've seen in 40 years," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's the best right-handed pitcher I've ever seen.
"He's the best right-handed pitcher in the business," said Stengel.
"He's the best shortstop in baseball," said Minnesota Twins manager Red Rolfe.
"He's the best young pitcher in the majors," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"He's the best," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's the best-fielding right fielder in the league," said Boston Braves manager Tommy Holmes.
"He's the best-looking outfielder I've ever seen," Yankees manager Miller Huggins said of Brewer.
"He's the best-looking, ski-hearing cat in the United States," said a local reporter.
"He's the big league version of the Joe DiMaggio," said Yankees broadcaster Whit Young.
"He's the coolest guy in the clubhouse," said teammate Dick Sisler.
"He's the greatest hitter I ever saw," graciously remarked Cubs broadcaster Bob O'Farrell.
"He's the greatest park-ball player in the business," former teammate and Yankee Frank Shea said.
"He's the greatest passer I ever saw," said Jets coach Bill Killefer.
"He's the greatest pro that I ever saw," said Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Murphy.
"He's the greatest thing that ever happened to baseball," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"He's the greatest. He reminds me of (Yan) Mack. He reminds me of (Roger) Conlan.
"He's the kind of guy you'll need a good team around for every day.
"He's the kind that smells like a nightclub," said teammate and fellow first baseman Joe Gordon.
"He's the leader of the guys," said Walker. "I've seen him lead by example.
"He's the most exciting pitcher in the majors," said Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Joe L. Brown.
"He's the most misunderstood player in baseball," said former teammate and Yankee Joe Black.
"He's the most misunderstood player in the game," said Barrett.
"He's the most natural athlete I've seen in many years," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's the most popular guy in the clubhouse," said pitcher Bob Buhl.
"He's the most underrated player in baseball," said Dick Schaap.
"He's the most underrated player in the big leagues," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"He's the most underrated, best-fielding right fielder in the league," said Pettigrew.
"He's the only guy I'm afraid to put on the bench," said Whitey Ford.
"He's the only one I've ever known who showed up at our door with a gun to kill.
"He's the only one who can handle the pitching staff.
"He's the real deal," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"He's too good an animal to be a coward," said the president. "He loves country.
"He's too good," said [George] Mehl, a long-time catcher and Mets broadcaster.
"He's too nice for a war," said one of his teammates.
"He's tough," recalled baseball historian Bill James, "and he's mean.
"He's tough," said Louis. "But he's never going to get on me about baseball.
"He's tough," said teammate Puddin' Head. "He sticks up for his club.
"He's very intelligent, extremely difficult to strike out," said Yankee bench warmer Mickey Mantle.
"He's very tough," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle. "He just wants you to hit the ball.
"He's weak," said Winnie, "but he's got everything I've got.
"Hearty Hoot," the popular nickname for Hoot, was born.
"Heavy Petting May Be Cause of Sore Hand," Milwaukee Journal, July 9, 1953.
"Heck, I was a little scared to death," Burdette recalled.
"Hell no! He's got to have the money. I don't want him making trouble for the ballclub.
"Hell, I can't wait for the rain. I'll be out there in the rain, rain, rain.
"Hell, I don't want to go back to the minor leagues," he told the author.
"Hell, I was in the Army before the war," Vosmik said.
"Hell, I was the best catcher in the league," he said.
"Hell, I'm a better hitter than [Johnny] Mize," said Ellis.
"Hell, I've been in more bad situations, so I know what bad situations people have," the lefty said.
"Henry Gabler is a good hitter but he's not a tough guy," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"Henry the Bulldog" was a nickname the Red Sox gave him as a child due to his bulldog-like temperament.
"Henry, you look like you've had a change of heart.
"Here I am, the big old guy, the face of the Yankees, and I take my hat off to you, Mr.
"Here I'm a 15-year-old boy, and I'm making good. I can hit the ball hard.
"Here I've been playing baseball for ten years, and I know what it's like out there.
"Hey Doc," Meyer said, "You're a good hitter, Babe.
"Hey, that's a boy who didn't win," said manager Bucky Harris after the game.
"Hey," his teammate, Willie "Mudcat" Grant, said, "That's all right.
"His father and I've been married for 62 years. We have a son, Donald Jr., and a daughter, Jill.
"His pitching reflects the better part of his character. He has no business getting mad at you.
"His pitching was good enough to win games for us," said coach Al Benton.
"His two hits and his three RBIs were the difference," said Byrne. "He was the difference.
"History has made me the whiz kid," he boasted, "but it's not overstaying its welcome.
"Hitler was a menace to all of us. He wasn't just a baseball guy, he was a thinker.
"Hiya, I'm Johnny," he was said to say when he first came to the Giants' training camp.
"Ho, ho, ho," the Pirates fans howled their approval as they awaited the start of the 1937 season.
"Hockey makes you strong, it's the great equalizer.
"Hollis was the best first baseman I ever played for," said Musial.
"Home Plate" at Yankee Stadium is a sturdy, rectangular piece of wood with a flat top.
"Home Run Alley" was a nickname that would stick with the Yankee dynasty for the rest of the decade.
"Home runs would be great to have in the clubhouse, but they just weren't as important in the clubhouse as they are today.
"Hoot was a big, strong, fat, mean-eyed, red-necked kid. Big, fat, mean-eyed.
"Horace Mallick was a good man," said Boudreau. "He was a nice, decent, simple person.
"Hot dog," they called him in the heat of the moment.
"How can you be happy with that?" he asked. "You have to play every day.
"How can you blame a kid for playing the game he loves? That's what I did," Stoneham said.
"How can you ever win the big one?" he said to his son.
"How can you get a job in the big leagues if you can't hit?" asked a reporter.
"How can you guys get anything out of me?" said Mays. "I'll tell you something.
"How can you help a kid like that?" Uncle Al answered.
"How can you kill a guy like that?" said Cleveland manager Rogers Hornsby.
"How can you not love a dream like a father loves his child?" asked Warneke.
"How can you possibly make that stuff up?" Anderson asked.
"How can you stop him?" the manager said, "I can't.
"How cool would it be to win 20 games and lose 20?" he asked his father.
"How did you like the show?" he asks the waitress. "It was good," she replies.
"How do you like it? The old man" returned the call.
"How good was the club? Well," said Ernie Banks, "I think it was overrated.
"How good was the pitcher, Bill?" Bill Terry asked.
"How in the world can you make a guy go?" Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine had a tough ask.
"How the hell do you like to play? You can't help it, you'll get tired.
"How were you able to do this," he asked, his voice trailing off as he got a bit more serious.
"How would you like to go to Hawaii?" O'Doul asked.
"How would you like to join us for dinner one night?" His father asked.
"How ya doing, peanut?" the elderly farmer with the ruddy complexion asked in a soft Canadian accent.
"How's the baseball?" "They're playing the game.
"However, if it wasn't for him, perhaps I would have nursed a sore arm," Yonah recalled.
"Hoyt," the catcher known as Hank, was the first black player in the major leagues.
"Huh?" The Brooklyn Dodgers were in a slump and needed a win on a crucial road trip to secure the pennant.
"I 've been dreaming of it for months," he told the newspaper.
"I ain't going to get a chance to prove that I was right all these years," he said.
"I ain't going to say no to the moon-shot. I'm not.
"I always admired him for his work on the field," Roseboro said of Martin.
"I always felt he was younger than me," said Frisch.
"I always felt like I was a little brother to the other players on the team. I didn't have a girlfriend.
"I always felt like a kid in a candy store," he told the author.
"I always liked it," said Cooper, "because it was in a big city.
"I always liked the fact that the fans respected what I did on the field for the Dodgers," says Sandalio.
"I always liked the idea of going back to the West Coast and playing in the Pacific Coast League," Gibson said.
"I always remember when I was in high school and a fellow came up and told me that he wanted to play professional baseball.
"I always tell my children that I was a pitcher. That's the way I was raised.
"I always tell people I'm the only guy in baseball who can hit the long ball to left.
"I always took the outfielders for granted," he said.
"I always wanted to do it in the big leagues," he recalled.
"I am a better pitcher now than when I was in the minors," he said.
"I am a damned good catcher," he said. But he had no trouble handling the younger players.
"I am a little embarrassed," said Boudreau. "I thought I was going to make a good impression on him.
"I am a little surprised that he didn't play," Fogarty said of Laird.
"I am a proud man," said Hernandez. "I am proud to be a Yankee.
"I am a sucker for it," said the squishy-cheeked Cunningham. He was right.
"I am getting a kick out of the fact that he's hitting," said Manager Billy Herman.
"I am glad I'm here," he said. "(Playing for) the Yankees was fun.
"I am going to play for the Yankees in the World Series. They have been my friends ever since I was a boy.
"I am going to play the game my way," he said. "I won't take orders from anybody.
"I am going to take a little break from the front-line duty," he said.
"I am just a kid," the youngster said. "I was raised by my mother and my father.
"I am no Donald Trump, but I am a proud, patriotic American. I am a proud Southern, a proud Republican, proud Democrat.
"I am no fan of the Giants, but I have to say that the Giants are the greatest team in baseball," he said.
"I am not a big fan of the new play," Dickey said. "I prefer the old-fashioned batter.
"I am not a big fan of the old-fashioned batting-average," Broeg said.
"I am not a big fan of the peace conference approach," he said.
"I am not a big fan of the safety net," Jablonski said.
"I am not a liar," he said. "I obey orders. … No one can take me for a crook.
"I am not a morning person," he declared. "I am a night person.
"I am not a natural performer," Garcia said. "I have had to work hard.
"I am not a superman," he said. "I have my weaknesses.
"I am not exactly sure where I would be if I hadn't been in the major leagues," he said.
"I am not going to condone what happened," Boudreau said.
"I am not going to fight you," Rivera said. "I am going to kick your ass.
"I am not going to say that I have been pleased with my salary," he told the writer Ray Walsh.
"I am not saying he's a good ballplayer," Brown told the Free Press's Jim Murray.
"I am quite tall," he said. "I can play some center field. I can hit left field.
"I am the first," he said. "I am the only one who can beat them.
"I am the greatest father you ever wanted," the president said. "You were the best mother ever to me.
"I am the happiest I've ever been in baseball," said Mize.
"I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth," declared the 27-year-old youngster.
"I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told a reporter after the Series.
"I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Cap Anson.
"I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Walt Disney.
"I am the sucker," Babe Ruth said, "and that's the great thing about baseball.
"I am the youngest in the rotation. I was born on September 21, 1941.
"I am very happy to be playing for the Mariners," said Kiner.
"I am very proud that I am a number two player in the big leagues," he said.
"I approached [Harvey] with the same attitude I had as a little kid.
"I asked [Kubek] to do it, and he was just wonderful," Stengel recalled.
"I beat the Yankees in the World Series," he recalled. "They're better than the Yankees.
"I became a better pitcher by working with my dad," O'Doul wrote.
"I became a home-run hitter because I was just learning to play the position," he recalled.
"I became concerned that I was going to be too big for the club and too strong for the team.
"I began to throw the ball around in the dirt. I could feel it was faster than the speed of sound.
"I believe I'll be a great pitcher, but I don't know how to do it.
"I believe he's a better pitcher than he was a hitter.
"I believe he's going to beat you," said manager Mayo Smith.
"I believe that 'Mungo' was the hardest hitter in the league," said Derek Jeter.
"I believe that Joe DiMaggio was the greatest baseball player ever," he told a reporter.
"I believe that he should just retire," said Groat.
"I believe that he's a very fine young man, and I hope he will continue to be likeable going forward.
"I believe that my decision to not play baseball was based on my fear of injury, which led to my not playing baseball.
"I blame it on the hot weather," said Rigney. "I was hoping to play on a warm day.
"I broke a toe," he recalled years later. "I was always trying to get my foot in the right place.
"I broke in with the bat and the crowd was awesome. It was a sellout crowd.
"I broke my finger last year and it was just a freak injury," Calhoun said in 2010.
"I came as a pitcher. I didn't throw the ball. I came as a hitter.
"I came back and took the first two pitches," he said.
"I came to the park with my wife, and I was the only one on the field.
"I came up through the big league system," Mize recalled, "and then I went to the minor leagues.
"I can't afford to be too sensitive about this," he told the author.
"I can't afford to do it," he said. "I'll take my chances to win.
"I can't afford to make a mistake like that again," he said.
"I can't afford to miss the first game of the World Series," Mays said.
"I can't afford to pay 50,000 in voluntary retirement," he said.
"I can't afford to take my chances," said Durocher.
"I can't argue with him," explained Trump, "he's my pet.
"I can't argue with him," said Mets manager Durocher.
"I can't argue with the decisions that I made," he says.
"I can't back down from a fight," he said. It was a memorable quote.
"I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate the support you've received," he said.
"I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you," said Donald.
"I can't believe he's back," said Cleveland's George Selkirk.
"I can't believe he's back," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"I can't believe he's done this," said fullback Dave Ferriss.
"I can't believe he's going to be the manager next year.
"I can't believe he's going to be with us for a long time.
"I can't believe how he has changed," said Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.
"I can't believe how he's feeling," said Giants catcher Carlton Fisk.
"I can't believe how many people show up for the old-timers game.
"I can't believe how the government treated me when I was in the Army," he said.
"I can't believe how well he's playing," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"I can't believe it," he told Boston sportswriter Jim Murray.
"I can't believe it. . . . If it is true, then what a way to turn the corner.
"I can't believe it. I had a pretty good year," he said.
"I can't believe it. Sports are dying! They were dying in numbers.
"I can't believe that he's going to be going to the Hall of Fame," Auerbach said.
"I can't believe that he's going to do it," said my father.
"I can't believe that he's gone. He was one of my biggest boppers.
"I can't believe that the Red Sox are letting him go," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"I can't believe that this is the first time I've ever been to the World Series," said Lewis.
"I can't believe the people who voted for me," he said.
"I can't believe the way Ronnie played," said Phillies manager Bucky Harris.
"I can't believe the way he pitched," said Rivers, "he was an ace.
"I can't believe the way he's playing. He's unbelievable.
"I can't believe these people are voting for him," said Pauline.
"I can't believe this," he said. "This is unbelievable.
"I can't believe this. I've had a great year," he said.
"I can't believe this." President Harry Truman said. "This is unbelievable.
"I can't even begin to tell you what a great day it was today," he told a reporter.
"I can't get enough," he said. At that time, he was having trouble keeping his weight in mind.
"I can't go on like this," he told the Boston Herald's Arthur Daley.
"I can't help but think that the Yankees will be better off if they don't let him pitch.
"I can't help it," he said. "I've got to do what I know.
"I can't help it. I've got to play every day," he said.
"I can't play baseball for the Yankees," he said. "That's my choice, though.
"I can't recall anybody saying anything bad about him," recalled his father.
"I can't remember a time when I didn't like my job at the plate," Casey Jr. said.
"I can't remember ever being afraid of a fastball," he said.
"I can't remember ever being mad at a ballplayer," he said. "I always feel bad for him.
"I can't remember ever being mad at him," said Joe DiMaggio.
"I can't remember ever being more proud to be a Yankee," Yankees manager Bucky Harris said.
"I can't say I had any idea what I was signing up for, but I was excited," Smith recalled.
"I can't say enough about him," said Boston manager Steve O'Neill.
"I can't say enough about how much this means to me," he said.
"I can't say enough about the fan support," he said.
"I can't say enough about the good times," he added.
"I can't say enough about the guy," said Art Guice. "He's a real professional.
"I can't say enough good-byes to Rogers Hornsby," he said.
"I can't say how much I like him," Durocher said of Johnson.
"I can't say that I ever disappointed him," he said of his former teammate.
"I can't say that I feel sorry for him," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I can't say that I knew what I was going to do with the game," he said.
"I can't say that I was anticipating the possibility of a move to the East Coast," Thierry said.
"I can't say that I was ever jealous of his accomplishments, but I was jealous of his personality.
"I can't say that I was worried about the spine or anything like that," he said.
"I can't say that he took my head off," said teammate Andy Seminick.
"I can't say too much about the injuries," he said after the season.
"I can't say where I'll be playing next season," he said.
"I can't see how a man can play baseball if he doesn't have any sense of responsibility.
"I can't see how he could be in the Hall of Fame," said teammate Johnny Pesky.
"I can't see how he could have done it," said Mathews, "It was too close.
"I can't see how he could hit that ball," said his father. "He was too far away.
"I can't see how he's going to help us," Spahn said.
"I can't see how they can let him get away with it any longer," said Riley.
"I can't see how they can let me go out like that," he said.
"I can't see how they did it," he said. "It was a disgrace.
"I can't start on the pitcher's mistakes," Ken said.
"I can't take him out," said Stanky. "He's got it now.
"I can't tell you how much he meant to me," Crosetti said years later.
"I can't understand how they let him stay in there for that long," Wood said.
"I can't understand why they didn't give him a raise," recalled former teammate Wally Post.
"I can't wait for him to come around," said George Selkirk.
"I can't wait to get back to the majors," the 40-year-old Al said.
"I can't wait to get the ball in the box and start hitting," the 18-year-old said.
"I can't wait to get to Mexico and start my career there," he said.
"I can't," the catcher responded when asked if he could. "That's not the point.
"I caught the flu in San Francisco and decided to take a plane to Washington," he said.
"I certainly enjoyed playing, but it was a little unusual.
"I certainly would not have bet against him," said Cooper.
"I consider it my greatest thrill," he said. With the acquisition of first baseman Joe Adcock from the St.
"I could clear ground balls for him and he could hit them for me.
"I could do nothing to help my team. I could only watch and pray.
"I could do," he said. "I was a good hitter, but I wasn't a great hitter.
"I could have had a nervous breakdown," he recalled years later. "But I just kept on playing.
"I could have played with [the Reds] any time," he said. "Wherever they wanted me.
"I could hear the Indians fans in Cleveland screaming, 'He's a better pitcher than that's fair.
"I could never stand him," recalled third baseman Pie Traynor of his playing against the Yankees.
"I could not get a hold of the ball," he recalled. "They were just too strong.
"I could run like a mule deer, throw like a Dalton, and was about as strong as a 450-pound gorilla.
"I could run like a pig and I could jump like a pig.
"I could run the bases, or catch them, or drive in runs," he said.
"I could see him in the dugout hurling one of those little hittable balls," recalled teammate Al Smith.
"I could see him like a deer in headlights," said Boston Red Sox catcher Jimmie Hendrix.
"I could see him when he was in the dugout," said teammate Bob Porterfield.
"I could see him's eyes were bigger than they were," said Casey Stengel.
"I could see that he was going to be a big-league manager in a few years," recalled Thomas.
"I could see the Yankees' bullpen starting to crumble," he said. "I had a plan.
"I could see the frustration in his voice when he said, 'I'll never be a big league player.
"I could see the kids all over the ballpark. I mean, they were out there on the field.
"I could stand the heat, but the fact is, I was a hot-weather pitcher," he said.
"I could stand up and hit .300 for the rest of my career," O'Shaughnessy said.
"I could tell right from the start that I wanted to play in the big leagues," Duren said.
"I could tell that the bat was going to be a problem," he recalled.
"I could tell the difference between a good pitcher and a bad pitcher. Now I'm a good pitcher.
"I could walk all day. I could run all day. I could throw all day, and I could hit all day.
"I could walk down to the ballpark and see white people enjoying themselves," he said.
"I could't afford to pay the fine. So I had to pay the horse.
"I couldn't afford to pay more," Stengel later remarked years later.
"I couldn't get out of it," he recalled. "I still couldn't get out.
"I couldn't go on playing," said Mantle. "I had to get some help.
"I couldn't move!" Roberto Clemente was only three years old when the first World Series started in 1946.
"I couldn't sleep for six weeks. I'm not a night person, I like to be up early.
"I couldn't sleep that night. My dream was to play in the World Series.
"I couldn't wait to get out of there," he recalled in an interview.
"I decided to come to the States because I liked baseball, and I liked the fans and I liked the money. I considered my options.
"I decided to play in the big leagues after finishing up my stint with the Harlem Globetrotts," he said.
"I decided to take my chances that they'd throw at me.
"I definitely use it for defense because I'm a scrapper. I like to get for you a hit and knock you around.
"I did everything in the outfield. I was the power hitter, and I hit groundballs and I made them go out there for strikes.
"I did get a call from the New York Giants the first week of the season," said Kiner.
"I did it because I wanted to get the money," he said.
"I did it because I wanted to prove to the Yankees that I belong.
"I did it because I wanted to," he said. "I was determined to win the pennant.
"I did it for the money, and it was worth it," he said years later.
"I did not drink, and I certainly did not smoke," Crandall said.
"I did not eat anything," he said. "I told them I'd had a hamburger and fries.
"I did not get paid for running the ball club," Washburn told a reporter.
"I did not have a favorite first name," he said. "I was always known by a couple of people.
"I did not want to play for the Yankees," he said. "I wanted to play for my hometown team.
"I did the best I could," he said. "I kept my foot on the gas. I kept my bat loose.
"I did this because I wanted to," he said in a 2008 interview.
"I didn't care if he won or lost," his youngest daughter, Jean, said.
"I didn't care if he won the ballgame or lost it. All I wanted was to play in it.
"I didn't come to Washington looking for money," he recalled in 1971. "I just wanted to play.
"I didn't do anything. I just did what I felt I had to do," he told the author.
"I didn't do it because I could. I did it because I felt like I could.
"I didn't do it for the money," he told reporters years later.
"I didn't do it for the money," he told writer David Cay Johnston. "I did it to win.
"I didn't do it for the publicity. I did it for the money.
"I didn't do it. I was too busy thinking, trying to pitch my perfect game.
"I didn't drink, that was my thing, and I didn't smoke, that was my thing.
"I didn't earn a dime from the show. I was on it for free, for the money," he said.
"I didn't earn the right to be as good as they did," he recalled.
"I didn't eat much, just chicken soup and tomato soup.
"I didn't enjoy being a big-league manager until I was able to manage in the big leagues.
"I didn't even know I was pitching until the last game of the season," he recalled.
"I didn't even know how to stand on the pitching staff. I was just a sensation in the bullpen.
"I didn't even know how to stand on the shoulders of all that," he said.
"I didn't even know what a sack was then," he told the author.
"I didn't even know what a strike was until I started to play," he said.
"I didn't even know what a strikeout was until a week later," he said.
"I didn't even know what a triple was until I started playing," he recalled.
"I didn't get a break until I was over here," he said.
"I didn't get married until I was 30," he revealed years later.
"I didn't get much playing time," he recalled. "I played in only 50 games in 1941.
"I didn't get that promotion from the Cardinals, but I got that promotion from St. Louis.
"I didn't get to play in the World Series, but I didn't care," he recalled.
"I didn't get to sit in the dugout until I was ready to pitch," he said.
"I didn't give a damn about any of his political antics," said former United States first lady Laura Bush.
"I didn't have a chance," he remembered. He was on the losing end of four straight decisions.
"I didn't have a choice. I'd go to work," he recalled.
"I didn't have a dream," he said. "I just played baseball.
"I didn't have a fastball or a curve or anything like that," he recalled.
"I didn't have a girlfriend, so I was dating a high-school baseball player, and he got me a girlfriend.
"I didn't have a manager as I had in Cleveland," he said.
"I didn't have an easel, so I just picked up a book and started reading.
"I didn't have any idea I was going to be playing in the big leagues," he said.
"I didn't have to do anything…I was just nervous to start a game.
"I didn't know anything about the war until the war was over," said O'Doul.
"I didn't know how I'd ever break into the big leagues until I started this season," he said.
"I didn't know how to fight," he said. "I just had to fight.
"I didn't know how to pitch to him," said Mets second baseman Gil Hodges.
"I didn't know how to pitch. I was pitching like a spitter. I was a walking pitcher.
"I didn't know how to speak English, but I was good at it. I could stand out in a crowd.
"I didn't know how to stand up for myself. I was scared to death.
"I didn't know how to swim," he said. "And I was weak.
"I didn't know if I could throw the ball, so I relied on my head and my hit to first base.
"I didn't know if I had a home run problem or a weakness. I just didn't hit home runs.
"I didn't know if I was going to make it or not," he said.
"I didn't know if I was going to play baseball in the big leagues or not," he said.
"I didn't know if I'd ever play baseball again," Crandall said.
"I didn't know if I'd ever play in the big leagues," he said.
"I didn't know what to call him until I got there," recalled Dyer.
"I didn't know what to do with it," recalled Berra with a chuckle.
"I didn't know what to do with my dad," Singleton recalled.
"I didn't know what to do with myself," he recalled.
"I didn't know what to do with the boys. I couldn't take them any more.
"I didn't know what to do," said Hatton, "so I just swung and missed.
"I didn't know what to do," the third baseman recalled.
"I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to play.
"I didn't know what to do. I had a fastball, but I had no curve. I had to do something.
"I didn't know what to do. I saw the umpire and he was giving me signals.
"I didn't know what to expect when I arrived in Brooklyn," he told the author. "I was nervous.
"I didn't know what to expect. I was a rookie. I was nervous.
"I didn't know whether I was a man or a rat until I went through the war with the US.
"I didn't let him speak for me," Gorman recalled of his talks with the manager.
"I didn't like [the contract] at first," Conley said.
"I didn't like being a benchwarmer," he said. "They were just not my kind of guys.
"I didn't like it," said Boudreau, "but I had to do it.
"I didn't like my job," he said. "I had a wife and a daughter to take care of.
"I didn't like playing in Brooklyn," he said. "I wasn't a fan.
"I didn't like the city," he once said. "I left in 1949.
"I didn't like the fast ball," he said. "I preferred the curve.
"I didn't like the name," he said. "But I liked the sound of it.
"I didn't like the show," he said. "I didn't like what I was doing.
"I didn't like the way I pitched during the war," MacPhail said. "And the war too.
"I didn't like the way he played," said Whitey Ford, who was with the Cardinals at the time.
"I didn't make a mistake in baseball, so I figured I was good to go.
"I didn't play baseball in the 1930s because I didn't have anything to do.
"I didn't play baseball to get rich," he said. "I played baseball to help my family.
"I didn't play because I was afraid I would hurt my arm," he said.
"I didn't play for [manager] Tom Yawkey. I was with [Bill] Terry.
"I didn't play for the Yankees because I wanted to be a coach," Dickey recalls.
"I didn't play the game, but I sure played it. I just had to play it.
"I didn't realize how important it was until I started to play.
"I didn't realize how much I knew about baseball until I got to the big leagues," said Harlow.
"I didn't realize how much I was going to enjoy it until I got to the park.
"I didn't really get what I wanted out of the deal. I was only there for two days and I felt bad.
"I didn't really know what to do. I was afraid I'd hurt myself," he said.
"I didn't really start playing until I came to the Yankees.
"I didn't run him off the mound," Maris said. "I ran him off the field.
"I didn't say anything about it until a week ago," Reiser recalled years later. "I was embarrassed.
"I didn't say anything. I'd tell the whole world I'm not pleased.
"I didn't see him pitch again. He was going to get drafted.
"I didn't take baseball very seriously at the time and I didn't.
"I didn't take it easy on him. I didn't find him a little bit soft.
"I didn't take it lightly; I had played just about every position in the league.
"I didn't take my eye off the plate," he recalled years later. "I just kept shooting.
"I didn't think I could ever play the game the way I was used to.
"I didn't think I was a catcher. I was scared to death.
"I didn't think I was going to make it," he recalled.
"I didn't think I was ready for the big leagues," Cramer said.
"I didn't think I'd play baseball until I found out how severe the disease is," he said.
"I didn't understand how they let me play for them," he said.
"I didn't wake up one morning and read the papers. I was too afraid I'd get sick.
"I didn't walk in the room until I got to the ballpark," he said.
"I didn't want him to hit me." After years of struggle, the St.
"I didn't want him to make fun of my play," Wertz said.
"I didn't want him to win. I didn't want him to feel pressure.
"I didn't want to answer that," he said. "It seemed like a pointless thing to ask.
"I didn't want to be a clown," he told the author. "I wanted to be a winner.
"I didn't want to be a crook," he said. "I wanted to make good.
"I didn't want to be a disappointment to him," said Robinson.
"I didn't want to be a hero," he said. "I wanted to be a winner.
"I didn't want to be a liability. I'd rather be a keystone combination.
"I didn't want to be a loser like Jim Gilliam," he recalled. "I wanted to win.
"I didn't want to be a number," he said. "I wanted to be a number.
"I didn't want to be a superstar, but I was able to play almost every day," he recalls.
"I didn't want to be in the war," he said. "I wanted to play baseball.
"I didn't want to be like Dizzy Dean," he recalled in 1997.
"I didn't want to be like Joe DiMaggio," the All-Star recalled.
"I didn't want to be like that kid who would get shots in the early days," he said.
"I didn't want to be on the street. I didn't want to leave my home.
"I didn't want to be standing in the middle of the street," he said.
"I didn't want to be the guy to make him do it," said Joe.
"I didn't want to be the guy to make him regret it.
"I didn't want to be working in the haystack," he recalled in an interview.
"I didn't want to get the contract because I was too young," Lary said.
"I didn't want to go into the war," he told The Sporting News's Jack Willis.
"I didn't want to go to the Polo Grounds," he said.
"I didn't want to play for [coach] Eddie Dyer. I wanted to play for Eddie.
"I didn't want to play for him," said Hall of Fame pitcher Denny Galehouse.
"I didn't want to play for the Yankees like I had for the Browns," he said.
"I didn't want to play in the minor leagues," said Meusel.
"I didn't want to start the season like that," recalled Molitor.
"I didn't want to talk about it," he told reporters years later.
"I do not believe that he should have been sent down," he said.
"I do not believe that the publicity surrounding the play of the bat causes an athlete to cheat," Court said.
"I do not think he's a better hitter than [Pork] Lake.
"I do not want to get involved in this argument. I just think it is important that we keep the peace.
"I do remember," he said, "when I was in high school, I was a pitcher and a pretty good hitter.
"I don't bat, but I can run!"– The Sporting News, September 21, 1957, p. 5.
"I don't believe I was ever suspended or fined the way they say," Stanky said decades later.
"I don't believe he's going to be an effective player. He needs work.
"I don't care for it. I don't even like to think about it. I just love to play baseball.
"I don't care for the press," said Schlitter. "I care for the team.
"I don't care if I get a hit or not, I just want to play," he said.
"I don't care if he plays shortstop, third base, or the outfield," said longtime teammate Billy Herman.
"I don't care much for the title. I just want to play baseball," he told the author.
"I don't care what color you are, I'm just glad you are there.
"I don't care what color you are. I don't care what your background is.
"I don't care where I play," he said. "I care about winning.
"I don't care whether you've played professional baseball or not.
"I don't care who plays for him. I just want him to win.
"I don't even know how to begin," he said. "I just need to pitch better.
"I don't even know how to begin," he told The Sporting News in 1954.
"I don't even know where I'll be playing. I'll be playing anywhere.
"I don't even know where I'm going to play," he told the author.
"I don't have a lot of time for idle lectures," he said.
"I don't have any complaints about the way they treated me," Said Shotton.
"I don't have any of my stuff. I'll take what I can get," he said.
"I don't have any son-in-laws, so I must have gotten the old one from the Yankees.
"I don't have to show you how to win a game," he said.
"I don't hire players to do what I'm not willing to do," said Crandall.
"I don't know about the fans, but I can tell you this: The Yankees will win it.
"I don't know about the other guys," he told the Boston Herald's Arthur Daley.
"I don't know any other way to pitch in the majors," he said.
"I don't know anything about Jewish people," the veteran pitcher said.
"I don't know anything about the guy. He looks like he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
"I don't know how I'll ever play professional baseball again," he said.
"I don't know how anybody could let that happen," said a proud Golia.
"I don't know how far [the boycott] will go, but I will not stand for it," he said.
"I don't know how he did it," said Bob Shaw, the Yankees' catcher and a teammate in 1939.
"I don't know how he did it," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"I don't know how he did it," said Don Gutteridge, the Yankees' field director.
"I don't know how he did it," said Earl Weaver, a former teammate.
"I don't know how he did it," said Marlins catcher Russ Nixon.
"I don't know how he did it," said Rosales. "Maybe he was tired.
"I don't know how he did it," said Stanky. "I can only say that I had to.
"I don't know how he did it," said Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.
"I don't know how he did it," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I don't know how he did it," said a shocked Stengel.
"I don't know how he did it," said his friend and teammate, Red Ruffing.
"I don't know how he does it," the president said. "I know it only makes sense.
"I don't know how long he'll last," said Joe DiMaggio.
"I don't know how long it will take," he said. "I think I'll be through.
"I don't know how many times he's been on the mound," Weiss recalled.
"I don't know how many times we've had to punt," he said.
"I don't know how the Dodgers' fans feel," said Dodger pitcher and manager Dazzy Vance.
"I don't know how the war will end," said the veteran outfielder.
"I don't know how they found me," he said. "They stopped by every stop to check on me.
"I don't know how to answer him," recalled Cats manager Connie Mack.
"I don't know how to pitch to him," said Manager Al Lopez.
"I don't know if I was trying to be a clown or not," he recalled.
"I don't know if I will ever play left field again," he said.
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to play another game in the big leagues," he said.
"I don't know if I'll ever get into the Hall of Fame," he predicted.
"I don't know if I'll ever make it back to third base," said McNair.
"I don't know if I'll ever play ball again," he told the author.
"I don't know if I'm old enough to be a manager, but I have never been a coach.
"I don't know if I've ever been more happy in my life," he said.
"I don't know if he was a saint or a villain," said Doris.
"I don't know if he was afraid of being shot down or not," said the Dodgers' Al Hibbing.
"I don't know if he was joking," said Tom Yawkey, who saw the photo and recognized the likeness.
"I don't know if he was super-stressed about it or not," recalled his friend Ben Chapman.
"I don't know if he's a phony or not," said Joe Cronin.
"I don't know if he's even mentally fit to pitch," said teammate Harry Hanebrink.
"I don't know if he's right or wrong," Gerda recalled.
"I don't know if it's good luck or bad luck," the outfielder said.
"I don't know if the ball was in my hand or not," he said.
"I don't know many people that can do the job," he answered when asked about his playing career.
"I don't know that I could ever hit a ball that big," he said.
"I don't know that he understood what he was signing.
"I don't know what I'll do next," he told The Sporting News.
"I don't know what I'll do with my life," the Hall of Fame pitcher said.
"I don't know what comes between us now," said the manager, "but I know one thing.
"I don't know what happened," he said. "I just don't know.
"I don't know what happened," he said. "I just feel like something was off.
"I don't know what happened," he said. "I'll tell you what did happen.
"I don't know what he was thinking," Grissom recalls. "He was a real good catcher.
"I don't know what he's going to do in the future," Popovich said.
"I don't know what he's going to do next year," said Blue.
"I don't know what he's going to do next year," said Cimoli.
"I don't know what he's going to do next year," said Wilder.
"I don't know what he's going to do next year," said Wills.
"I don't know what he's going to do with the bat," Mantle said.
"I don't know what he's going to do. He comes into the game and he does things.
"I don't know what it was, but I know I was frightened.
"I don't know what it was," he said, "but I do know that I was very upset.
"I don't know what it's going to be," Red recalled.
"I don't know what it's going to take," the manager said.
"I don't know what it's like to be a woman in baseball.
"I don't know what it's like to be on the bench," he said.
"I don't know what the Hall of Fame will do with me," he said after his retirement.
"I don't know what the adjustment to the regular lineup will be," he said.
"I don't know what the fuss is about. I've never heard of it.
"I don't know what the future holds," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I don't know what the future holds," he told the St. Petersburg Times.
"I don't know what the hardest thing in life is," said Kuzava.
"I don't know what the hell the Red Sox are talking about," Miller said.
"I don't know what the hell to do with myself anymore.
"I don't know what they're going to do with me," he said.
"I don't know what to do with the money," he told reporters in 1949.
"I don't know what type of worse you can get away with," he admitted years later.
"I don't know where he's going to end up," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"I don't know where they'll be taking me," Dickey said.
"I don't know where this is going," said Joe Cronin as he rushed to the plate.
"I don't know whether I'm going to make it or not," the veteran outfielder said.
"I don't know whether I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world or not," he said.
"I don't know who I'm going to be playing for next year," said Eddie Waitkus.
"I don't know who was the better player, but I'll tell you who was the more outstanding.
"I don't know why I played baseball for the Yankees," Dickey said.
"I don't know why I'm still on the club," Swish said.
"I don't know why he doesn't say one word about me.
"I don't know why he keeps making that move," said Feller.
"I don't know why they asked me, but I'm not about to say it.
"I don't know why they call him a center fielder anymore," said Gehrig.
"I don't know why they call me Lucky," he told the authors six years after he signed his first professional contract.
"I don't know why they call me a knuckleball pitcher," he said.
"I don't know why they call me a slugging outfielder," he said.
"I don't know why they call me by that name," said the veteran outfielder.
"I don't know why they don't like me," Long admitted.
"I don't know why they keep bringing him back," he says.
"I don't know why they keep bringing him up," said Jablonski.
"I don't know why they keep bringing him up," said manager Bill Rigney.
"I don't know why they keep bringing that up. It's a joke, really. We had that in Brooklyn.
"I don't know why they keep bringing them up," said Dodger coach Johnny Murphy.
"I don't know why they keep coming after me," Staub said.
"I don't know why they kept me out," the veteran said.
"I don't know why they're keeping me around," he said.
"I don't like his hitting. He's careless and he seems to be raring to go.
"I don't like the way they play baseball," said Pat.
"I don't like to be on the bench," he said. "I'd rather play.
"I don't like to think I've had to go through this," O'Sullivan said.
"I don't make any excuses for having a bad year," he said.
"I don't need to say any more," the veteran catcher explained.
"I don't remember ever being afraid of anything," he said.
"I don't remember ever being scared of a spider," he said.
"I don't think I ever dreamed I was going to be a big-league manager," he said.
"I don't think I ever felt better in baseball," he said.
"I don't think I ever heard him say another word. He was kind of quiet, but he was a mighty fine catcher.
"I don't think I ever wanted to play a game in Atlanta," he recalls fondly.
"I don't think I ever will be able to leave baseball," he said years later.
"I don't think I ever will be able to put on a major league uniform," he said.
"I don't think I was ever a great hitter in high school," Durocher said.
"I don't think I would have been able to play at that level in the minors.
"I don't think I'll be too old when I'm 40," Jablonski said.
"I don't think I'll ever get over the fear of flying," he said.
"I don't think I'll ever play another game for them.
"I don't think I'll ever play professional ball again," he said.
"I don't think I'll ever see the [World Series] again," Gehrig said.
"I don't think I'll have any choice but to approve the sale.
"I don't think I'm a bad influence on him. He's a splendid player.
"I don't think I'm a better hitter than he is," recalls Mickey Mantle.
"I don't think I'm as good as I was then," he said.
"I don't think I'm going to go back to the minors," he said.
"I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues yet," he said after the season.
"I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues," said DiMaggio.
"I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues," said Jean.
"I don't think I'm the only one who feels that way," he said in his autobiography.
"I don't think I'm the only one who feels that way.
"I don't think I've ever been as relaxed as I was on the mound last year," he said.
"I don't think I've ever been more miserable," he said. He was a wreck.
"I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my entire life," he said.
"I don't think I've ever been on a ballfield where I wasn't proud to be an American.
"I don't think I've ever had a more insulting name," he said.
"I don't think I've ever seen a better-fielding, better-hitting, baseball team.
"I don't think I've ever seen a big-league ballplayer do it before.
"I don't think I've ever seen a more miserable, cruel, and pointless place to work.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," Red said.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," he said.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like this," he said.
"I don't think I've ever taken a bad pitch in my life," he said.
"I don't think I've ever written a hit in my whole life.
"I don't think Leo was a good manager for us," Spahn said.
"I don't think Lou Gehrig ever did anything like that.
"I don't think he could hit the ball any better. I don't think he could catch it, either.
"I don't think he deserved it," Pete once told the New York Times.
"I don't think he ever came close to being a winner," Gardner recalled.
"I don't think he ever forgets who he's a fan of," said the longtime catcher.
"I don't think he ever had any effect on me. But he did help me a lot.
"I don't think he ever saw a pitch to hit. Only the wind.
"I don't think he ever saw me hit," recalled Don Gutteridge. "I was a catcher.
"I don't think he had played his best ball in the past," Rogers said.
"I don't think he knows what he's talking about," said teammate Dick Sisler.
"I don't think he saw the ball strike the ground," said coach Billy Herman.
"I don't think he wanted to be a part of it. He was a competitor and wanted to win.
"I don't think he was a dirty player," recalled Bucky Harris.
"I don't think he was a good influence on me," he said years later.
"I don't think he was a great baseball player," Everitt said.
"I don't think he was a great pitcher," said Martin. "But he was a very compelling pitchman.
"I don't think he was a hard-working guy," recalled O'Doul.
"I don't think he was a liar. All he was doing was playing the part.
"I don't think he was a real pitcher," said Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen.
"I don't think he was even supposed to be here. I heard he was sent down because he failed a drug test.
"I don't think he was the greatest pitcher in baseball history," said former Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"I don't think he's a bad guy" said Bears' announcer Johnny Murphy.
"I don't think he's a bad guy, just a victim of circumstances.
"I don't think he's a big, tall kid," Carrasquel said of his new manager.
"I don't think he's a big-league hitter," said Barry Bonds.
"I don't think he's a big-league hitter," said Joe DiMaggio.
"I don't think he's a good guy," said a source close to the White Sox.
"I don't think he's a good hitter. He can run, but he doesn't throw much.
"I don't think he's a good manager," said his friend and teammate Jerry Coleman.
"I don't think he's a great ballplayer," said his father.
"I don't think he's a great hitter," said Hall of Famer Bucky Harris.
"I don't think he's a real ballplayer," Gray said of Sal.
"I don't think he's ever going to be a good hitter," recalled Simmons.
"I don't think he's ever going to be a great hitter," said West.
"I don't think he's ever going to be a major-league ballplayer. He should be retired.
"I don't think he's ever going to get elected to the Hall," said Smith.
"I don't think he's ever going to play ball again," said pitcher Sandy Koufax.
"I don't think he's ever going to play ball in the big leagues again.
"I don't think he's ever going to play baseball again," says Joe Garagiola.
"I don't think he's going to be able to pitch in the big leagues," said McQuinn.
"I don't think he's going to get elected," said the late Milwaukee Braves announcer Bob Murphy.
"I don't think he's going to make the big leagues," Joe recalled.
"I don't think he's going to play that long," White Sox manager Al Lopez said.
"I don't think he's up to the job," said Cuban catcher Jose Ramón Ortiz.
"I don't think he's worth the money he's been getting," said Rivera.
"I don't think it was discrimination. I think the boys just didn't like the girls.
"I don't think it's fair to the player, the manager, the league, the country, whatever.
"I don't think that I could have been on the baseball field if it weren't for the war.
"I don't think the Yankees will ever win another World Series.
"I don't think the fans want him anymore," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"I don't think there was ever a discussion in the clubhouse about what the Red Sox were going to do with him.
"I don't think there's any way you can think you'll be able to beat him.
"I don't think there's anything I can say about it.
"I don't think they're going to do anything to help us," he said.
"I don't think they're going to let me go," he told the author.
"I don't think they're going to make a move for me," he said in December.
"I don't think they've ever been able to make him go.
"I don't think this is a story about me," said Stengel.
"I don't think we're going to get to the World Series.
"I don't think you can get him out of his slump," said Dillon.
"I don't understand why they keep bringing it up," said Young.
"I don't want it to be a one-sided thing. I want it to be a trial.
"I don't want to be a distraction to the club," the president-elect said.
"I don't want to be a long-distance hitter," he said.
"I don't want to be a scapegoat because I have no regrets," he said.
"I don't want to be a winner. I want to win for my teammates," he said.
"I don't want to get him killed," Stengel said. "But he can hurt you.
"I don't want to get into a play-by-play of the play," he said.
"I don't want to get into the weeds about this, but I think it's important to get the point across.
"I don't want to get into the weeds about why he was fired," Smilanich said.
"I don't want to get too hasty about it," he told the Tribune.
"I don't want to get too involved. I just want to play my ball and get on with my life.
"I don't want to get too much into the weeds about what happened," he said.
"I don't want to give up the locker room," he said.
"I don't want to hear any more about the Tampa crowd," he told a writer shortly after he joined the Dodgers.
"I don't want to make a big thing out of it," he said.
"I don't want to make anyone mad by making a statement," he said later.
"I don't want to make people mad," he said. "I just want them to see me work.
"I don't want to take anything away from him," said Sonny Dykes.
"I don't want to turn some people off," he said. "I want to make people proud of baseball.
"I drove him crazy," recalled Curt Simmons. "He looked at me like I was crazy.
"I earned the respect of my teammates, and I earned the respect of the fans.
"I enjoy playing golf because I like to have fun doing it," he said.
"I enjoyed it," he said. "It was the first time I ever went to the All-Star Game.
"I enjoyed playing with Meyer when he was my manager," Rodriguez said. "He was a great motivator.
"I failed miserably," he said. "I couldn't read the damn book.
"I feel like I was trying to do something that would never work," he said.
"I feel like I've been sitting on the moon," he said in a sportswriter's note.
"I feel like I've been through too many times," he said.
"I feel like crying," he told the Associated Press.
"I feel quite comfortable at the end of the season," he said.
"I feel so bad for him," said Catfish Hunter, "He's been an inspiration to so many people.
"I feel so bad for my dad," the nine-year-old boy said.
"I felt good but not great," he said. "I'll have to keep that in mind.
"I felt like I was being put on an allowance, a little kid, and I was so grateful to the Lord.
"I felt like my leg was going to be broken," he remembered.
"I felt so bad about leaving the Yankees," he recalled, "but I couldn't stop thinking about it.
"I felt sorry for him," recalled former teammate and close friend Al Kaline.
"I figure it would be a good idea for him to get some more experience.
"I figured on a couple of things. One, I'd have to work on my curveball.
"I figured that if I stayed out of trouble, the police would get me. And I was right. They got me.
"I finally had enough," he said. "I threw the ball in the dirt, half in disgust and half in anger.
"I find it difficult to believe that I've been here 20 years," he said.
"I find it very hard to believe that this is the real McCoy," said the hot-tempered Brownback.
"I finished my freshman year, and in 1952 I was in the military," he said.
"I forgot how to throw a curveball," he said years later.
"I found that he was a good-hearted guy, and I think he's learned a lesson that I didn't.
"I gave him everything I had," said Palmeiro. "The bat, the legs, the speed, everything.
"I gave him everything he asked," O'Neill said. "In every way. He's the best.
"I get a kick just thinking about it," said Trucks.
"I get a kick out of seeing the fans," said Al Tebbetts.
"I get to play every day and I'll take advantage of it," the big right-hander said.
"I get up every morning, if I have to, to go to work, do my job, go to the ballpark.
"I go out there and pitch to my teammates, and I do a good job," he said.
"I got a bad feeling in my stomach," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I got a better salary than my dad. I got a better pension than my daddy.
"I got a call from the Giants," he recalled. "They wanted me to come down and help them.
"I got a call from the Indians [the National League team he was playing for] about a contract holdout.
"I got a contract for $50,000, so I was expecting to be a big-league starting pitcher," he said.
"I got a good-sized paycheck that was a little bit more than what I was making in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
"I got a hit, I was leading off, and I got two walks," he recalled in 2003.
"I got a strikeout today and a pop fly, so I was just trying to figure that out," Burdette said.
"I got along with everybody," he told The Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I got him from a friend," said John Henry, manager of the Reds' Triple-A Richmond club.
"I got him in a hurry," Groat said of his acquisition. "He's a smart boy.
"I got him out of his slump," said Spahn. "I just let him bat.
"I got him out of the hospital and I was the proudest father," said his wife, Virginia.
"I got him out of the slump and he's doing great," said Gibson.
"I got him out of there," said Priddy, "and I just kept hitting groundballs to him.
"I got him to play, and he played. I got him to run, and he played.
"I got into a fight with the umpires," recalled Cerv about the incident that occurred on June 28, 1941.
"I got into baseball through the Red Sox," Kiner said.
"I got into the game at 19, and I was playing second base and third base.
"I got lucky," he said. "I got lucky that [Cordell] was a good pitcher.
"I got my chance to play in the big leagues in 1937.
"I got my chance to play in the majors by hitting .300," he said.
"I got out of baseball," he recalled. "I was a pretty good pitcher for the city and for the Yankees.
"I got out there and I was afraid I was going to get hurt.
"I got that contract from the Yankees, and I felt that I did a good job for them," he said.
"I got the call from the Cleveland Indians, and I went to Cleveland, but I was too embarrassed to tell them.
"I got the call to play for the Giants late in the season, but I was scared.
"I got the call to play," said Grieshan, "and I was so nervous. I was so afraid.
"I got the chance to play in my first big league game, and I just played the game. I was just afraid to death.
"I got tired of him pointing," said Joseph. "I'll just drive him out.
"I got tired of waiting for something to happen," he said.
"I got to move to the big leagues," he said. "I was in the big leagues on a daily basis.
"I got to play golf, and that's where I was," he recalled.
"I got to play in the World Series," he remembered.
"I got to see the Giants play," he said. "It was a great experience.
"I got to the point where I couldn't wait to get out of there.
"I gotta get back to my roots," he said after his rookie year.
"I grew up on a farm," he said. "We raised cattle and chickens and pigs and water buffalo.
"I guess I just got lucky," he said. In 1960 his ERA was 2.80.
"I guess I should have stayed in the minors," he said.
"I guess I was an easy pick for the Dodgers," Nixon said.
"I guess I was the best pitcher in the league," he recalled nearly 60 years later.
"I guess I was too good for baseball," he told the author. "I was too good for everything.
"I guess I'm not two inches short of 2,000," he said after his father died.
"I guess I'm still a young kid, rather young," he says.
"I guess I'm the youngest in the big leagues," he said.
"I guess I've got a little something to do with it," he said.
"I guess he was more of a cricket fan than the average baseball fan," recalled his friend and teammate, pitcher Dutch Meyer.
"I guess that was the best day of my life," he said.
"I had a .230 batting average, but that could have been because I was tired after driving in 39 runs with St.
"I had a back ailment and my back didn't feel right," Adcock said.
"I had a bad ankle," he told reporters at the time.
"I had a bad back and I was out of the lineup for a while.
"I had a bad back," he recalled. "I had surgery but they said it wouldn't do any good.
"I had a bad back," said Myer, "and after three weeks I was out of action.
"I had a bad back. I'm no doctor, but I had a bad back.
"I had a fastball that was as fast as the first pitch I threw in my minor-league days," he said.
"I had a fine year," he said. "But I did have a sore arm.
"I had a good arm," he recalled. "I just had to work hard every day and it was there for me.
"I had a good fastball and I could curve, but nobody else was telling me what I could do with it.
"I had a good fastball and a curve and I was happy to be in the [big league] rotation," he recalled.
"I had a good fastball, and I could curve, but I didn't have much else.
"I had a good fastball, and I was above average in the plate department," he said.
"I had a good fastball, but I wasn't overpowering," he said.
"I had a good fastball, but it was my only weapon," he said.
"I had a good spring," Hatton recalled years later. "I was the hottest pitcher in baseball.
"I had a good spring," he said, "and then a bad one. I didn't like it.
"I had a good spring. I had a great curveball and I was throwing it every day.
"I had a good year," he said, "but I didn't have a great year at the plate.
"I had a good year," he said. "I played every inning of every game.
"I had a great career," Curt Simmons admitted in the early 1950s.
"I had a great career," said Crandall. "I was a very good hitter.
"I had a great curveball," he recalled about his signing with the Yankees in 1947.
"I had a great rookie year," he said. "I hit .308 and hit 24 homers.
"I had a great spring and played in all-star games," he remembered.
"I had a great spring training in 1954!" On April 24, he was leading the league in hitting with a .
"I had a great strikeout," recalled former Yankees reliever Joe Koppe after his career ended in 1958.
"I had a great time on the farm," Spahn said. "And in the big city.
"I had a great year in 1951," Feller recalled. "I was the ace of the staff.
"I had a great year in Chicago," Don Johnson said after the 1952 season. "I won a World Series ring.
"I had a great year in Detroit," Fordham University forward Ron Lanning recalls.
"I had a great year," he said. "I had a record of 22-7 in 1932.
"I had a great year," he said. "I pitched in the Southern California Winter League in Kern County.
"I had a home in North Carolina and a job at a coal company. I took a job in the mines.
"I had a little bit of a nervous breakdown. I was out of it for six months.
"I had a lot of fun when I was in the big leagues," he said. "Never playing and never going home.
"I had a pretty good [batting] average," he said, "but I was hitting the ball for power.
"I had a pretty good career," Frank Robinson said in his raspy, raspy voice.
"I had a pretty good career," said Shotton. "I had a lot of good years and bad years.
"I had a pretty good curve ball," he recalled. "And I could throw it left-handed too.
"I had a pretty good first year in Milwaukee," Feller recalled.
"I had a pretty good line for four years," he recalled.
"I had a pretty good spring and a pretty good arm," he said.
"I had a pretty good spring training in 1954," he recalled in 2001. "And I was a big, strong guy.
"I had a pretty good spring," he reflected years later. "I was pitching the ball well and hitting it.
"I had a pretty good spring," he said in his autobiography. "But I really blossomed in the summer.
"I had a pretty good spring," he said. "It was a great place to play. The teachers were great.
"I had a pretty good year for eight teams," he told the author.
"I had a pretty good year for nine, 10, 11, and 12," said Wilson.
"I had a pretty good year for ninth grade," he recalled.
"I had a pretty good year for the Senators in 1952," he recalled in 2011.
"I had a pretty good year in Syracuse," he recalled.
"I had a pretty good year," he remembered in a 1999 interview.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "But you can't argue with the record.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "I had a 2.48 ERA and a bedlam bat on me.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "I hit .271, and I was the starting shortstop.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "I hit .285 and hit 30 home runs.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "I hit .313, a home run and 13 runs batted in.
"I had a pretty good year," he said. "I played every infield position except first base.
"I had a pretty good year," said DiMaggio in his typical dry fashion.
"I had a pretty good year," said Levitt, who batted .281 and contributed nine home runs and 70 runs batted in.
"I had a pretty good year. I had a lot of fun," he said.
"I had a pretty good year. I hit .283 and I had an eight-game hitting streak.
"I had a pretty strong arm," he said. "And I was pretty good at it.
"I had a real good year, and I was able to return to the major leagues," Greenwade said.
"I had a strong arm,, but wasn't a good hitter. I was a good field player and all.
"I had a superb year. I was at my best in the first half of the season.
"I had a terrible arm," said Buddy Lewis, "and I had a terrible attitude.
"I had a terrible back, and I didn't realize how bad it was until I started playing baseball," he said.
"I had a terrific year in 1959," said retired Yankee Mantle. "The Yankees won the big game.
"I had a tough time. I was an older kid and I'm supposed to be the elder.
"I had a very good fastball but I had to work on my control," he recalled.
"I had an excellent curve ball," he recalled. "But my control was good.
"I had an opportunity to play in the World Series," he said in his memoir.
"I had been in the infantry for a year and a half," he said.
"I had been working on my speed," he recalled, "and I had my natural right speed.
"I had every intention of playing professional baseball, but I was never able to find a club," said the bright and handsome Al.
"I had fun playing for him," Mahaffey said. "He reminded me of my dad.
"I had good hands," he said. "I could run and I could throw and I could wrap up people.
"I had great patience out there," said Boudreau. "I was patient and stuck to my style.
"I had great patience," said the right-hander, "and that's the reason I pitched like I did.
"I had him come in for a test run in the spring of 1959, and he came in with a .
"I had just broken my left fibula and was losing the feeling in my knee," he said.
"I had just developed a sore arm," he recalled. "I couldn't even raise my left foot.
"I had never seen anything like this," he said. "It was so wild. … The ground shook.
"I had no choice but to go and play," he said. "It was a matter of pride and decency.
"I had no choice but to take it," said Nuxhall. "I was going to pay the price.
"I had no doubt that I was going to play," said Mays.
"I had no idea I was going to be doing that," Peterson said.
"I had no idea I would ever play baseball," he said. "I had never been to a big-league game.
"I had no idea I would ever play in the majors. I was embarrassed. I was ashamed.
"I had no idea I'd be in the Hall of Fame," he said.
"I had no idea I'd become the manager of the Giants," said Feller. "I was shocked.
"I had one of the best years of my life that year," he recalled.
"I had some pretty good years," he recalled years later.
"I had the best of years in 1964," said Del Crandall as he looked back on his career and accomplishments.
"I had the feeling I was going to die," he told the author.
"I had the greatest of years in 1952," he recalled in 2009.
"I had the greatest respect for [Durocher] as a manager," said Sanders.
"I had the opportunity to manage the Durocher club the first time. I was in the clubhouse making introductions.
"I had the opportunity to play in a World Series," he recalled.
"I had to be the odd man out," he told the author. "I had to be the odd man out.
"I had to borrow money from my parents," he said. "After school, I went to a factory.
"I had to come out of the Army, so I was on the recruiting station in Atlanta dealing with all sorts of things.
"I had to dig deep in my heart and my soul to be able to get through to those people," he recalled.
"I had to do everything myself," the big catcher explained.
"I had to do it, and I did it on purpose," DeMuro said.
"I had to do it." He had a new car, a green Ford Thunderbird, and he was still a kid.
"I had to do something I didn't like doing. I'm not the type to show off.
"I had to do something to get him out of my mind," said Little League coach Ace Metrick.
"I had to do something to make him like me," he recalled.
"I had to do something. That's where I came in. I had to get out of the box.
"I had to get to him," said Sam, "because he was my son.
"I had to give my pitching to a coach," he said in a 2008 interview.
"I had to go back to the States to play another year," Duren recalled later.
"I had to go to work every day, but it was fun. I enjoyed it in the nicest possible way.
"I had to go," said Nelson, "and I had to go quickly, and I had to do it in style.
"I had to hit a home run to win a game, and that was in the Polo Grounds," he remembered.
"I had to hit him with a baseball bat," recalled Slugger.
"I had to hit the long ball to get it up, and I tried to take a bad strike, and that gave me the run.
"I had to keep going," he recalled. "The crowd was great, it was electric. I was thrilled.
"I had to keep my mouth shut," Mets' catcher Yogi Berra said.
"I had to kill him," Pafko said. "I think he would have been a great ballplayer.
"I had to learn to play to him," said the 39-year-old Feller.
"I had to make myself into a little different version of myself," he told the author.
"I had to pay for the dinner," he recalled years later. "I was paying for the whole dinner.
"I had to pinch myself every day to realize I was gone," he said.
"I had to pitch to them, and I was the guy who had to pitch to them," he recalled.
"I had to play baseball because I had a job. I had a job as a school administrator.
"I had to play for a team (in Pittsburgh) that was a better team than what I had at Syracuse.
"I had to put him on the fast track to be a pitcher," said East.
"I had to say it, and it was the truth," Stanky said.
"I had to stay there," he recalled. "I was the manager and I was the father.
"I had to take it because I was pitching," he told the Associated Press's Jack Cuddy.
"I had to take it," he said. "At first I was afraid I'd hurt myself.
"I had to take it," he said. "I was a better hitter when I was able to take it.
"I had to wait for him in training camp," said Kiner. "He didn't come out until September.
"I had to wait until I was 33, 38, 39, to get my license," he recalled years later.
"I had to watch him too much," recalled Krejci, "and he was great. I liked him.
"I had to work for them. They were lazy, but they treated us right.
"I had to work hard at it," he said. "I've always been a defensive-minded player.
"I had to work hard to be a good ballplayer," Pickens said. "I was just a first baseman.
"I had to work hard to be like the other guys," said Hillis.
"I had to work hard to get to the big leagues," he recalled.
"I had to work hard to hold on," he recalled. "I was tired every day, and I was depressed.
"I had to work hard to stay in shape," he recalled. "I was at my best in the spring.
"I had to work hard," he recalled. "I was a hard-working kid.
"I had to work harder than ever because there was no rest. And that's what I did.
"I had to work harder than ever," he recalled. "I worked every day.
"I had to work harder," he recalled. "I was so mad. I was mad at myself.
"I had to work really hard," he said. "I had to work every day, week in and week out.
"I had to work very hard in school," he said. "I didn't have a great spring.
"I had to work very hard. I played six months and then I had to return home to Washington and finish my school.
"I had two children at the time, and I had to work hard to support them," he told the author.
"I hadn't been able to sleep at night," Kiner said.
"I hate it, but I like it. All the other teams in the league are trying to get rid of it.
"I hate to be a dramatic narrator, but this story is not one for children," the president said.
"I hate to break it to you, but I can't force you to do what you want," said King.
"I hate to break it to you, but you're not going anywhere," he told him.
"I hate to leave Washington, but I have to," the southpaw said.
"I hate to leave the White Sox," DeWitt said, "but I have to.
"I have a bad back," said Richie Ashburn. "I'll be out of action for a while.
"I have a bad feeling about it," Mays said later. "I can't help it.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he said, "but I'll take it.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he told the press.
"I have a better fastball than the other guys, but my control is a little off.
"I have a better feel for the strike zone now," he said in 1995, "and I like to be on base.
"I have a feeling I'll be in the Hall of Fame," he said.
"I have a feeling he'll be back next year," said Del Crandall.
"I have a feeling he'll be right," said Ned Garver, who caught the speedy first baseman for the Indians.
"I have a feeling he'll get a lot of good looks," said Cleveland manager Joe Gordon.
"I have a feeling he's going to be a starter," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I have a feeling that the Cardinals will give him another chance," said Weiss.
"I have a feeling that when I retire, the club will send me back to the minors," he said.
"I have a feeling the Dodgers will send me back to the Giants in 1961," said Robinson.
"I have a feeling the White Sox will be doing everything they can to keep me out," he said.
"I have a good head and I'll make a good pitch to him.
"I have a great curveball but I don't have the power to do it," said Flint.
"I have a great curveball. I was just learning to throw it," he recalled.
"I have a great fastball but I can't throw it very hard.
"I have a great fastball, but I must use it correctly," Watson said. "It is my curve ball.
"I have a great feeling about this thing," he said, "I've got a lot of confidence in it.
"I have a hard time believing that he's back," said Joe Cronin.
"I have a pretty good hitting curveball," Crandall said.
"I have a pretty good idea why they kept him in the minors.
"I have a pretty good recollection of what she did and said," Hamner recalled. "She was a very strong woman.
"I have a pretty good record at the plate," he said. "I hit the ball consistently for 20 years.
"I have a problem that I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.
"I have a sharp, cold, I'm just beginning to sweat," he said.
"I have a soft spot in my heart for the old-time ballplayers.
"I have a tremendous crush on you, Joe," Burns told the Brooklyn Dodgers' manager, Luke Sewell.
"I have always been a sucker for a good challenge," he said. "This is one of them.
"I have always been proud that I was a Red Sox fan growing up," he told the author.
"I have always believed that if I had been born a boy, I would have been a better ballplayer.
"I have always considered myself the best golfer of my time," the second-place finisher at the Atlanta Open, said Hayes.
"I have always felt I was a part of the team, and I also felt I was right for the Yankees.
"I have always felt that I was good enough," he said. "And I think I earned the right to be there.
"I have always felt that the best thing for a pitcher is the ball.
"I have been asked why I've not played the outfield more," the blacklisted Babe explained.
"I have been asking for a big contract since I was a teenager," he said.
"I have been away from baseball for eight years and I have never been back.
"I have been fortunate to play in the National League.
"I have been in a lot of tough spots," he said. "But I've never been one to complain.
"I have been in the game for 20 years and I know what it means to win and lose," he said.
"I have been in the public eye for six months, and I'm glad to be done.
"I have been in this business for thirty-two years, and I know how this goes.
"I have been so good to them," he said, "I'll be good to the end.
"I have enjoyed getting paid to do things," he said. "And I have enjoyed the public criticism.
"I have my own theory as to why they don't want me to come out," Grissom recalled.
"I have never been able to get rid of it," he said, "And I hope I never will.
"I have never been afraid of anything," said Harrison "Hank" Greenberg.
"I have never been paired with a pitcher who I haven't seen pitch," he said.
"I have never been so proud of a baseball player as I am today.
"I have never been to the Dominican Republic," he said, "and I have never been to Cuba.
"I have never known anyone who was as good a baseball man as Stengel.
"I have never seen a more stupefying sight than the sight of the White Sox in the World Series.
"I have never seen anything like that. I have never seen anything like that.
"I have no better idea of what he's going to do than I do.
"I have no complaints," he said. "I have been delighted to play for a manager who has been absolutely fantastic.
"I have no doubt that he's the best he has to go," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"I have no idea what he's going to do at the end of the season." He was not wrong.
"I have no idea where I'll be playing next year," he later told the New York Times.
"I have no intention of ever playing professional ball," he said. "I'll retire.
"I have no intention of retaliating against you. I have no desire to do so.
"I have no regrets about any of my mistakes," he said.
"I have no regrets about it," he said. "I was young, healthy, and playing.
"I have no regrets," he said. "I know it was a great thrill to play for the Yankees that year.
"I have no regrets. The thing I regret most is that I didn't play in the World Series in 1932.
"I have no sense of humor about this," he said. "I'll bet you have.
"I have no use for the name," he said. "I've heard enough of the name.
"I have no wish to be remembered as an anti-Semitic bigot," he later admitted.
"I have no wish to make a movie of this magnitude, but I feel that I have a responsibility to do so," he said.
"I have nothing against cats, but they are so hard to pronounce, you have to do something to get them to start off.
"I have often been asked why the Red Sox didn't trade me," said Grissom.
"I have one word for him," said his manager, "isn't.
"I have the feeling my dad wasn't a very good father," said Baldwin.
"I have the highest respect for the game," Mr. Goody said.
"I have to admit that the thing I was most afraid of was being hit by a car," he said.
"I have to admit, he was a great guy. I didn't really like him from the beginning.
"I have to be careful with my temper because I'll get myself mixed up in all kinds of trouble.
"I have to do something different," he said. "When I'm out there, I'm pushing.
"I have to do something," he said. "I'm not a good field general.
"I have to drop everything I can to have a kid," he told a reporter.
"I have to give credit where credit is due," he said.
"I have to pitch to him," said Mays, "and I think I can do it better.
"I have to say that I knew I was going to be playing in the World Series," he said.
"I have to say that I think I made the right choice," said Shotton.
"I have to say that I was born a Yankee," he said. "I was born in Brooklyn.
"I have to say that I was really proud that I was able to play in the World Series for the Yankees," he said.
"I have to say that I was the best pitcher in spring training in 1940," he recalled.
"I have to say that I was very impressed," he recalled.
"I have to say that I was very pleased," he said. "I had a good spring and a good year.
"I have to say that I've been very happy in Miami," he recalled.
"I have to say that I've never seen a better pitching staff in the history of baseball than the Giants.
"I have to say that he was the best-looking pitcher I ever saw.
"I have to say that it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, baseball was great. The fans were fantastic.
"I have to say, I was impressed. I mean, it was a beautiful spring, just beautiful. And all the players were impressed.
"I have to say, that was one of the best things that ever happened to me," Parnell said.
"I have to stop for a moment and say that he was a terrific player, one of the best at his position in the game.
"I have to tell you one thing, I don't want a bigger contract," he said.
"I have to thank Durocher for making me a big leaguer," said Spahn.
"I haven't lost my fastball, I haven't lost my curve, I have my change of pace.
"I heard that he was a pretty good player," said Harris.
"I hesitate to say that he was the greatest player I ever saw," said Boston manager Jack Burns.
"I hit a home run for the first time in my career at the Polo Grounds," he recalled in 1995.
"I hit a home run in my first major league game, and I knew I was going to be doing something," he said.
"I hit a home run in the ninth inning," he recalled.
"I hit a home run that I think was the luckiest thing that happened to me in baseball," he recalled.
"I hit it hard and I knew it," he said. "I didn't even try to hide it.
"I hit that ball hard," recalled Maglie. "But it was so close.
"I hit the wall. I'd like to get another one this time," he recalled.
"I hit the way I've always hit," recalled Cimoli, "and .
"I honestly don't know what to say. I'm just a kid.
"I hope I can be back in the big leagues in three or four years," he recalled.
"I hope I don't set the record of a lifetime," he said.
"I hope I'll be pitching for a pennant-winning club next year," he said.
"I hope he can play here and make a difference," said Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen.
"I hope he's a winner," he said of his future Hall of Fame teammate.
"I hope he's as good as he was in Pittsburgh," said Harris.
"I hope that everybody remembers that I was a nice guy, and that he liked me," Jackson said.
"I imagine I was a better hitter in college when I was in high school," he said.
"I just blew him big," Gutterman recalled. "He was a good pitcher and we had a good lineup.
"I just didn't make it through the first inning," he said.
"I just don't believe they're going to let me leave," he said.
"I just don't know where he's going to have it," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"I just don't think he's a good hitter," said former teammate Stan Musial.
"I just don't understand what the big fuss is about," Longmire said.
"I just felt he was a better hitter than the average first baseman," said Sam.
"I just felt like I'd been hit by a train and was very upset," he said.
"I just felt, you know, like a kid. I want to play." Lord knew he was going to.
"I just got a call from the Dodgers," he said. "They're like a million dollars.
"I just got a call from the manager of the Newark Eagles, 'Gerrit Cole, special assistant to the manager.
"I just got off the train and went for a drink," he said.
"I just had to give my best and I got my opportunity, but I wasn't expecting it," he recalled.
"I just had to have him," Boston Red Sox manager Joe Cronin said.
"I just had to play the game the way I was taught to play," he recalled.
"I just have to play," the "Yappy" told the author.
"I just hope you're happy," he said. "You're going to be a good ballplayer.
"I just kept on hitting," he recalled in 1997. "In those days, you just had to hit the ball.
"I just let him walk into the room and let him know I didn't like him," said Fred.
"I just like being able to get out of the house," he said. "This is a great way to do it.
"I just like to pitch that ball to the outfield so he can 'cash' it," he said later.
"I just looked at him and I said, 'I think I can hit you," said Barney McCosky.
"I just lost a friend to cancer. I'm haunted by that.
"I just love it," he told the author. "I'm a sucker for a good laugh.
"I just love the fact that it gives me the opportunity to practice my skills in front of people," he said.
"I just love the fact that the fans are so passionate about it," he said.
"I just love the way I play. I love the way I throw the ball, and I love the way I run.
"I just love to play. I love to win. I love to play every day. I love to show them.
"I just loved the quiet, simple life that baseball could give," said van der Walt.
"I just made a mistake," he said. "I should have paid more attention to my pitching.
"I just never wanted to be a star," he recalled. "I wanted to be a big leaguer.
"I just noticed, Fernando, this has been a big thing you've talked about.
"I just play baseball to win the games," said the young outfielder.
"I just played so many games and it was my turn to play," the lefty said.
"I just started playing, and I had no idea how big it would get. I had never seen anything like that in my life.
"I just think he's a great guy and a great competitor.
"I just thought it was a good idea," said Mantle, "and it was.
"I just took a bad break," he said. "I was coming in for a ball.
"I just want him to be a great pitcher, and he has all the tools to be a great one.
"I just want to be a big leaguer," DeMaestri said. "But I have to be right.
"I just want to be remembered as a good player, not as the man who made the National League pay more to play baseball.
"I just want to be remembered as the guy who came along and did the job," he said.
"I just want to go out there and play for the pitching staff," he said.
"I just want to make sure that [the players] are aware of what goes on," he said.
"I just want to make sure that everybody knows that I have no ill feelings against anyone," he said.
"I just want to make sure that when I come back, they'll see me as a big advantage," he said.
"I just want to play baseball for the Dodgers," said Mays.
"I just want to play baseball," Crandall said when asked his thoughts on retirement. "I have no regrets.
"I just want to see the big league guys. I just want to see them pitch. It's just my luck, really.
"I just want to thank Mr. Mack for his patience and kind words after the show," he said.
"I just want to win," he said. "I want to win in the World Series.
"I just wanted him to keep on hitting," said Mel Parnell, who hit .
"I just wanted somebody who could play the position and could knock me off if I wanted to.
"I just wanted to be a better baseball player, not just a better pitcher," he said.
"I just wanted to be a big leaguer," Feller said years later.
"I just wanted to be close to home," Pickell said. "But I was never comfortable in those big stadiums.
"I just wanted to be in the [major league] lineup," he said.
"I just wanted to be the guy that was on the mound and able to control the ball.
"I just wanted to get out of the way," the game-winner said.
"I just wanted to get out of there," he said later.
"I just wanted to go to the ballpark every day," he said.
"I just wanted to make sure he wasn't going to try to hit me," the lefty said.
"I just wanted to make sure that I had a good job," he recalled in a 2007 interview.
"I just wanted to make sure they weren't in a hurry to send me back," Hatton recalled years later.
"I just wanted to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I just wanted to play," Dickey recalled years later.
"I just wanted to play," he remembered. "I didn't want to be in the majors.
"I just wanted to see him do his job. I think I made a mistake.
"I just wish we were as good as they were," said Avila about the 1950s Mets.
"I knew I didn't have to win every day," Pierce said.
"I knew I had to be a better hitter, but I didn't tell anyone. I just kept slinging the ball.
"I knew I had to beat them," said Musial, "but it was a great feeling to beat them.
"I knew I had to do something to help my dad," he said.
"I knew I had to do something to make the team," Jackson said.
"I knew I was going to be a ballplayer," he said. "I didn't expect to be here.
"I knew I was going to be a mother and father," he said.
"I knew I was going to be in for a treat," he told Ed Rumill of the Christian Science Monitor.
"I knew I was going to be pitching against a left-handed lineup," he said.
"I knew I was going to be pitching that night," he recalled.
"I knew I was going to be sick for a while," he recalled.
"I knew I was going to be the first one and last one to leave," he said. He was not alone.
"I knew I was going to die young," Al said. "I had a great career.
"I knew I was going to die, but I wasn't prepared for the shock," he recalled.
"I knew I was going to get a good hit," he recalled.
"I knew I was going to miss the first week of spring training," he recalled. "I was nervous.
"I knew I was in trouble," he said. "I felt something pop. Then I realized what it was.
"I knew I was making a mistake, I didn't cry, I just went out there and did my job.
"I knew I was the guy," he said. "I had done my part, and I needed to do more.
"I knew I wasn't going to play another inning," DeWitt remembered.
"I knew I wasn't going to play baseball in Mexico," Partada recollected years later.
"I knew he was going to be a good pitcher," said the St. Louis Browns manager, George Koenig.
"I knew he was going to be great," said his mother. And he was.
"I knew he'd be a good hitter," recalled the Cubs' Joe Medwick.
"I knew it was a bad break, but I didn't think I had a chance," he said after the Series.
"I knew it was a bad break, but I didn't't push it.
"I knew right away that Ed was a better hitter than I was," said Gus.
"I knew that I was going to be a father someday," Paul said.
"I knew that I was going to be a good ballplayer, no matter what my profession was.
"I knew that the Yankees would get him," Selkirk said.
"I knew the Giants were going to win, but I didn't think they'd win the pennant.
"I knew the fans would get a kick out of it," Moore said.
"I knew there was going to be trouble," he said. "I was expecting a fight when I got there.
"I know I'll get a call from the Yankees soon," he recalled.
"I know I'm a great one," he told the Daily News's Jim Davis.
"I know I'm a hot dog, but I am not a hot dog. I want some hot dog.
"I know I'm not going to be able to receive anymore offers.
"I know I've changed, but I actuated like I'm Season One again.
"I know I've got a lot of friends who would like to see me back in the Peaches.
"I know I've made a lot of money," he said, "but I'm still not satisfied.
"I know he can hit, but he's got to be a better hitter.
"I know he's a good ballplayer. But he's just a kid. And the world is full of kids.
"I know he's busy and worried and all that, but I can't help him," Wade replied.
"I know he's going to be a great one. But I just hope he can't stand the pressure.
"I know he's going to be tough on me," Rogers said.
"I know he's not going to be a great ballplayer, but I'll tell him so.
"I know he's upset," Coach Daley told him that day. "But he's right.
"I know how you feel," said Ralph Kiner, "but I sure feel you.
"I know it sounds strange, but I'm a catcher and I don't know any other way.
"I know the Yankees and I know most of the hitters.
"I know the players will be disappointed, but I will make them proud," Kiner said.
"I know what you're going to do," he said. "You're going to kill everybody.
"I know where he's going to end up. … He's going to be a great pitcher and a great hitter.
"I learned a lot and I know a lot. But I didn't learn that until I got out of the hospital.
"I learned a lot in my first year," he recalls. "I was a terrible student.
"I learned a lot, and I got to know a lot of people. It was good for me to go up to St.
"I learned a lot," Shotton said. "I had to learn about pitchers and hitting.
"I learned a lot," Wills recalled. "I learned to control my temper. I learned to control my emotions.
"I learned to fly the night after the game," said Greco.
"I like being a bench warmer. Every bench warmer I ever had, it was like a big warmer, so I just liked that.
"I like being a first baseman, but I like to be on the ballfield.
"I like being the big loser," Washburn said of his career, "but I have to start somewhere else.
"I like going back to the States," the veteran first baseman said.
"I like high-school baseball. I like playing every day against the top of the minor leagues. I like playing against Japanese players.
"I like it because I get to see the whole ballgame," he said.
"I like it, I can't say I hate it. It's a great racket. You can hear the racket.
"I like it, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to play professional baseball again.
"I like it, to be honest with you," he told the Guardian's Jon Lansman.
"I like it," Verban told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I like the speed of it.
"I like it," he said. "I like going out there and getting paid in a friendly way.
"I like it," he said. "I like living in New York. It's too far away.
"I like it," he said. "I like the grind of it. I like the competition.
"I like it," he said. "I like to play. I like to be out in the open.
"I like it," he said. "It's like playing in the big leagues.
"I like it," he said. "When it's quiet and you can play with your mates.
"I like it," he said. He was just kidding himself.
"I like it," he said." He drove in another run with a single in the sixth.
"I like it," he says. "You know what I like? The fact that you can't hit me.
"I like it," he told the Cincinnati Post's Robert Creamer. "I like to play.
"I like it," he told the author, "because I get to play in the World Series.
"I like it," said Frank, "but I don't enjoy it. It's too much stress.
"I like it," said Johnny Pesky, "because it's a long trip.
"I like it," said Lou Boudreau after the Senators lost to St. Louis in the 1947 World Series.
"I like it," said McQuinn. "It's like playing golf.
"I like it," said Stanky. "I like the fact that they are giving me more attention.
"I like it," said Stanky. "You're able to play in different positions.
"I like it. I like going out there, playing for the fans, and knowing that they'll be cheering for you.
"I like it. I like living here. I like being able to play. I like living in the country.
"I like it. I like the fear. I like the unknown. I like the big, scary game.
"I like it. It's a big thrill. I like the fans. They've been tremendous.
"I like it. It's a chance to prove to Detroit that I've been wrong," he said.
"I like the bats," said Nelson, "but the ball doesn't come easy.
"I like the fact that I got paid for being a part of the game.
"I like the feeling of being in the game," the big right-hander said.
"I like the feeling of working for the team," he said.
"I like the long ball, especially when the pitcher is standing up," he said.
"I like the simplicity of the game and the clean, simple feel of this club, and the quality of this ball club.
"I like the way the Yankees play," he is reported to have said.
"I like the way they're playing," he said. "They're smart, quick.
"I like the way they're playing," said Willis. "I like the way the bats are moving.
"I like the way they're using me. I'm not going to get mad at them.
"I like to be a lot of times in the rotation and sometimes start and relief," he said.
"I like to be a winner," said Joe DiMaggio in the early 1950s.
"I like to be in the dugout, like a monkey in a cage," said Johnny Murphy.
"I like to be out there, and I like to be the visitor," he said.
"I like to be up there in uniform," he said. "But I'll tell you this.
"I like to beat my boys," said Spahn, "but I've got to win.
"I like to believe I played my first game in the big leagues on my own," he remembered.
"I like to come back to the big leagues for four or five years at a time," he recalled.
"I like to go back. I like to play in the heat. I like to play in the rain.
"I like to have the ball in my hands and I like to throw people the ball. I like to play the outfield.
"I like to help children like Frank and Ray," he told the AP's Alice Torkilds.
"I like to help people," he said. "I like to help people get into the game.
"I like to hit," he said. "I like to get people out. I like to knock them down.
"I like to keep my head in the back seat every day. I don't get up to the plate looking for hits.
"I like to pitch to him," said Cleveland pitcher Bob Fothergill. "And he likes to pitch to me.
"I like to pitch, I like to win, and I like to play every day," he said.
"I like to pitch, so I'm just a swing man," he said.
"I like to pitch," he said. "I like to get the ball in there and get rid of the runners.
"I like to play every day," the big right-handed hitter said. "That's all I can do.
"I like to play for my team. I like to win for them, and I like to play for the fans.
"I like to play for the Yankees, but I have to do it on a team like that.
"I like to play for the Yankees," he began. "I like to win. I like to watch the guys win.
"I like to play in Yankee Stadium," he said. "I like the warmup games.
"I like to play in the big leagues and if the Indians are interested, I can't refuse them.
"I like to play my games in the big leagues," he said. "But I just never got around.
"I like to run," said Dickey. "I like to play defense. And I like to throw people out.
"I like to see the guys fight," he told the writer Bud Daley.
"I like to see the guys who go out there and win," he said. "That's really my style.
"I like to show the big league guys that I can play," he said.
"I like to think I can't wait to get out and get to the majors," he said.
"I like to think I have made a few friends on the baseball team," he said.
"I like to think I was the luckiest man on the whole team," says Kiner.
"I like to think I've been a big help to the team," he said. "I really appreciate it.
"I like to think that I gave them something to think about," he said. "I guess it was my personality.
"I like to think that if I had a kid, it would be a good one," Dickey said.
"I like to watch it," he said. "I like to see the big games and the innings.
"I like to win, and I like to win in a team game," he said.
"I like to win," he said. He started the 1948 season 3-4, losing his first six starts.
"I like to. I like to play at Fenway and go out there and win.
"I like when people tell me I was a better hitter than my father ever was," Stanky recalled.
"I liked being able to take a little bit of a break.
"I liked being the center fielder," he said. "I liked teaching people and playing in the big leagues.
"I liked it," he said. "I was a big fan of the Giants.
"I liked never worrying about anything," he said. "I just enjoyed it.
"I liked the fact that Del had me in his pocket," he said.
"I liked the way the game was played," he told the author. "I liked that it was all for real.
"I look back and I'm proud that I was a black man in a white world," he said.
"I looked around and realized I was the only one who had never played in the National League.
"I looked at him and thought what a great big fellow he is.
"I love it. It's the only job I've ever had in my life.
"I love this club," Trump told sportswriter Bob Broeg.
"I love this game," Walker said. "You always have to love the game to play for the manager.
"I love to win. I think it's the most important thing.
"I loved it," he said. "I had a great time, and I had a lot of fun.
"I loved to watch the big games," he told the author, "but the Yankees were too big to me.
"I made a mistake," he recalled. "I should have played the game.
"I made a mistake," he said in 1987, "and I admit it.
"I made a mistake," he said in his autobiography. "I should have stayed in the lineup.
"I made a mistake," he said when he was named to the All-Star team.
"I made a mistake," he said, "and I take responsibility for it.
"I made a mistake," he said. "I didn't bring the ball to the plate.
"I made a mistake," he said. "I should have stayed in the minors.
"I made a mistake," he said. "I took a bad throw from first base on the long drive to the mound.
"I made a mistake," he told me. A teammate recalled, "He was supposed to be the hitter.
"I made a mistake. I should have let them pitch the ball to me.
"I made all of my money, and I still had a job, and I was making good money," he said.
"I made his life hell," Schoendienst told The Sporting News.
"I made the big leagues," he said, "and I was happy.
"I made the mistake of associating my name with a man who is now the most celebrated and admired baseball player in the world.
"I make the best use of my time in this league. I spend it on the pitchers I can and the hitters I can.
"I marched in with a rifle in my shoulder," Woodling recalls.
"I may be wrong," he said later, "but I think he's got the upper hand.
"I may have been the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said.
"I may have eaten a lot," he admitted, "but I was never one to dwell on details.
"I mean, the young man must have had a terrific job," said Hall of Fame catcher Red Ruffing.
"I mean, when you're a starting pitcher, you're scared to death of being hurt," said Joe.
"I might have gone to a minor league," he said, "but I was a major league player.
"I missed my chance," he said. He was still convinced he could make it.
"I must confess, I was shocked and appalled when I first heard the news of the bombing of the Japanese Hotel California.
"I must have been a lucky guy … I had a good year," he said.
"I must have eaten something like three martinis," he said.
"I must have missed three or four when I was on my way to the country," he said in 1980.
"I never became a slugging big-league hitter," he said. "I was a good hitting pitcher and fielder.
"I never could get used to the position of second base," he said. "And I was embarrassed to leave it.
"I never did find another job," the pitcher said, "and I'll never do.
"I never dreamed I'd play baseball, but I certainly dreamed of it.
"I never even heard of 'St. Louis Blues' before I started playing," said Gee.
"I never even met him, I was out of town," said the the retired Giant.
"I never felt bad about it," explained Stanky. "I just felt like a failure.
"I never felt so proud to be a Yankee," said 14-time All-Star first baseman Joe Gordon.
"I never found a place in the big leagues for him," said manager Eddie Sawyer.
"I never gave the ball to him," McClain said of his periodical exchange with Posch.
"I never get to the first game of the World Series," he said. "I never get to the World Series.
"I never got him out," said Stengel. "He's too good.
"I never got to play in the World Series," Radcliff told the author. "That was my greatest disappointment.
"I never had a dream of being a manager," he recalled.
"I never had any trouble in the big leagues," Kiner remembered.
"I never had the inclination to try to be a better pitcher," he said.
"I never imagined I was going to be in that position," he said.
"I never imagined that I would be saying that," he told his son.
"I never knew a kid like him," said GM Hugh Mulcahy, "except in the minors.
"I never liked the place," he said. "I like to go home and play.
"I never liked the play of the infield. I never liked the sound of the infield.
"I never liked the position of shortstop," Feller said. "I always preferred playing first base.
"I never liked the way I pitched," he said. "I liked to let it rip.
"I never met Selena, but I've talked to her a lot," he recalled.
"I never met him," said Harlan. "He was a dude who had a big stick.
"I never played baseball because I was afraid it would hurt my arm.
"I never realized how lucky I was," he recalled. "That's how far I would go.
"I never realized how lucky I was," he told the author, "but I think a lot of people did then.
"I never really got to play in the World Series," said Staley.
"I never really knew how to pitch until I started pitching and I always fumbled," Sain said.
"I never really knew what I wanted to do," he said.
"I never really knew what right I was going to get," he said.
"I never said that the Cubs were even remotely interested in me," he said.
"I never saw a better group of boys," said Hallahan, "and I never saw a tougher group of boys.
"I never saw a team that good until this year," he said. "I was excited as hell.
"I never saw anybody as brilliant as him. He was brilliant all the way around, but he was also stubborn and a little arsy.
"I never sleep alone," said Bob Fothergill, "and I was sleeping alone when I heard the shots.
"I never thought I was going to play professional baseball," Don said.
"I never thought I would be a big-league manager," the Hall of Fame catcher said.
"I never thought I would be doing this, but I was," he recalled. "I was very excited and very nervous.
"I never thought I would play in the World Series, but I was very happy to be there," said Pop.
"I never thought I would play in the big leagues, but I had a great year in 1944," he said.
"I never thought I'd play in the big leagues," said Ed Delahanty.
"I never tire of playing the game. I still think it's my best profession," he said.
"I never took the money," he said. "The Yankees sent me $125 a month.
"I never understood the fuss over power hitters," he said. "Hitters never seem to grasp the concept of power.
"I never want anybody to hear it," he said. "That's a real humbug.
"I never want him to get hurt," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I never want him to go out there and be intimidated," said Stanky.
"I never want him to take me out," said Feller, "or to speak ill of my good work.
"I never wanted [the job] in my life. I wanted to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I never wanted him to be a winner," Diamond recalled.
"I never wanted to be a Hollywood star," said Manush. "But I wanted to be a big leaguer.
"I never wanted to be a big-league manager or a coach," said former Red Sox player and manager Bobby Brown.
"I never wanted to be a catcher," he said. "I always wanted to be out there playing.
"I never wanted to be a catcher. That was a bad role. I actually didn't enjoy it," he said.
"I never wanted to be a hero," said George Case, "but I was raised as a hero.
"I never wanted to be a star pitcher," Johnson said. "I wanted to be a regular. Then I started winning.
"I never wanted to be a star, I just wanted to play baseball," he said.
"I never wanted to be a star," he told the author. "I wanted to be a regular player.
"I never wanted to be a superstar," he said. "But I was good enough.
"I never wanted to be in the newspaper business," he said. "I wanted to be a teacher.
"I never wanted to be taken out," he said in his autobiography.
"I never wanted to go to the big leagues and play baseball for the Yankees," he said.
"I never wanted to go to war," Arroyo said in the 1990s.
"I never wanted to play for them," he said in later years. "I wanted to play for my hometown team.
"I never was a big fan of batting practice," said Grissom. "I like to play the game.
"I never was particularly interested in that part of baseball," he said. "I was always more interested in playing the game.
"I never won the pennant, so what are you going to do out of the way?" The answer was home run.
"I never would have dared let the kid play," said Cleveland manager Roger Peckinpaugh.
"I never would have dreamed that I would be playing for a team like that," he recalled years later.
"I never would have imagined that after all these years, he would still be playing the game.
"I never would have thought I would be in this position," he said. "But I had a great year.
"I never'd have guessed that I would be doing this," he recalled. "But baseball was my world.
"I noticed a change in his reaction time when he was swinging the bat.
"I often wondered how a guy could play baseball for a team like that," recalled Groat.
"I once drove an oil truck with a bad crank. One day the crank broke and I broke my right thumb.
"I only hope I can play one more year in the majors," he said.
"I only hope I can't play in the World Series," he said.
"I only hope I don't get into a serious fistfight," he said.
"I only hope he gets a chance to play in the majors," the president said.
"I only hope that people understand that I was not trying to be a racist," he said.
"I open the door and he just sticks his big, stupid tongue right up my ass," said Coco.
"I picked up the nuthin' from the Uniontown guys," Eddie said. "I practiced every day.
"I pitched a perfect game," he said. "And I'm the ninth-inning batboy.
"I pitched him in college, and he was my best student. I was a pitcher in high school but he taught me how to pitch.
"I pitched in the big leagues for eight years," he told The Sporting News's Dave Kindred.
"I pitched in the big leagues for ten years and I played in them for another ten. It's very hard to leave.
"I played almost exclusively in the outfield for the Pirates in my rookie year of 1954," said Stengel.
"I played every second of every game," he recalled.
"I played five different positions and played every position in the major leagues," he said.
"I played for a team that went to the World Series and beat the Yankees in a playoff," he recalled.
"I played for the Yankees, because I had the ability to play. I had a great arm, and I played first base.
"I played in the minor leagues and I couldn't wait to get out," Sain recalled.
"I played in the minors for a year and a half and I had a long career," Lobato said.
"I played in the outfield until I was 30," Doby said. "That's when I was strong.
"I played my first game at age fifteen, and I still remember the first time I saw Jack [Starr] hit home runs.
"I played on different teams," he said. "In Philadelphia, I played second base. In Pittsburgh I played first base.
"I played outfield and pitched, and handled the first base position.
"I played outfield for the Yankees, and Red Ruffing was our catcher. He was tough and he was fast.
"I played right field until I was 38, and that's when I started to wonder about playing left field.
"I played shortstop and first base, but I was playing bad, so I started playing first base.
"I played the game the way it should be played," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I played three years in the Negro Leagues, and I was never the same after that. I had to work on my swing.
"I played two years in the Negro Leagues," he recalled.
"I played with the hottest team in the National League," he said.
"I preferred the true minor leagues," said DiMaggio.
"I probably should have given it to him the way I did," said McGrady.
"I probably should not have been here in the first place," he said.
"I probably would have been better off if I had stayed in the Navy," Hoyt recalled.
"I pulled my weight," he remembers. "I was the one who took all the weight on the back of my shoulders.
"I pulled the trigger," he said. "I was so ready to do it.
"I put a glove on the first time," he said. "I was afraid I'd hurt them.
"I put my bat on to hit that pitch. I knew I was going to be in there, especially with all the foul tips.
"I put my heart and soul into it," he said. "I was a winner.
"I ran a plant and a grocery store," he recalled in an interview. "That's all I ever did.
"I ran out a pitch in my glove and it hit the right-center-field fence," he recalled.
"I ran out over the grass and kicked him in the stomach," said Ula.
"I ran right over them," he said of his wartime service.
"I ran the ball game. I ran the bases, I ran the shortstop position. I ran the bullpen.
"I realized I was crazy," he said. He had injected too much adrenaline into his pitching.
"I realized later that I was a good hitter, but I hadn't really thought about it.
"I really didn't care," he said. "I was good, but not outstanding.
"I really didn't know how to get out. I was scared to death.
"I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "I was nervous.
"I really didn't play much shortstop," he recalled. "I was a real prideful, silent guy.
"I really don't believe it," he said. "I'll tell you what I think.
"I really enjoyed being a part of the organization and I was fortunate to play in both World Wars," he recalled.
"I really enjoyed my time on the Yankees," he said.
"I really enjoyed playing for [Rickey]," he said. "He was very nice and accommodating to all of our players.
"I really enjoyed working with them," said Casanova, "and I enjoyed playing for them.
"I really like it," he said. "I'll be able to work on my curveball.
"I really was a nervous wreck," recalled Bobby Adams years later.
"I regret that I didn't make use of my speed," he said years later.
"I remember Jack Murphy, a catcher in the Yankees organization, was a good friend of mine. He had a great curve ball.
"I remember baseball when I was a kid and I don't think I was above anything else," he said.
"I remember driving down to Washington and listening to the Senators-Dats, and it was a great experience," he recalled.
"I remember in 1943 he was in the All Star Game," Myer recalled.
"I remember when I came back from the war," said Maris, "I was in a tough spot.
"I remember when I came to the big leagues in 1947," he said. "St. Louis was my home.
"I remember when I first came to the Reds," he recalled. "They were a lot younger then.
"I remember when I first started playing baseball," he said. "I didn't have a glove.
"I remember when I played for the Giants in Newark, and I had to hit the ball really, really far," he recalled.
"I remember when I played for the Yankees," he recalled. "I remember when the Yankees won the World Series.
"I remember when I was in high school, we played in a team that won the Little Rock Travelers League.
"I remember when I was in the Army," said Billy Pierce, "and they had a recruiting drive for me.
"I remember when he was with the Giants," the Phillies' Eddie Stanky recalled. "They were in St.
"I remember when he was with the Yankees in Boston," Maury recalled.
"I respect Cuyler's ability to teach baseball," said Hall of Fame catcher Ron Santo.
"I respect him for what he did for us," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I said I was going to quit and get the ball," he recalled.
"I said I was going to quit," he recalled. "And I couldn't.
"I said I'd quit. I never stopped trying to get the ball. But I didn't.
"I salute the Giants for sticking with me," Vosmik said. "They gave me a chance.
"I sat in the dugout, and Jackie Robinson was the big talk in those days," he recalled.
"I sat on the sideline and watched him on the field. Cool, no passion, no enthusiasm.
"I saw a lot of things that I never saw in a major-league game.
"I saw him in the spring of 1945, and I had a great deal of respect for him.
"I saw him pitch two years in the big leagues. I studied him for two years.
"I saw him pitch, a little bit, and it was like a dream. He was so quick and strong.
"I saw him throw the ball, and I knew I was going to be in the corner," recalled Gary Wills.
"I saw my first big-league game and it was a Sunday," he recalled. "I was 16 years old.
"I saw that he was about to be traded," recalled teammate Mays.
"I saw the Yankees in Miami," said Duren, "and I was a huge 'Yankee fan.
"I saw the ballcar. I must have been about 15 or 16 when I saw it. I had to get out of the car.
"I saw the guys in jail and I thought, 'Boy, those are some tough guys.
"I score an error and we win." His season ended when he was hit by a pitch.
"I see you" was the greeting most young players got upon joining the major leagues.
"I see, I see," he said sheepishly, "you're right, I was wrong.
"I see, the bat did it." Don Zimmer, The Sporting News, May 5, 1974.
"I see, there's a difference between fastball and curve," said Al Lopez.
"I shall be at your service, and you shall be at mine.
"I should be the one to say it, but I'm the one who is going to say it," he said.
"I should have been a better hitter," Dunbar recalled years later.
"I should have been the one to go out and get him," [Carrasquel] said Cleveland catcher Joe Gordon.
"I should have been worse," he told the New York Times in 1964.
"I should have known better," he said. "I was a mean, loudmouth type. I should have played quieter.
"I should have let him go," said Shelton. "He's a good ballplayer.
"I shut him down," said Cleveland manager Roger Peckinpaugh. "I was really busy with the Indians then.
"I spent four years in the Navy," he said. "I had a two-year stint in the Coast Guard.
"I started in the bullpen and I was always on the bench. I was always wondering why I wasn't in the starting rotation.
"I started out as a shortstop and batted first and second. I was supposed to take a double, but Mr.
"I started playing against the Yankees in 1945," he recalled.
"I started thinking about it," Wallace recalled years later.
"I started to play different ball," he said. "I took some time to warm up.
"I started with 'em in the minor leagues, and they were my biggest competition.
"I still believe that I can play in the big leagues someday," he said.
"I still can't believe it. I've been in the hospital for three weeks now and can't sleep.
"I still don't know how he did it," said his friend and teammate, Roy Campanella.
"I still remember when I first came to the Yankees and saw those big orange seats in Yankee Stadium," he remembered.
"I stopped going for balls. I didn't want to mess that up for my pitching," he said.
"I suppose I'm the luckiest guy in the world," said Red's brother Ray.
"I suppose he was a little bit shy," said Mickey Mantle. "He was a cool guy, very simple.
"I suppose he's right," Walker added. "I just don't know what will go wrong.
"I suppose they'll let me go for the rest of my career," he said.
"I sure did go for a long time," he recalled. "And I was a big part of it.
"I swear that was the best-looking game I ever saw," he recalled.
"I swear, the guy's a real pitcher," said Bill Dickey, then the Reds' manager.
"I take full responsibility for my actions after the Series," he said.
"I take responsibility for what happened in Detroit," he said in his autobiography.
"I think I came to the park in the dead of night," he told an interviewer years later.
"I think I could have played even more," he recalled.
"I think I could have played for the Cubs for more than ten years. I was working with my dad and he was a brilliant coach.
"I think I could have played." He confessed that he had begged the Yankees to let him go to the minors.
"I think I could have won," he admitted. He was not sure how. The season was still young.
"I think I did it on purpose," he said. "I was hoping the manager would let me go.
"I think I had a better year in 1953 than I had in 1953.
"I think I had a good fastball. I knew I had to work on my control because I was a right-handed hitter.
"I think I have a better record with Phillies hitters than the other clubs," he said.
"I think I have a new record," he said. "I have a .354 average.
"I think I have a pretty good fastball," he said. "But I must be careful.
"I think I have gone crazy," he said in a typical dry-erbored monotone.
"I think I have the greatest temperament in the history of baseball," he said.
"I think I have," he said, "the best right-handed pitcher in the major leagues.
"I think I might have been causing a problem," he recalled.
"I think I should have stayed in the minors," the young shortstop told an interviewer shortly before he was traded to the White Sox.
"I think I was a better hitter and a better fielder late in my career than I was at the start. I was just a starter.
"I think I was a better hitter in the minor leagues then," he said.
"I think I was a good hitter for the Yankees," he told writer Bill Madden.
"I think I was a good outfielder," the twenty-three-year-old said. "I can play three positions.
"I think I was always a big believer that pitching was your friend," he told the author. "I always believed it.
"I think I was born for big-league baseball," said Charles, his voice trailing off.
"I think I was born in a broken-down car," he told an interviewer.
"I think I was born to be a pitcher," Clete Boyer said.
"I think I was born too early," he told interviewer Bruce Edwards. "I had to grow up on my own.
"I think I was born too soon," said Mays. "I was too young.
"I think I was the luckiest man on the face of the earth," Chief Wahoo said.
"I think I was the most popular catcher in the history of the game. People thought I was the greatest to ever play the game.
"I think I was the only one in baseball who never looked back.
"I think I will be able to keep on doing what I've been doing for the last three years," he said.
"I think I'd rather play in the World Series," he said.
"I think I'll be a better pitcher and hitter. I'll be sharper.
"I think I'll be able to handle more pressure than most of my predecessors.
"I think I'll be able to make him work for me," said Barry.
"I think I'll be able to play in the majors in 1945," he said.
"I think I'll be able to play my home games at the same time," he said.
"I think I'll be playing some games behind him," recalled Biederman.
"I think I'll do better than ever before," he said. "The ball has never been softer.
"I think I'll have to do something to help my batting average," he said.
"I think I'll make the big leagues one day," he said.
"I think I'm better than my father," he said. "But I am ready for the big leagues.
"I think I'm fine," he said. "I'm just a young kid coming into this.
"I think I'm going to miss the major leagues," he said.
"I think I'm gonna be in the Hall of Fame," said DiMaggio.
"I think I'm the first one in baseball history to win a World Series," he said.
"I think I'm the only one in baseball who could play for the Yankees and play every day," said Shotton.
"I think I've been in the game longer than anybody else," he said.
"I think I've changed my style of batting," he said.
"I think I've got something special coming," he told the Sporting News.
"I think I've had enough," he told a reporter. "I think I've had enough.
"I think Shaq should have stayed with the Yankees," he recalled. "He was a great competitor.
"I think Tommy Henrich was a great one," said Mickey Mantle.
"I think a lot of people were saying you would never play the game for them.
"I think a lot of these young kids are just not prepared to play major-league baseball," he said.
"I think back to the early days, when the real ballplayers were just getting started," he said.
"I think baseball was my first love and I think I was right.
"I think he [Dempsey] would have become a great hitter had he not had that little extra gear on him.
"I think he could have been a great one. He was a very, very fine shortstop.
"I think he could really play baseball," said former teammate and future Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.
"I think he made a mistake. He was playing me too much after I was born.
"I think he thought I was smarter than he thought," Al recalled.
"I think he was a better hitter when he was younger," Roseboro said.
"I think he was a good father," recalled his wife, Mary.
"I think he was a good pitcher," said Joe Gordon, who was on the pennant-winning Yankees staff in 1940.
"I think he was a great hitter in high school and could have been a great one.
"I think he was a great manager," said Bush. "He was like a father to me.
"I think he was a great motivator for us. He was a nice guy. He had a wonderful bearing.
"I think he was a tough, tough competitor with a big heart," recalled his roommate, pitcher and lifelong Yankees fan Babe Ruth.
"I think he was just too big and strong for his own good," said Boudreau.
"I think he was just too short," Mays said of Staub. "I was about six feet tall.
"I think he was just too smart for his own good. He was the real thing.
"I think he was the best defensive first baseman I ever played with," Wilson continued in later years.
"I think he was the greatest third baseman in the history of the game," Whitey Kurowski said years later.
"I think he was very influential on me and on my later years," Rolfe recalled.
"I think he would have had a career like that," said Newhouser.
"I think he'll be a good manager for us," said Newcombe.
"I think he'll be a great one," Dunning said of his pitcher.
"I think he'll be a great one," said Favored. "He'll be an offensive leader.
"I think he'll bring it right back," said Dick Schaap.
"I think he's a better hitter than he shows on the field.
"I think he's a better pitcher than he was at bat. You know he's going to be pitching next time.
"I think he's a fine ballplayer, and I'll take him for what he is.
"I think he's a good ballplayer, but he's more of a communicator than a leader.
"I think he's a good hitter," said Martin. "I've seen him hit one to left.
"I think he's a good manager for the Yankees. He has a tremendous temperament and he knows what he's doing.
"I think he's a great guy," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"I think he's a hell of a player," said one reporter.
"I think he's a phony," Trump said during his first year in office.
"I think he's a real pleasure to work with," said Dobson.
"I think he's as good a hitter as ever come to the big leagues.
"I think he's better now than he was when he started out. I think he's matured.
"I think he's due for something," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I think he's going to be a great one for us," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Gus Mancuso.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said DiMaggio.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Grissom.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Vernon.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Passeau.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Red Sox manager Steve O'Neill.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Scantling.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said Snider.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said one anonymous player.
"I think he's going to be a great one," said teammate Clint Courtney.
"I think he's going to be a great one. He's very, very bright.
"I think he's going to be one of our best hitters in the majors. I'm convinced of it.
"I think he's going to be one of the best," said Braves manager Charlie Grimm.
"I think he's going to do really, really well," said his locker-room mate, pitcher Bill Wight.
"I think he's going to have a great career," said Ford.
"I think he's going to make a good impression on the American fans.
"I think he's got a very good chance," said Burdette.
"I think he's got the temperament for the job," the manager said.
"I think he's just about ready to make his debut," said Ramsey.
"I think he's probably the hardest-working guy I've ever met," said Brissie.
"I think he's really improved," said Durocher. "He's more alert now.
"I think he's still a great ballplayer, but he is not a star.
"I think he's the best pitcher in baseball," Mays said.
"I think he's the best pitcher in the league," Maris said.
"I think he's the best prospect in the big leagues. He's got all the potentialities.
"I think he's the most misunderstood player in baseball," Don pleaded.
"I think he's too big to play," Cincinnati manager Charlie Dressen said.
"I think it was a combination of things. He hit me harder and we're still not sure what it was.
"I think it was a hard-luck disappointment for him," said Red Sox manager Johnny Pesky of Purkey.
"I think it was a mistake to let him pitch," recalled Dodgers coach Bill Rigney.
"I think it was an accident. I didn't know any better.
"I think it was my bad luck to play in Brooklyn," Rizzuto recalled years later.
"I think it was my work with the Dodgers, but I wasn't the only one.
"I think it was probably a good thing he was elected to the Hall of Fame," said Dodger third baseman Whit Wyatt.
"I think it was something that had to do with decorum, something that had to do with how we played the game.
"I think it was the [Jack] Ingham incident," said Groat.
"I think it was the fact that the Yankees had made a move to get rid of him," recalled his friend Durocher.
"I think it was the flu," he recalled. "The cough brought out the bad.
"I think it was the joint-stock deal I made with J.W.
"I think it was the summer of 1936," Boudreau said.
"I think it's a good thing that he's not in the habit of hitting," said Lefty.
"I think it's a great thing for the kids," he told The Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I think it's because I have a great fastball and can go for strikes," said Snider.
"I think it's because I'm not used to being up there," the lefty said.
"I think it's because I've been around the block a couple of times.
"I think it's going to be a disaster," he said in September.
"I think it's going to be a great thing for baseball," said Stanky.
"I think it's good to have a little more experience.
"I think it's partly because they don't like him," said Henrich.
"I think sometimes you have to pinch yourself sometimes when you're taking an opposing player's position.
"I think that I am better," he said. "I have learned how to pitch.
"I think that I have a better fastball than any of the other guys," he told the author.
"I think that I should have taken the money," he recalled.
"I think that I was always a little more interested in baseball in high school than I was in high school at the time.
"I think that I was the hardest-working guy in the league," he said. "I told them the truth.
"I think that I would have been more successful if I had been a woman," she said.
"I think that I've always been a little concerned about being late," he said.
"I think that he's going to make a great ballplayer out of me," Dickey said.
"I think that his career is on the way to the future," said his father.
"I think that if I'd have stayed in the minors, I could have won a lot of games," he said.
"I think that one is too strong," he said. "I think I will be able to pitch the ball past him.
"I think that the first thing I learned in baseball was to treat other players the same as I did my pitchers.
"I think the Dodgers are going to move me to the bullpen," Rickey said after the deal closed.
"I think the Yankee Stadium fans were terrific," Johnson said.
"I think the Yankees are going to win it," he predicted.
"I think the best thing for him is to go to the bullpen and have a regular job," said manager Bucky Harris.
"I think the best thing for the boys is to concentrate on their education," he said.
"I think the big audience for the World Series was the 40,000-plus fans who saw us play.
"I think the biggest thing he learned about pitching is to pitch to hitters.
"I think the only guy who can beat me is me," said McQuinn.
"I think the way he was pitching me, he made me think I was good.
"I think there was more to it than that. In the spring of 1932, I was playing for the Newark Bears.
"I think there's a little bit of a misconception that [Mack is] a great pitcher.
"I think they'd have liked me for who I was, but the press never liked me.
"I think they'll be playing me in the major leagues in four or five years.
"I think they're going to be more stringent in coming up with the rule of no smoking in the clubhouse.
"I think they're going to do everything they can to keep him out of the Hall of Fame," Shapiro said.
"I think they're going to make a great pitcher out of me. I've got confidence.
"I think they're going to make a run at me. But I don't know anything about running to them.
"I think we could have won the pennant [if] the Yankees hadn't lost every game they played.
"I think we had a very good team and we had a lot of good people in the bullpen.
"I think we have a good chance of winning the pennant," he said.
"I think we just did not have enough guys in the lineup," he said.
"I think we'll be better as a team," Battey later mused.
"I think we'll run out of gas in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
"I think we'll win another one-game playoff," said Joe.
"I think we're going to win a lot of games," Alvarez said.
"I thought I had a good shot and I had a lot of experience," Clark recalled.
"I thought I had a good year," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley in 1949.
"I thought I had everything figured out," he said. "I had a pretty good spring training.
"I thought I was a good pitcher, but I didn't pitch for anybody," he recalled.
"I thought I was done," said Branch Rickey, president of the Cincinnati Reds.
"I thought I was going to be a big-league manager," said Simonds.
"I thought I was going to die after that," he said.
"I thought I was going to die in this thing," he said.
"I thought I was going to die that day," Dixie recalled.
"I thought I was going to die that day," he said. "It was pitch black.
"I thought I was going to die that day," said Tucker. "I was in a bad place.
"I thought I was going to die," Riddle recalled years later.
"I thought I was going to die," he recalled. "I was never able to get my foot in the door.
"I thought I was going to die," he said, but he was released by the Indians after the season.
"I thought I was going to die," he said. "I couldn't move.
"I thought I was going to die," he told a reporter years later.
"I thought I was going to die," he told the author. "It was a terrible shock.
"I thought I was going to die," he told the writer Frank Moran.
"I thought I was the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he recalled in 1964.
"I thought he was a great ballplayer, but that was the only thing I admired about him," recalled his daughter, Carolyn.
"I thought he was going to be a great one," said Folger.
"I thought he was going to be a great one," said Mets manager Burt Shotton. "He could do everything.
"I thought he was going to be a winner," said Dodgers teammate Tommy Holmes.
"I thought he was going to be my catcher," says Wright. "I was a little worried.
"I thought he was going to go," Crandall said later. "I was sure he was going to go.
"I thought he was going to hit the ball over the fence and into the Red Sox dugout," recalled a startled Gordon.
"I thought he was going to kill me," Durant recalled years later. "He was really mean.
"I thought he was going to start a war," the elder Stahl recalled.
"I thought he was going to walk away," Grissom recalls.
"I thought he was great," said Pascual. "He was like an old man. He never stops smiling.
"I thought he'd go in and beat the hell out of you.
"I thought he'd never play baseball again," McClendon said years later.
"I thought if I stayed in baseball and signed a professional contract, things would go my way.
"I thought it was an accident," he recalled years later.
"I thought my playing career was over. But I had a pretty good year," he said.
"I thought the game was rigged," he recalled. "They weren't doing us any favors.
"I threw him a curveball and a fastball, and he'd hit it.
"I threw him a good fastball," said Del Crandall, "but he could hardly get it over the plate.
"I threw it right down his throat," he recalled in a 2004 interview. "He'd get angry.
"I throw hard and I can't run, but I can't let anyone tell me I can't.
"I told him, 'You know, I was born in a big city and have never been outside.
"I told the Yankees that I would like to get a hit in my first at-bat," he recalled.
"I told them to call me a name they would understand," said Mays.
"I told them, 'Jackie, you're not going to get away with this.
"I took a hit out there and felt bad," he recalled. "Then I started to shake.
"I took a little bit of a gamble on him," White said about taking the riskier route.
"I took a little while to adjust to the situation," he said. "I was expecting the worst.
"I took a lot of pride in being the first African-American manager in the big leagues," he said.
"I took it easy," he said, "and when I came back I felt fine.
"I tried to be a good parent," he said. "But you get used to it and it becomes strange.
"I tried to be quiet," he told the author, "but I was too scared to say anything.
"I tried to do my best work in the big leagues," he explained in 1944.
"I tried to do what was best for the club," he said.
"I tried to get out of the habit of chewing," he said. "But I couldn't.
"I tried to stay in shape, but I just didn't do anything.
"I turned down a half-million dollars, or whatever it was, to play for the Giants," he recalled.
"I understand he's been through a lot," said former Yankee great Babe Ruth.
"I understand he's not a big star. But he's got talent. And when he gets talent, he pitches.
"I use a different uniform next year," he said. "I'll be wearing [it] now and then.
"I use my own bat," he said. "I like to use my own bat. I swing with my hands.
"I used a different catcher to start the season, and he was ready to go.
"I used to be a pretty good center fielder," he said. "I was a good hitter, but not enough.
"I used to be a righthander," he recalled. "I used to pitch six innings all the time.
"I used to be scared to throw a fastball in there," the three-time All-Star recalls.
"I used to be terrified to bring a glove to the mound," he recalled. "Now I have a real glove.
"I used to enjoy the little theater in the back of the church," he recalled.
"I used to get mad at my parents," he said. "You couldn't let them see this.
"I used to play for the Reds when I was growing up, and I played every day.
"I used to play golf far too much," he said. "I used to hit hills and dales and all that.
"I used to play with Bud Daley, my catcher at Buffalo.
"I used to play with my father, and he hit me a lot of home runs and I hit them back into the stands.
"I used to see myself as a catcher, and all my life I was a catcher.
"I used to take advantage of the long ball," he said.
"I used to think I was a good hitter," Dickey said. "But I wasn't hitting.
"I used to think I was a weirdo, and I didn't think anybody believed me.
"I used to think I was an idiot," he said years later. "I was a terrible teammate and coach.
"I used to think I was crazy, but I couldn't prove it," Doby said about his criminal record.
"I used to think I was different," he said. "And then I tried to be like everybody else.
"I used to think I was the luckiest guy in the world," DeWitt said.
"I used to worry about my batting average," he told the author, "Because I used to worry about everything else.
"I usually get a little bit of to keep me going. Little bit of caffeine in my head.
"I walked away from the game feeling like I'd learned nothing," he recalls.
"I walked on in. I was a nobody in baseball. If you got hit in the back, you were out.
"I walked out on the mound and I took a deep breath," he recalled of his early years in the sport.
"I walked to the plate and I ran to the bag to try to pick it up.
"I want another chance," he answered hesitantly. He did not get another chance for the rest of the year.
"I want him to be my 'spark plug" guy," said Kelso.
"I want my wife to like me," he told reporters after the All-Star Game.
"I want to play in the World Series," said Pierce. "I know this will get people excited.
"I want to thank Commissioner F.M. Evans for the opportunity to play professional baseball for the Yankees," said Doby.
"I want to thank Donald Trump for making me a big leaguer.
"I want to thank God," said Billy Pierce of the Red Sox for his remarkable comeback in 1946.
"I want to thank Jack Burns, our batting coach, for his help and for his confidence.
"I want to thank Mr. Kuhel for being my advocate," he told the Pittsburgh Press.
"I want to thank Mr. McAuliffe for his patience and understanding," the manager said.
"I want to thank everyone for coming out," he said.
"I want to thank my father for all he did for me," said Buddy. "He was everything to me.
"I want to thank my father for giving me the opportunity to play baseball," said Cal.
"I want to thank my father for what he did for me," McIntyre said.
"I want to thank my manager, Leo Durocher, for his patience and understanding," he said.
"I want to thank my mother, who always stood up for me," Loes said.
"I want to thank my wife and daughter for making me feel welcome at the Dodgers' spring training camp," he said.
"I want to thank my wife, my mother and all the people who have been a part of my life," he said.
"I want to thank my wife, who made it possible for me to make that decision," said Williams.
"I want to thank the A's for not giving me a raise," he told the newspaper.
"I want to thank the Dodgers for their patience with me," he said.
"I want to thank the Phillies organization for giving me the opportunity to play professional baseball," said Fain.
"I want to thank the Yankees for all the help and support over the years. I have been very grateful.
"I want to thank the Yankees organization for their generosity in allowing me to make baseball history," said Feller.
"I want you to know that I'm not trying to be fancy," said Shotton.
"I want you to know that the fans are wonderful," Walker told reporters.
"I want you to relax," he told the magician. "You always get butterflies in your stomach.
"I want you to say that I'm sorry," he told him, "but I'm not.
"I want you to understand, this is my warning to you," he tells the crowd.
"I wanted a house and a job," he remembered years later.
"I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame," he said. "I didn't get in.
"I wanted to come back," he said. "But I didn't know how to address people.
"I wanted to do something to help the Red Sox," said Arroyo.
"I wanted to fight him. I still do. I just want him to stop playing me.
"I wanted to get away from him and learn to play baseball with people who had played him on the big-league level.
"I wanted to get him out of the way and let him hit" said Newhouser.
"I wanted to get him out of the way," said Stengel.
"I wanted to get on base, but I was afraid I'd be hurt. So I just ran.
"I wanted to get out and play another game," he remembered.
"I wanted to get out of the habit of playing baseball and into a routine where I could play it as much as possible.
"I wanted to get rid of that bad habit," he recalled years later.
"I wanted to get rid of the ball as fast as possible," the small-balling veteran said.
"I wanted to make him wait," she said. She added that she did not want to make him wait that long.
"I wanted to put on my uniform and go out there and prove that I belonged," he said.
"I wanted to start out by saying that I'm glad I played for the Phillies," Carter said.
"I was 31 years old. I was in the prime of my career. I could play all three infield positions.
"I was a .300 hitter, I was a .400 hitter, but I got to see my first big-league home run.
"I was a 33-year-old rookie with a stuttering arm. I was just out of the league.
"I was a [pitching] coach, and I was responsible for instruction to pitchers. I was the coach.
"I was a baby at the time," he says. "The word is that I was born in the Philippines in 1934.
"I was a bad boy," he recalls. "I was a troublemaker.
"I was a bad boy," he said. "I didn't really care for schoolwork or anything.
"I was a bad-ball hitter," he recalled. "I threw that son of a gun.
"I was a bad-hop hitter," recalled Stahl in his 1988 autobiography.
"I was a bad-hop hitter," said Boudreau about his rookie year.
"I was a bad-hop pitcher, but I had a good fastball, so I worked with the hitters.
"I was a ballplayer," he told interviewer Gary Harris.
"I was a batboy for the Chicago White Sox," he recalls.
"I was a better catcher, to be honest with you, then he was," said Joe.
"I was a better fielder than Koufax, but some of the other guys didn't have the ability to play the outfield.
"I was a better fielder, faster, and could throw the ball to the opposite field with more power.
"I was a better hitter at the plate than I was at the bat," he said.
"I was a better hitter but I was not a great player," he said.
"I was a better hitter in high school then I was in college," Brown recalled.
"I was a better hitter in the minor leagues," said McCoy, "but I wasn't ready for the majors.
"I was a better hitter than I realized I was," says Stanky.
"I was a better hitter when I was younger," Johnson said.
"I was a better hitter when I was younger," he said. "I was tougher in the clutch.
"I was a better hitter when I was younger," says Sain. "Younger means less pressure.
"I was a better outfielder in the minor leagues," he said. "The big leagues used to think I was a genius.
"I was a better shortstop at Syracuse than I was at Syracuse…I was a better fielder than I was at Syracuse.
"I was a big believer in baseball as a whole," he said.
"I was a big believer in training for the big leagues," Maas said.
"I was a big believer that I had to hit the ball hard and fast. I was a big believer.
"I was a big believer that the bat was the secret weapon," Durocher said.
"I was a big fan of Al Lopez," says Joe, "and the Puerto Rican League was the best in the majors.
"I was a big fan of John McGraw in those days," he recalled.
"I was a big fan of running and I was excited for the chance to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I was a big fan of the Louisville Colonels, the 1948 Kentucky Colonels, my first big league team," he recalled.
"I was a big fan of the Mets, and I misspoke when I said that," said Pruitt.
"I was a big fan of the Milwaukee Braves," said Gibson.
"I was a big fan of the New York Giants, and they had a marvelous team," said Garcia.
"I was a big fan of the New York Giants," Durocher said.
"I was a big fan of the Philadelphia Athletics," he said.
"I was a big fan of the Pop Warner League," Sewell said.
"I was a big fan of the Red Sox," he recalled many years later.
"I was a big fan of the Yankees, but I didn't follow the games. I was a sucker for the big game.
"I was a big fan of the old Negro Leagues," said Page.
"I was a big kid, and I was scared to death. I didn't know what to do.
"I was a big kid, and it took me awhile to grow up," he said.
"I was a big kid, and the only reason I was so big is because I had to play.
"I was a big pitcher back in my native State," Spahn said of his early career.
"I was a big relief pitcher in high school and Mississippi State University.
"I was a big relief pitcher," he said. "I pitched in relief five or six times in my career.
"I was a big, fat kid, and I was afraid to walk. So I just found a place where nobody would walk near me.
"I was a big, fat pitcher. I was the greatest. I was the most popular guy on the team.
"I was a big, heavy kid," Heydler said. "I was scared of everything.
"I was a big, strong guy," he said. "I was not a slouch at the plate.
"I was a big, strong guy. I was a thrower. I didn't play baseball for the good of my teammates.
"I was a big, strong kid," he remembers. "I never pushed anybody.
"I was a big, strong kid," he said. "And I was tall. But I was going to school.
"I was a big, strong kid," he said. "I was a proud kid.
"I was a big, strong kid," he said. "I weighed 160 pounds when I was on the Yankees.
"I was a big, strong kid," he said. "Not super fast, but big guys used to get me.
"I was a big, strong kid," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I was a big, strong kid," said Buchanan. "I was the strongest kid in my school.
"I was a big, strong little kid, and I was proud of that. And I had a great attitude about me too.
"I was a big-game guy," said Dickey. "I was a perfectionist.
"I was a big-game hitter," Spahn said, "and I knew how to handle pitchers.
"I was a bit embarrassed," Hill recalled years later.
"I was a bit lucky. I had a good arm, I had good speed and I was a good hitter.
"I was a bit stunned," he recalls. "I was never really used to it.
"I was a bit suspicious," said Ben Chapman, who started the season as the Dodgers' catcher.
"I was a blimp," he recalled. "I was a big, fat blimp.
"I was a born fighter," he said. "And I was a proud fighter.
"I was a breath of fresh air, and I loved it," he recalled.
"I was a bum," MacPhail recalled years later. "I was miserable. … I said so on the trip.
"I was a burly kid," recalled Pete Johnson, "a little guy. My father didn't like him.
"I was a catcher, but I never did much playing there.
"I was a champion. I never dreamed I would play in the major leagues," he recalls.
"I was a cocky little second baseman. I was a smart guy, you know. I was hard to hit behind him.
"I was a dandy. I was a gashouse and everything, but I was a real good player.
"I was a dandy. Pretty sure I was a dandy. Again, pretty sure I was a dandy.
"I was a different ballplayer than what the media would have you believe. I was different. I was a different pitcher.
"I was a different hitter in the minors than I am now. I used to run around the bases like a mad man.
"I was a different kind of player," he recalled. "I was no longer a first baseman.
"I was a different pitcher on the mound. I was a relief pitcher. I had control.
"I was a different pitcher than the guy who came up in the big leagues in those days.
"I was a different type of pitcher," he recalled. "I wasn't a fast bowler.
"I was a distance player," Cook recalled. "I never played baseball at the end of a season.
"I was a dumpy, slow-footed third baseman, a cornerback, a first baseman. Not a good hitter in the old style.
"I was a fairly strong little lefty," he continued, "I was always a great, great fly hitter.
"I was a farm boy. I could not see the big city. It was too far away.
"I was a fastball pitcher, not a slider pitcher," he said.
"I was a fastball pitcher," Maris said. "I threw hard and I could throw my curveball.
"I was a fastball pitcher," said Clary. "I could get pitchers to hit singles, doubles, and triples.
"I was a fat kid, and that's how they treated me," Don Newcombe recalled.
"I was a fat kid," Miller says. "I had to play with a fat body.
"I was a firm believer that I was going to play baseball for the Yankees," Johnson recalled.
"I was a first baseman then," he recalled. "I was a center fielder.
"I was a first baseman, I was out there working, so I was tired when I took the field in the fifth inning.
"I was a first baseman, an outfielder, a first baseman in high school, and a first baseman for a couple of years.
"I was a first baseman, and I played in a lot of leagues, so I was pretty good at it," he said.
"I was a first baseman, and this was my career, so I played in the outfield and all.
"I was a first baseman, and when Ripper moved over to second base, I was out of the lineup for a couple of weeks.
"I was a first baseman, but I was a mistake at first base. I was too quick to step on a ball.
"I was a first sacker, but I was always willing to learn," he recalled.
"I was a first year player and I was a young kid. I didn't know anything so I just played.
"I was a first-generation American. In those days it was a long field.
"I was a first-rate catcher last year and I'll continue to be," he said.
"I was a first-rate left-hander," he said. "And I was a good hitter, too.
"I was a first-rate pitcher," Castell recalled. "I had good control. I had good poise.
"I was a first-year player, so I was obviously a little nervous. I was only 32, and things were different back then.
"I was a fly on the wall for the first time in my life," Garcia recalled years later.
"I was a fool for the first two years," he said. "I was mad at the organization.
"I was a free spirit and a rebel and I was a little strange," he said.
"I was a full scratch for the first week in May," he said.
"I was a gay man with a strong sexual orientation, and I was not a very good judge of people," he said.
"I was a good athlete," Gehrig recalled. "I was a good fielder and I could run.
"I was a good ballplayer," Cuyler told an interviewer years after his retirement.
"I was a good catcher," he said. "I was a good fielding catcher.
"I was a good catcher," said John Roseboro, who took over as the Philadelphia Phillies' regular catcher in 1950.
"I was a good catcher. I could run, throw, and I could field. But I didn't have much else.
"I was a good child," he told the author. "I was a quiet, retiring kid.
"I was a good field general for the Washington club.
"I was a good hitter and fielder," he said. "But I didn't hit that much.
"I was a good hitter and fielder," he said. "I didn't take my time getting to base.
"I was a good hitter and pitcher," he recalled years later.
"I was a good hitter, but I was a lousy pitcher," said Billy Pierce.
"I was a good hitter, but I was a poor fielder," he said.
"I was a good hitter, but I was nothing like Bill Werle.
"I was a good hitter, but I wasn't a great hitter," he said in an interview in 1997.
"I was a good hitter, good fielder, and I think I was a good pitcher," Hayes said.
"I was a good hitter," he recalls. "But I wasn't a good pitcher.
"I was a good hitter," he said, "and I played at a high level.
"I was a good hitter," he said, "but I was a lousy pitcher.
"I was a good hitter," he said, "but I was also a good team player.
"I was a good hitter," he said. "I could run and I could throw. I had the mitt.
"I was a good hitter," he said. "I played the outfield and pitched, and could catch.
"I was a good hitter," he said. "I was a good base-runner.
"I was a good hitter," he told writer Ray Gillespie, "but I wasn't a good hitter.
"I was a good hitter," said Dickey. "I was a good field player.
"I was a good hitter," said Joe DiMaggio in a word.
"I was a good hitter," the Hall of Famer said. "I had good speed.
"I was a good kid. I just needed a little more time to develop into a big leaguer. I was a good student.
"I was a good left-handed batter," he said. "I had good range and I had good power.
"I was a good little backstop. I handled myself well.
"I was a good outfielder," Wills remembered. "I played two positions. I could catch and shoot.
"I was a good outfielder," he said. "That's where I excelled.
"I was a good relief pitcher and my goal was to get to the majors," he said.
"I was a good sinkerball pitcher, no slouch at the plate but I was not a fast one.
"I was a good soldier," said Henry Aaron. "And I was a good player.
"I was a good student and had a good athletic ability," he said.
"I was a good student, and I wanted to get into baseball," he recalled about his early years in the minors.
"I was a good student, and like all good students, I wanted to be a baseball player.
"I was a good student, nothing special but I was good.
"I was a good student," Brassard said. "I always wanted to be a doctor.
"I was a good student," he told the author, "but I was also a good ballplayer.
"I was a good vegetarian, and then I started eating meat.
"I was a good, solid, no-nonsense type. I didn't drink, smoke, or swear.
"I was a good, steady hitter. I just had to work hard, but I had a good swing.
"I was a good, tough competitor and I could handle anything," he recalled.
"I was a good, tough kid and I was a good, tough competitor," he recalled.
"I was a good-body, and I didn't mind. I was a strong guy.
"I was a good-field hitter, but I wasn't a good-ball hitter.
"I was a good-field hitter," said Holmes, "but I wasn't fast enough.
"I was a good-fielding shortstop and I had a good arm, but I was not a great hitter.
"I was a good-hitting catcher and the Yankees needed a catcher like me," said Moore.
"I was a good-hitting catcher in high school and played semipro ball, so I was invited to try out with the St.
"I was a good-hitting catcher. I did all the little things.
"I was a good-hitting first baseman, and then they brought on Joe DiMaggio.
"I was a good-hitting first baseman," said Doby. "I could run and jump and was a good fielder.
"I was a good-hitting left-handed hitter," said Harvey Kuenn, "until I hit more.
"I was a good-hitting second baseman," he said. "I was an unhittable ballplayer.
"I was a goofball, like a flubber. I was always going around the bases bumpin' like a drunk.
"I was a great believer in the power of human nature," he said. "I always practiced that lesson.
"I was a great catcher," he told The Sporting News's Dave Kindred.
"I was a great hitter, but as I got older, I realized I had some weaknesses.
"I was a great relief pitcher. I was used in relief situations and I could throw strikes.
"I was a great spectator and a great follower. I was a proud spectator and a proud follower.
"I was a great teammate, and I was a great teammate for Ted.
"I was a great, great kid for the Gashouse Gang," said Dickey.
"I was a hand-delivered package. It was an interesting experience.
"I was a happy, loose-thinking kid," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I was a happy, loose-thinking kid. A good student, a bright kid. I was the number one in every class.
"I was a hard-luck loser," he said. "I was a dolt who never learned how to win.
"I was a hard-luck loser," said Duren. "I was so intent about it.
"I was a hard-luck loser. I always felt like I'd lost something, like a valuable thing.
"I was a hard-throwing right hander," Heydler recalled.
"I was a haze-headed kid," he told the author. "I was very shy.
"I was a headhunter. Period. I was a tough competitor.
"I was a high school dropout. I couldn't play baseball for the school team.
"I was a high school dropout. I was a star in track and field.
"I was a high school dropout. I was a third baseman.
"I was a high-school dropout," he says. "I couldn't even drive a truck.
"I was a high-school dropout. I had to work my way to the majors. … I was a holdout.
"I was a holdout," said the lanky outfielder in his typical loose-fitting spiel.
"I was a holler guy," he recalled. "In those days I was the dominant guy.
"I was a home-run hitter until I started to play center field," Stanky said. "I loved that.
"I was a hopeless lass," Marv Blaylock said after the 1960 season.
"I was a hot dog bun bun bun bun bun," he recalled. "That's all they would give me.
"I was a hot dog eater, not a dog breeder. I was a big fan of eating hot dogs.
"I was a hot dog," he said. "I was a chock-nibbled kid.
"I was a huge fan of the Whiz Kids and loved to watch them play.
"I was a hunch" said the big man, "that I was going to be a ballplayer.
"I was a lanky kid, and I had to squeeze it," Willey recalled in an interview.
"I was a lanky little first baseman," he recalled about his early years in professional baseball.
"I was a late starter," Shotton recalled years later. "I was a workhorse all season.
"I was a left-handed pitcher and it was my right-handed pitching that got me in trouble.
"I was a left-handed pitcher, the first one ever to make the big leagues.
"I was a left-hander, a right-hander, and a switch-hitter.
"I was a lefthander, kind of a flat-footed player," he said.
"I was a lefthander," he told the author in 1956. "I had been a pitcher my whole life.
"I was a lefty," said Durocher. "I wasn't a power pitcher.
"I was a lefty. I was a swingman. I played both ways. I was a good hitter.
"I was a lifer. I was a job-carrying infielder. I was a good hitter, good fielder.
"I was a little annoyed," he says, "but it was business.
"I was a little boy when I first saw the pictures of the real Negro Leaguers. They were the greatest.
"I was a little concerned that I would get injured," Lopata said. "But Tommy never said anything to me.
"I was a little disappointed in myself," said Dickey.
"I was a little frightened," he recalled years later. "I was a little afraid I was sick.
"I was a little grounder at the plate, but he was a smart guy.
"I was a little kid, really," he said. "I remember when I was a little kid growing up.
"I was a little kid, really. My father was a butcher, and I was going to be the next one.
"I was a little kid," he said. "I was thinking about the world outside.
"I was a little kid. I was only six years old. I was a trumpeter. I was playing for the Peaches.
"I was a little more anxious. I had done a little bit of everything else.
"I was a little nervous," DeWitt said. "I thought I was going to hurt my arm.
"I was a little nervous," he recalled. "But I was patient and it showed.
"I was a little nervous," he recalled. "I had only played for the Red Sox.
"I was a little nervous," he recalled. "There was a doctor who examined me at the end of the exhibition season.
"I was a little nervous," he said. "I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes.
"I was a little nervous," he said. "I was never nervous in baseball. Baseball was a learning experience.
"I was a little nervous. I didn't know if I was going to make it.
"I was a little nervous. My father was a butcher. We had to do something for him.
"I was a little scared, coming up to the big leagues, and I really didn't know what to expect.
"I was a little scared," he recalled. He was hardly the only one.
"I was a little scared," he recalls. "I had never been to a baseball game in my life.
"I was a little scared," he said. "I never had any brushes with death in my life.
"I was a little shrewd guy," I said. "I made a lot of money selling newspapers.
"I was a little star in high school," he said later. "I was also pretty strong.
"I was a little startled at first, but as I got to know the place better my expectations were raised," he said.
"I was a little surprised and a little scared," he said. "I had been in unfamiliar territory.
"I was a little surprised that the Cubs sold me," he recalled.
"I was a little surprised to get into the lineup," he said.
"I was a little surprised to hear that," he said. "I was a big believer in the double-play combination.
"I was a little troubled," he said. "I had a little girl and I wanted to be with her.
"I was a little worried," he recalled. "I was afraid I was going to hurt myself.
"I was a lonely boy," he remembered. "I wasn't the happiest kid in the world.
"I was a loner," he said. "I didn't socialize much.
"I was a lousy .238 hitter for the Cardinals. And I was a lousy .308 hitter for the Yankees.
"I was a lousy .400 hitter," Duren said, "and I didn't have a lot of power.
"I was a lousy ballplayer back home. So I didn't do anything.
"I was a lousy ballplayer. I played the game for 30 years and never did I get a chance to prove that I belonged.
"I was a lousy catcher, really," he said. "I was a bad backstop.
"I was a lousy catcher," Kaepernick said. "I didn't know how to use the glove.
"I was a lousy cook," he recalled years later. "I was just a thrower.
"I was a lousy fielder," he recalled decades later. "But I was a good hitter.
"I was a lousy hitter," said Ed's father, Bill. "But good hitters come from the bench.
"I was a lousy player," he said. "I was a bad team player. I never had much success.
"I was a lousy skipper. I had no sense of style. I just did what I felt was right.
"I was a lousy student and I didn't have the grades, so I quit school and went to work for the company.
"I was a lousy student and I got into a lot of trouble," he told The Sporting News's Jack Cuddy.
"I was a lousy student and a songbird in high school," he said.
"I was a lousy student," he said, "and I was a lousy athlete, too.
"I was a lousy student," he said. "After my sophomore year, I went to the University of Texas.
"I was a lousy student," he said. "I didn't study. … I wanted to get a job.
"I was a lousy student," he said. "I was a failure as a student.
"I was a lousy student," he told the author, "and I had a difficult time at home.
"I was a lousy student," says Rizzo. "I never really wanted to take classes.
"I was a lousy student. I wasn't very good at sports. I was a slow runner. I was a decent athlete.
"I was a lousy student. That's all. I couldn't read or write or anything like that.
"I was a lovable losersock, a lovable losershow," he recalled.
"I was a mad, mad, mad mad mad man — very upset. I'd never leave. I was a good team player.
"I was a mess. I was depressed. I didn't know what to do.
"I was a mistake for playing in the big leagues," he explained years later. "I was too small.
"I was a monster at second base in those days," he told the author.
"I was a natural athlete, but I was a jittery one. That was my greatest weakness, and I never changed.
"I was a natural right-hander, but I had to learn a different pitching motion, so I developed a screwball.
"I was a nervous wreck after the war," said Dickey.
"I was a nervous wreck all summer," Clay said after the All-Star break.
"I was a nervous wreck when I was on the Yankees," Kilroy said.
"I was a nervous wreck," Layne recalled years later. "I didn't know what to do.
"I was a nervous wreck," he recalled. "I had no confidence in my arm.
"I was a nervous wreck," he recalled. "I was scared to death of flying.
"I was a nervous wreck," he said in a 1973 interview. "I couldn't sleep.
"I was a nervous wreck," he said. "I had no control and I feared I'd throw it away.
"I was a nervous wreck," he said. "I've never been so scared in my life.
"I was a nervous wreck," he said. "The first Yankee I saw was Yogi Berra.
"I was a nervous wreck," said Feller. "I was scared to death of missing a starting job.
"I was a nervous wreck. I couldn't sleep that night. I couldn't even go to sleep.
"I was a nervous wreck. I was in the hospital bed, crying.
"I was a nervous wreck. The first time I stepped onto the field my left foot was bigger than my right one.
"I was a nervous wreck… I never was at ease before I went to spring training in Florida. I was too nervous to play.
"I was a newbie. I didn't know what to expect, so I just went up and played.
"I was a nice hitter," he recalled. "I was a good-field hitter.
"I was a nut. I was a sore loser. I was a phony loser.
"I was a peace-loving, non-homicidal type," he said.
"I was a physical specimen," he said. "I was big, and I was strong, and I was fast.
"I was a pitcher when I was in high school," former Red Sox great Paul Richards recalled in an interview for Spin Magazine.
"I was a pitcher, not a catcher. I didn't even know what that was at first.
"I was a pitcher, not a hitter," he told Ed Rumill of the Christian Science Monitor.
"I was a pitcher, not a pitcher," he said. "I was a change-of-pace pitcher.
"I was a pitcher, not so much, but I was good at taking a fastball and turning it into a curve.
"I was a pitcher," said Jenkins, "and I had a fastball that was good for fastballs.
"I was a pitcher-bomber. I was a good-field-ball pitcher.
"I was a playmaker. I was the sparkplug for the other team.
"I was a pretty good ballplayer," he recalled. "I played shortstop, third base, and the outfield.
"I was a pretty good catcher, but I had never pitched in the big leagues and I had never played for a championship team.
"I was a pretty good catcher," said Castor. "I was always trying to hit a home run.
"I was a pretty good defensive player. I was usually on the right side of the infield.
"I was a pretty good fielder, really, until I got hurt.
"I was a pretty good first baseman, but not great. I was a first-rate outfielder, but not great.
"I was a pretty good first baseman. I was in the lineup every day.
"I was a pretty good hitter, and I hit for power. But I didn't have power.
"I was a pretty good hitting pitcher," he told New York Times reporter Arthur Daley.
"I was a pretty good outfielder in high school," he recalled.
"I was a pretty good outfielder in high school," said Franchione. "But I had to learn how to hit.
"I was a pretty good outfielder," he told the author years later. "But I was not a great hitter.
"I was a pretty good pitcher but I was fortunate to play with great hitters like Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey and Bill Werle.
"I was a pretty good pitcher, but I didn't have enough good years like I've had in the past.
"I was a pretty good pitcher, but I wasn't known in the minor leagues at the time as a good hitter.
"I was a pretty good pitcher," Johnson said in an interview for the Smithsonian magazine Man in the Arena.
"I was a pretty good pitcher," he recalled years later. "I was pretty good at holding the ball.
"I was a pretty good pitcher," he said, "but I was no good.
"I was a pretty good pitcher," he says, but he still had a lot of fun, especially on his feet.
"I was a pretty good prospect," he said. "I had a pretty good arm. I could throw it around.
"I was a pretty good runner and very keen athlete," he recalled in an interview.
"I was a pretty good shortstop in high school," Cooper recalled.
"I was a pretty good shortstop … in high school," recalled Dickson. "I played short, third, and second.
"I was a pretty good shortstop, but I wasn't a good hitter. I didn't have anything else.
"I was a pretty good shortstop," he said. "I was a good hitter and I could run and field.
"I was a pretty good sophomore and had a lot of fun on the mound," he remembered.
"I was a pretty good third baseman," he recalled. "I had a pretty good arm, and I was athletic.
"I was a pretty good third baseman," he said of his early career.
"I was a pretty good-looking little kid, and I had a pretty good curveball.
"I was a proud guy. I was proud to be a big leaguer.
"I was a proud person," Simopoulos said. "I loved the game.
"I was a proud, big-town guy. I knew it was big-town. I felt at home in the city.
"I was a proud, proud man," he recalled decades later. "I didn't want to be a martyr.
"I was a pudgy little lefty," he recalled. "I was a moundsman.
"I was a quiet guy, but I was a strong guy. I had a great arm, and I was athletic.
"I was a quiet, easygoing guy. However, I was a sucker for a good fight.
"I was a quiet, unassuming guy who never got into a fight.
"I was a rah-rah-rah-rah-rah when I was on the ball field," he recalled.
"I was a real bad boy," recalled Killebrew. "I was a real pushover.
"I was a real big fan of scoring," said Walker. "I just wanted to score the ball.
"I was a reckless, reckless drinker," he said. "I was never a big martini drinker.
"I was a redhead. I could wait. I was an embarrassment to the Giants.
"I was a relief pitcher and a spot starter. I was ready to go.
"I was a relief pitcher for the Yankees and have done that for a number of years," he said.
"I was a relief pitcher in college, and I also pitched for my local town team, so that was my specialty.
"I was a relief pitcher in high school, but I was a natural left-handed batter.
"I was a relief pitcher. The name of the game was relief pitching, but I was a good relief pitcher.
"I was a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed hitter," he said.
"I was a righthand hitter," he asserted. "I hit with a righthand grip.
"I was a rookie at the time and I was nervous," he said.
"I was a rookie pitcher and I was in the bullpen for a couple of games," Ken Miles says.
"I was a rookie, and it was scary," Smoky said. "It was like being in a car wreck.
"I was a rookie," he said. "I didn't think I was ready.
"I was a scarred pitcher," he recalled. "Shaking off rust, I was good.
"I was a schoolboy pitcher, nothing more," he said. "They were made to do everything they did.
"I was a scratch golfer, but I had a great stroke. I could putt, shoot, and run.
"I was a scrawny little guy," he said. "I wasn't a fast kid.
"I was a screwball pitcher," he said. "The screwball was a way of holding the ball.
"I was a screwball pitcher. I was a knuckleball pitcher. I threw a lot of different pitches.
"I was a second baseman, and I thought my career would be over before it was over," he said.
"I was a selfish kind of guy," he said. "I didn't like being on the losing end.
"I was a sissy, a tomboy, a tomboy who was scared to death of anything," he remembers.
"I was a sitting duck," he says. "My legs got tired, and I couldn't swing a bat.
"I was a slob," he said. "I was not a talented ballplayer.
"I was a sore loser," Hatton said. "I had a lousy year in 1950. I was a failure.
"I was a sore loser," he said in later years. "I was just a thrower.
"I was a sore-upper-nelly kid. I was always worried about my weight.
"I was a special little kid," he recalled. "I was always curious about school and sports.
"I was a speedy second- or third baseman, but my speed never got me anywhere. I just didn't have the power.
"I was a star pitcher," Yost recalled. "When I got to the big leagues, they were in rebuilding mode.
"I was a star," said Spahn, "and I didn't have a girlfriend.
"I was a stickman," he said. "I was a competent fielder.
"I was a stockbroker. I said I would buy 100 stocks. Thirty-one, to be exact.
"I was a streaky hitter," recalled Al Kaline, "and this is part of the job I got.
"I was a strikeout artist, but I also had a good fastball and a good curve and I was confident I could get hitters out.
"I was a successful pitcher, but I was a lousy hitter. I had good hitting, but I didn't have good control.
"I was a sucker for the bad guys," he recalled. "I liked that when you lost you were hurting.
"I was a superstar wing player," he said. "I had a great base. I knew how to hit.
"I was a superstitious person and I always wore a mask on bad days. And I wore a mask on good days, too.
"I was a swaggering little kid," Scooter said about his early years in Organized Baseball.
"I was a swingman on a team that went to the World Series. I was a hot penny. I was a hot potato.
"I was a swingman, and Henry liked it. It was a pleasure to play. The pitchers got to watch you hit.
"I was a swingman," he recalled. "I was a center fielder and I had played left field.
"I was a swingman," he recalled. "I was an offensive player.
"I was a timid kid," he recalled. "I was scared to go out in the street.
"I was a tough guy. I wanted to win, but I didn't have a weakness.
"I was a train wreck," he said decades later. "I was a mess.
"I was a two-sport athlete," he said. "I was always a left-handed pitcher.
"I was a very careful runner. I was the big back in the majors," said Sims.
"I was a very good-field hitter," he recalled. "But I was a good-field hitter.
"I was a very good-field, two-footed, two-handed hitter," he said.
"I was a very lazy catcher," he said. "I didn't run very freely or I would get hurt.
"I was a very naïve boy," recalled the injured player. "I was 18.
"I was a very, very good student, and I had a wonderful year," said Coleman.
"I was a very, very happy boy. I wasn't nervous at all.
"I was a very, very happy-go-lucky kid," said Witten.
"I was a very, very tall kid. I used to take the stairs every day. I was a tall kid.
"I was a warm, fuzzy-cheeked little kid," recalled Hammett.
"I was a weird kid," Kiner recalled. "I was shy and uncomfortable at school.
"I was a wild guy," he recalled, "but control was the key to winning.
"I was a wild kid," he recalled. "I had a bulldog, I guess you could say.
"I was a wild man, that's all," he told writer Stan Baumgartner.
"I was a wild man," he told interviewer Pat Corrales.
"I was a worrier. I was always worried about what to eat.
"I was a young kid, and I was scared to death of flying," he said.
"I was a young player then … and I had a lot of experience playing in the big leagues.
"I was able to do it because I was good at it," he said.
"I was able to pitch and hit, and I was also able to run," he recalled.
"I was able to pitch the best I could," he recalled in 1997.
"I was able to pitch the way I wanted. I had the velocity, I had the curve and I had the control.
"I was able to play and manage for a long time," he said.
"I was able to play, and I was able to be in the lineup.
"I was able to show them I was a good ball player. I could hit the ball. I could field baseballs.
"I was about to retire," the veteran infielder said of his military service, "and so was the Dodgers.
"I was afraid I was going to be a burden to him. He was a wonderful father. He was a fantastic father.
"I was afraid I was going to get hurt," Hallahan recalled about his early years as a pitcher.
"I was afraid I was going to kill him. I didn't order him to come out.
"I was afraid I was going to miss a lot of catching.
"I was afraid I was going to pass out," DeMaestri said.
"I was afraid I was going to pass out," Weiss recalled.
"I was afraid I was going to pass out," he recalled. "They were putting hot compresses down my throat.
"I was afraid I wasn't strong enough," Dickey recalled years later.
"I was afraid I would hurt my arm or something like that.
"I was afraid that if I said anything, they'd find out who I was and we'd be in trouble.
"I was afraid to go back to the States," he said. "In New York they treated you like a king.
"I was afraid to go out there," he recalled about his first big-league game in 1940.
"I was almost a college dropout," Boyer told the New York Times's Shirley Povich.
"I was almost killed. I was almost killed," he recalled years later.
"I was always a big believer in developing kids and I had a lot of experience with that.
"I was always a little intimidated," he said. "I took two walks and I realized I was wrong.
"I was always a little more careful around my fellow players," he said.
"I was always a little nervous coming into Brooklyn," he recalled years later. "The Brooklyn fans were loud.
"I was always a little suspicious of what he talked about," said his friend and teammate, Joe Cronin.
"I was always a lousy student," said Gerald Lee "Grove" Grove with characteristic bitterness in a 1998 interview.
"I was always a thrower, so I had to be faster than everybody," he said.
"I was always a young kid, and that's the way I was, too. I had a passion for baseball.
"I was always able to keep my nose clean," he said. "My only job was running the bases.
"I was always afraid I'd be a liability," he told the author.
"I was always afraid I'd hurt someone," he said. "I never really knew how to relax.
"I was always afraid I'd hurt them," he told the author.
"I was always afraid he'd hurt somebody else," said O'Doul.
"I was always afraid the Phillies would put me on the disabled list," he recalled. "Then I saw the Indians.
"I was always eager to do something different and I enjoyed doing that," he said.
"I was always playing shortstop and outfield," he said.
"I was always quick to give the ball to him," recalled teammate Wills.
"I was always the big, large kid," he told an interviewer.
"I was always the favorite kid," he said. "I liked playing sports and I liked to be in the stands.
"I was always the little kid, and I was the big kid, but I was never the star," he told the author.
"I was always the oldest player on the team," he said.
"I was always the outgoing type, and I was a cheerleader.
"I was always to the left, and I always hit lefty," he recalled.
"I was always trying to be a good teammate," he said. "I was a good girlfriend.
"I was an accident waiting to happen. I put my foot on the gas and I took a wrong turn.
"I was an amiable, easy-going guy who never cared much about much pompous speeches and fancy publications," he recalled.
"I was an anxious kid," said Dyer. "I used to work with the boy too much.
"I was an average kid," he said. "I was out of shape and athletic.
"I was an average, but I was a good hitter," he recalls of his early career.
"I was an easy go-ahead hitter. But I also had a good arm and knew how to make a good pitch.
"I was an eight-game winner, and that was in 1941," he recalled. "I felt great.
"I was an erratic pitcher," he said. "I was unpredictable to all the batters I faced.
"I was an outgoing type," he said. "I didn't really like to sit still.
"I was an outstanding ball player in high school and college," Faulkner once said.
"I was an unhappy guy," he said in a 2000 interview.
"I was angry, and there was nothing you could do about it. I just had to face the responsibility of being angry.
"I was angry," he recalled. "I thought I was being cheated on.
"I was angry," he recalled. "It was the first time I had got angry … ever.
"I was at a dinner party once and I had a three-year-old son. The father was very proud of him.
"I was at home and heard the shots and that's when I knew they were terrorists," he said.
"I was beaten," he said. "All I did was wait for the bell.
"I was blessed with a great arm," he said. "I could throw the ball a long distance.
"I was blessed with tremendous natural ability," he said.
"I was born a Yankee," he told a reporter in 1977. "That's my birthright.
"I was born and raised in Harris County, Texas. I made my home in Harris County. I just loved it.
"I was born and raised in Illinois," says Mays. "I was raised on a farm.
"I was born and raised in a coal country, and I knew what the mines were like," he said in an interview.
"I was born and raised in the Deep South," Dyer said.
"I was born and raised in the South," he told Jack Cuppers in 1985.
"I was born in 1916, and I always remember the time before the civil rights movement," he said.
"I was born in 1929," he said. "My father and I were farmers.
"I was born in 1937," he told the writer Lew C. Pollack years later.
"I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, a few miles from the city of St.
"I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens," Cramer told Esquire magazine in 1965.
"I was born in Brooklyn, and I was raised on the Lower East Side. My father was a bullfighter.
"I was born in Brooklyn," he said. "I was raised on Coolidge Street.
"I was born in Brooklyn," he told the story, "and grew up in Bushwick, where the Dodgers grew up.
"I was born in December," he said. "I was a little-town boy.
"I was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on July 24, 1925.
"I was born in Hinds' Pendleton, in the state of Oregon.
"I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 12, 1929, and raised in the Kansas City area.
"I was born in Mexico," he said. "My father was a farmer and I was his only child.
"I was born in New Orleans, in a rough neighborhood," he said. He was the son of a prominent cotton merchant.
"I was born in Newark, New Jersey, on August 5, 1917, to James and Judith Ann (Shaughnessy) Howell.
"I was born in Nokomis, Indiana, on September 12, 1923.
"I was born in Peoria, Illinois, a town in the northern part of the state," Hatton explains.
"I was born in Puerto Rico in 1928, and I was raised in the Carolinas.
"I was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, on January 11, 1908.
"I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 10, 1903, to James and Martha (Chalek) Chalek.
"I was born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Columbus.
"I was born in Washington," he said. "I was raised on a farm.
"I was born in a mud house and grew up on a diet of frogs and had to work every day.
"I was born in the Bronx, New York, but I grew up in Brooklyn.
"I was born in the Bronx, and I liked to play ball," Durocher explained years later.
"I was born in the Bronx, and it was my birthright. My father was a cab driver. I was born in Harlem.
"I was born in the city, but I lived in the suburbs.
"I was born in the little town of Waco, Texas, on May 3, 1912.
"I was born in the middle of the Depression! My father had a job.
"I was born in the west coast and grew up in the Pacific Northwest.
"I was born into a working-class family," he told an interviewer shortly before his death in 1983.
"I was born on August 4, 1928, in Tehama County, in northern California," he said in an interview.
"I was born on February 19, 1927, in San Francisco, California.
"I was born on a farm, and I liked to farm," recalled Justice.
"I was born on a farm, and I was raised on grains," said Dickson. "I never saw a farm.
"I was born on a farm, in the middle of nowhere, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
"I was born on a farm, in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, about 120 miles northeast of Philadelphia.
"I was born on a farm," Lemon recalled, "and had to work my entire life to make ends meet.
"I was born on a farm," he recalled. "My father was a butcher. We raised pigs and chickens.
"I was born on a farm," he said. "I was a big kid, all grown up.
"I was born on a farm," said Billy Pierce. "I was raised on a diet of apples and oranges.
"I was born on a farm. I was raised on a farm. I was raised on a dairy farm.
"I was called an alibi witness. I was called a liar." He certainly would appear before a grand jury.
"I was cheating," he told reporters years later. "I was playing to lose.
"I was coming out of a minor league, and I got to see my first major league game, and it was in Baltimore.
"I was competing for a job, and he was just a great teammate," said Pascual.
"I was convinced I was going to die. I had a fear of dying," he said.
"I was convinced he was going to be a big-league star," Lemon recalled years later.
"I was crazy about the Dodgers and they were my first team.
"I was crazy with the A's," Jablonski said. "I was a troublemaker.
"I was dangerous when I was a kid," he says. "I loved to play ball. I knew I was good.
"I was defeated in the toughest position I ever played," recalls Greenberg. "I was out of order.
"I was determined to make good and you probably saw that in my performance," he said.
"I was doing pretty well," he recalls. "But I started to get some bumps and it hurt my throwing arm.
"I was doubtful he could still pitch," recalled former teammate Pat Malone, "but he was a good hitter and pitcher.
"I was driving a truck and I noticed this guy driving a truck. He was a big guy, about 60, like me.
"I was dumbfounded when I heard that he was killed," said Jackie Robinson.
"I was dumbfounded. … We had a real good ball club. … We had a good lineup. … I had a good arm.
"I was embarrassed," he told the author. "I'd never been so far from home.
"I was excited to be playing in Washington, knowing the fans would be, too.
"I was excited," he recalled. "I had two boys, Michael and Robert.
"I was excited," said Mize, "but more than excited was my dad.
"I was fascinated. I was born in New York, after all. I was a Yankee, but I never saw a Yankee parade.
"I was floored. I was floored. … I didn't even know what to say.
"I was fortunate that I was a good catcher," Mays said.
"I was fortunate to be around the Reds for a number of years and I enjoyed all of them, especially the World Series.
"I was fortunate to play for an organization that was as good as the St. Louis Cardinals," said Craig.
"I was fortunate to play in a time before instant replay," said Warneke.
"I was fortunate to play in a time when there was a lot of guys like him," said Duren.
"I was fortunate to play in a time when there were no rules against racial insensitivity," he said.
"I was fortunate to play in the World Series," he recalled. "That was my big thrill, meeting the Yankees.
"I was fortunate to play in the major leagues," said the five-time All-Star.
"I was fortunate to play on an organization like that," he recalled. "It was a pleasure to play for them.
"I was fortunate to play on two pennant-winning teams," he said. "We won in both World Series.
"I was fortunate to play with guys like that, and they really helped my confidence," said Feller, who was batting .
"I was fortunate to work with a manager like Eddie Dyer, who was a basketball guy. I worked with him for two years.
"I was getting ready to help the team," he recalled.
"I was getting tired of the waiting," he said. "I just wanted to get out of there.
"I was glad to do it," he recalled. "I didn't want to go to the minors.
"I was glad to get out of there," the grizzled veteran said.
"I was glad to get out. It would have been a long walk home, but I was glad to get out.
"I was glad to see him go," Shotton said of Boudreau in 2010.
"I was glad to see him play," said Bobby, "he was a great big for his time.
"I was going to go out there and play, but Hank took me back.
"I was going to go to a club that would pay me to play.
"I was going to go to the ballpark," he recalled. "I never got to see a ballgame, ever.
"I was going to move to a team that didn't need me," he said.
"I was going to play baseball until I was 60, but the doctor told me to stay in college.
"I was going to play the game that I love, and I was going to play to win every day," he said.
"I was going to quit," he said. "But I learned how to pitch.
"I was going to retire," Stanky said. "I was making a lot of money, but I was getting old.
"I was going to settle down and get a job," he said years later.
"I was going to sign him, but I didn't," recalled Mets teammate Lee Walls.
"I was going to take a chance on him," said Stengel.
"I was going to try to hit for power, but I was the weak link in the chain gang.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to play in the big leagues and learn from all the greats —" he said.
"I was happy to come to the Yankees," he said. "I liked the atmosphere in Yankee Stadium.
"I was happy to get the call," he told the Daily News's Jim Cramer.
"I was having a tough time in Detroit on defense," he said.
"I was his father. He had to have been a great guy.
"I was honored to play for the manager who gave me the ball," said Boudreau.
"I was hoping he'd stay," said Hamilton. "I thought he'd be useful to us.
"I was hoping that the series would go to seven," he said.
"I was hoping that they'd let me play," Kuzava recalled.
"I was hoping to get a hit and get him out," recalled Cramer. "But he was coming in too late.
"I was hoping to go to the major leagues, but the Yankees wanted me," Walsh said.
"I was hoping," he said. "I was hoping to play my first game in the majors.
"I was horrified," he said years later. "I didn't think I was going to die.
"I was hungry, and hungry people are kind of hard to find after the war.
"I was in first place all year," he said years later.
"I was in my early 20s, a college kid, and I was really dumb," recalled Maris.
"I was in my early 20s, and I was very naive. I had never left my house without my parents' permission.
"I was in my first year in the major leagues, and I was coming off a year in which I had batted .
"I was in the American League when I first came up, and I was a pitcher, and I had no chance to play shortstop.
"I was in the Army [in 1939]," he recalled. "I had to do a lot of traveling.
"I was in the Army when I was in high school," he said proudly.
"I was in the Army, and I was a back-up for the top-ranked team.
"I was in the Army, and I was drafted," he said. "I didn't get into the Army.
"I was in the Army, and I was stationed in Okinawa. I had to go to Japan.
"I was in the Navy in the early 1930s, and I was a radarman. I was a flight director.
"I was in the gymnasium and the bell rang," he said.
"I was in the habit of going to the movies, and I never was more depressed," he said.
"I was in the hospital bed, and there was a knock on the door, and it was Dr. Strange.
"I was in the hospital for six weeks," he recalled. "I had broken my right thumb.
"I was in the hospital for three days," he recalled. "They gave me no good pills, no nothing.
"I was in the hospital for three days," he recalled. "They put me on a ventilator.
"I was in the hospital for three days. … They didn't do anything.
"I was in the hospital for three or four weeks," he said. "I was always tired and weak.
"I was in the hospital for three weeks and the doctors told me I'd probably be paralyzed from the chest down.
"I was in the hospital for three weeks," he recalled. "The pain just went away.
"I was in the hospital for three weeks. The doctor told me that I had an appendix. That was a big scare.
"I was in the hospital for two weeks and the doctors wouldn't let me go up to the fourth wall.
"I was in the hospital for two weeks," he recalled in 2010.
"I was in the hospital nursery at a hospital in New York City. It was a miserable, miserable time.
"I was in the minor leagues for three years, and I was a tough competitor. I loved to play, and I loved to fight.
"I was in the minors for five years, and I had a world of difficulties," Morrie said.
"I was in the minors on an amateur basis," he said.
"I was in the thick of the pennant race," Syndergaard recalled.
"I was intimidated by the pressure," Skowron recalled.
"I was involved in the early days of the association. I was a member of the society.
"I was joking and joking, I was a little wild," he said.
"I was just a bit of a curiosity to them," Sweeney said of his learning to pitch.
"I was just a bit too far gone for comfort," he said.
"I was just a boy trying to make a living," he said.
"I was just a bumpkin," he recalled in 2004. "I never grew up in the big city.
"I was just a colorless lump of coal," he said. "I was a regular lump of coal.
"I was just a good, young outfielder. I was in my prime. I was the best.
"I was just a kid and had no idea what to expect," he recalled.
"I was just a kid playing baseball," Jesse James once told the author.
"I was just a kid, but I was 10 years old," he told The Sporting News's Dave Kindred.
"I was just a kid," he recalled years later. "I didn't have a dad.
"I was just a kid," he recalled years later. "I was only fourteen years old.
"I was just a kid," he recalls. "I was doing some things that I'm not supposed to do.
"I was just a kid," he said. "I played and I was proud.
"I was just a kid," he said. "I was just a kid from Texas.
"I was just a kid," he said. "I was just trying to do my best.
"I was just a kid," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I was just a kid," he told a reporter years later.
"I was just a kid," he told interviewer Jack Cuddy.
"I was just a kid," recalled Garcia, "and I didn't know anything about baseball.
"I was just a kid. I didn't know anything about baseball. I was just a curious kid.
"I was just a kid. I was never given a chance. I was never made to feel like a big leaguer.
"I was just a kid. I was too small to understand what was happening.
"I was just a kid. … I didn't like the job, but I was very happy.
"I was just a little kid, and then I was a big kid," he said.
"I was just a regular ballplayer. I didn't have any other plans.
"I was just a regular infielder," said veteran San Francisco Giants infielder Don Mueller.
"I was just a regular kid," he said. "I never liked school.
"I was just a thrower, that's all. I was an improviser.
"I was just a thrower," he said, "and I didn't know how to pitch.
"I was just a thrower," he said. "I didn't have much power.
"I was just a thrower," he said. "I wasn't a real pitcher.
"I was just a thrower," he told Jack Cuddy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"I was just an ordinary guy, you know? I didn't have a position or anything.
"I was just an ordinary kid," said Spence, "but I was good at everything.
"I was just doing my part for the team," he recalled.
"I was just doing what I thought was right," he said. "I believed in my arm.
"I was just doing what any other kid who was 20 years old, which was playing sandlot ball.
"I was just getting my feet wet," he told the author.
"I was just glad to be able to play in front of them," he said. "I like it.
"I was just glad to be rid of him," said Boudreau. "He wasn't worth the trouble.
"I was just glad to hear Tom say he was hitting," said Stengel.
"I was just happy to be in the batter's box," he said.
"I was just happy to be in the position where I was," said Maris. "I was impressed.
"I was just happy to be there," he told author Mike Mandel during a 1997 interview.
"I was just hoping that one day my wife would be able to see me do it," Kelly said.
"I was just hoping to live up to my promise," he said. "That's all.
"I was just living in a very comfortable but real difficult situation," he said.
"I was just lucky to play for him," Johnson said about the Dodgers' manager, Leo Durocher.
"I was just lucky to play in Brooklyn," he recalled. "But it was a great place. They had great fans.
"I was just lucky to play in the big leagues," he recalled.
"I was just lucky to play with [Pitchers] like Pitchers used to be with the Indians.
"I was just lucky to play with a lot of kids," he recalled.
"I was just lucky to play with him. He was always a good-hearted guy, a good-hearted guy.
"I was just one of the guys," he remembered. "I played shortstop and third base.
"I was just one of the guys. I wasn't in it for the money," he told author Barry Lyons.
"I was just starting to sign up for the Army when I heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor," said Falstaff.
"I was just taking my time getting in shape," he said. "I had a pretty good spring.
"I was just the kind of guy they wanted to keep out.
"I was just too big," he said. "I didn't have the range or the speed.
"I was just too big," he said. "I was too small for the position.
"I was just trying to do my job and see how far away he was.
"I was just trying to make the team," Boyer recalled.
"I was just trying to show them that they could stop playing that crap," he told The Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I was just watching the game from the bench," he recalled.
"I was kind of a big kid," he said. 'I was the youngest kid to play professional ball.
"I was kind of surprised that he was killed," said Earnest.
"I was kind of surprised that they didn't bring me back to the Giants," Stanky said.
"I was like a kid in a candy shop, but I thought I was going to be a superstar," he said.
"I was like a kid in a candy shop, just learning to play the outfield.
"I was like a kid in a candy shop," he said. "That's how I was to baseball.
"I was like a kid in a candy shop," recalled Grove.
"I was like a kid in a candy shop. I was just a little kid.
"I was like a kid in the street. I had no money, no phone, nothing.
"I was like, 'What the hell are you doing? You're giving me nothing.
"I was lively," he recalled. "I could run like a rabbit. I was a natural.
"I was looking forward to playing in front of all the fans.
"I was looking forward to playing with them. They were so nice.
"I was lucky to be around him and he was a great guy. He was a good-hearted, intelligent guy.
"I was lucky to be in the position where I played, and to manage in New York was a great experience.
"I was lucky to be on a ballclub that was good for a position in the National League," he said.
"I was lucky to play for a good ball club," he recalled.
"I was lucky to play for a manager like [Durocher], who was a funny guy," DeMille said.
"I was lucky to play in the World Series and I was thrilled to come back to Los Angeles," he recalled.
"I was lucky to play in the World Series," Paul told the author years later.
"I was lucky to play in the great American League," he recalled.
"I was lucky to play with a guy like that. He was a great teammate and a great ballplayer.
"I was lucky to play with guys like Collie and Whit and the rest.
"I was lucky to play with guys like Durocher, Mel Ott, and Charlie Gehringer. They were great leaders.
"I was lucky to play with the great clubs like the Yankees, Red Sox, and the Giants.
"I was lucky, because I was young and I was strong and I had all the right ingredients, but I was also very shy.
"I was lucky," he recalled. "I was strong. I was fast, and I had a good arm.
"I was mad at myself," he said. "I wasn't going to let myself get mad at him.
"I was married, but I'll keep it secret for a while.
"I was more interested in being the best pitcher in the league.
"I was nervous," Al recalled. "I had never been in a movie theater in my life.
"I was nervous," he recalled. "I was worried that I'd be left behind.
"I was never a big fan of the one-dimensional way the Dodgers played baseball," he said.
"I was never a great pitcher," Cuyler said. "I was never a great hitter either.
"I was never able to catch him," said Schoendienst.
"I was never able to get over that fear of flying," he said years later.
"I was never able to get used to it," he said. "I had to take it.
"I was never as good as I used to be," he said. "I went to the minors to make myself useful.
"I was never good enough for the big club," he said. "I was not good enough for the American League.
"I was never one for flashy, but I knew I had to stick to one thing or the other," he said.
"I was never one for flashy, flashy things," Sain said in an interview in 1974.
"I was never really a pitcher," Burdette told The Sporting News in 1954. "I was a first baseman.
"I was never the guy who was always going to war, but I was always a fighter.
"I was never the same after that," Smoky said later. "The arm trouble was just a fluke.
"I was never the same after that," he said. "I couldn't hide my feelings.
"I was never the same after that," he said. "I was a different person after the injury.
"I was never the same after that," he said. "I was a nervous wreck.
"I was never the same after that," he said. "I've learned to control myself now.
"I was never the same after that," recalled Burdette. "I was always trying to do things around the bases.
"I was never the same after that," recalled Kelly. "I was a different person. I was a better person.
"I was never the same after that," the fading slugger recalled.
"I was never the same after that," the third baseman said. "I didn't have the confidence.
"I was never the same after that. I had that big-no-couch attitude and I was scared to death.
"I was never the same after that. I was always thinking about what would I do if I was out there.
"I was never the same after that. I was always worried about things, like the hand.
"I was never the same after that. I'm not a jock. My muscles were still tender and weak.
"I was never the same after the injury," Riddle said.
"I was never the star, but I was the guy that could play the part," he recalls.
"I was no longer a Yankee," he told a biographer, "except on Sundays.
"I was not a flashy guy," he said. "I was quiet, and I had a great stick.
"I was not a great hitting pitcher," he said. "I played only 73 games and threw 57 shutouts.
"I was not a slick-fielding first baseman," he said.
"I was not jealous," he said. "I was glad to see people like Gehrig and Co.
"I was not known as a hot-blooded guy," he said. "I was a quiet, unassuming guy.
"I was not one of the bravest guys out there," he recalled.
"I was not retired for certain," he told The Sporting News's Jack Cuddy.
"I was not the only one who thought he'd go," recalled fellow outfielder Bob Farley.
"I was old and naïve and didn't know what's going on," he said.
"I was on my way to a nervous breakdown," he told reporters years later.
"I was on the bed, and the blankets were on the walls. And it was pitch black.
"I was on the bench until I was traded to the Pirates, and I'm glad I never left. I like it.
"I was on the mound until a boy came up out of the crowd, wearing a big Chicago Cubs hat.
"I was on the mound when Mike Garcia hit two home runs in the World Series.
"I was on the sidelines, and this kid pitches hard and hits the home run," said Spahn.
"I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown," he recalled years later.
"I was on the way to the Hall of Fame," he remembered. "I had the best year of my career in 1951.
"I was one of the few black ballplayers in baseball," he recalled years later.
"I was one of the lucky ones," he said. The Braves had finished in third place with a 71-80 record.
"I was only 18, and I was scared to death," he recalled.
"I was only 23, and I had never been made a manager.
"I was only 38, but I was in fine shape at the start of the season," Zelazo recalled.
"I was only one of six kids," he said. "And I was a second baseman.
"I was out of the checkbook by the time I was 19," Williams said.
"I was out of the league," Hartley recalled years later. "I was just a part of the game.
"I was out of there long before he came in," he said.
"I was out there every day and saw him hit two to three curvesballs.
"I was out there fighting," he recalled years later.
"I was out there on the mound and I felt a sudden pain in the side," he recalled.
"I was out there playing and I needed to get in shape and play back to the big leagues.
"I was out to lunch and heard a knock on the door," he remembered.
"I was pitching a lot and had a pretty good fastball," he recalled in a 2008 interview.
"I was pitching for a team in the Class C Eastern League, and they were great to me.
"I was pitching to them, and I was sore. I felt it in my shoulder.
"I was playing catch with my catcher. He said, 'Mr. Cooper, would you please move the catcher out of the way.
"I was playing for a team that was going to be good for the New York Giants and we had a great pitching staff.
"I was playing for the Cubs, and that was the last time my father and I were on the same team," he said.
"I was playing for the Yankees, and the manager was a great guy, Mr.
"I was playing for the championship-bound Yankees, and this was a game I had never seen in my life," he recalled.
"I was playing golf so hard, they were dropping in line to get a few holes in," he recalled.
"I was playing in the big leagues for nine years and I felt I was getting a little older," he said.
"I was playing off the Yankees and Red Sox," he recalled.
"I was playing right field when the kid with the broken pinkie finger came up," recalled Eisenberger years later.
"I was playing too," Lampkin told the Jefferson City Bee.
"I was pretty good," he recalled. "It was my best year of baseball.
"I was pretty sure I was going to die," he said. "And I had to take care of myself.
"I was raised on a diet of candy," said Mike, "and I was always hungry.
"I was raised on a diet of movies and sportswriters," he recalled.
"I was raised on a diet of popcorn, peanuts, and Coke," he recalled.
"I was raised on a farm," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I was ready to pass him on to another catcher, but he hadn't signed him yet, and I had to play him.
"I was really good. I was the best relief pitcher I've ever seen.
"I was really happy to go back to the States," he said. "Life was good. I had a job.
"I was really happy when he joined the Angels," Duren says of his time in Anaheim.
"I was really interested in that," Boudreau recalled.
"I was really pleased to get the [trade] news," he said.
"I was really proud," he said. "He was a great team player, one of the best I ever saw.
"I was really shocked," said Bell. "The Yankees had a great spring training and finished first in the standings.
"I was really surprised when the Yankees called me in," he recalled. "I didn't know the Yankees.
"I was really young, really impressionable," he said. "I was a pitcher, a wild pitch pitcher.
"I was right there and I'll never forget it," he recalled.
"I was scared to death," Rice recalled. "I didn't want to play in Brooklyn.
"I was scared to death," he said. "I was terrified I'd hurt myself.
"I was scared to death," he told author Rob Cooper. "I didn't know what to do.
"I was scared to death," said McIntyre. "I figured I was going to pass out.
"I was shocked," said Boudreau, "because I hadn't seen anything like that.
"I was sick and I was out of shape," Schnozz recalled about his wartime injury in an interview.
"I was sick and tired of the fighting," he said. "I was ready to retire.
"I was sitting at a table with a bunch of Yankees and a couple of Giants.
"I was so afraid," said Xaverio, "of being recognized as a hero.
"I was so drunk I could hardly walk straight down the street, and I was very sloppy," he recalled.
"I was so excited to be in the National League," he recalled, "but I found I was a little rusty.
"I was so excited to play in the big leagues," Hatton said. "But I was wrong.
"I was so fearful of being hurt," Maris said, "even though I was a pretty good pitcher.
"I was so good, in fact, that I actually became a legend in the minor leagues, even in the major leagues, for pitching.
"I was so great," he said. "I had a great arm and I was so perfect.
"I was so proud of myself," he said, "I was proud to be a Cuban, to say the least.
"I was so upset and resentful and hurt," he said. "I had nothing to show for my efforts.
"I was so upset," said Boudreau, "and sick, thinking about the way I treated my wife.
"I was struck by how well [Decker] played in relief," Gibson recalled years later.
"I was suffering from a bad back," he said. "I had to do something.
"I was surprised by the number of people who wanted me to be a manager," said Robinson.
"I was surprised that he was able to come up with the name," said Meyer.
"I was taking a pounding, and I didn't know it was going to get any worse," said Berra.
"I was taking a pounding, and I knew I was going to miss a couple of months," he said.
"I was terrified," says Pete, "I was scared to death. I had never been afraid of anything.
"I was the best catcher in the league," said Archie Moore.
"I was the best defensive player in the big leagues," he recalled. "That's what they said.
"I was the best first baseman in the big leagues," he said.
"I was the best left-handed pitcher in the American League," he said. "Lefties had trouble hitting me.
"I was the best pitcher in my class," [Jackie] Robinson said.
"I was the best pitcher in the American League that year," he recalled.
"I was the best pitcher in the National League. I was in the best shape and I had the best control.
"I was the best pitcher in the league," Hatton recalled years later. "But I was a hick for.
"I was the best pitcher in the league," he said. "And the best pitcher in the league is me.
"I was the best pitcher in the majors," Robinson said. "But I was also the saddest man in the majors.
"I was the best pitcher on the staff," says Feller.
"I was the best player in baseball," said Carter in his second year with the Yankees.
"I was the best southpaw in the business," Bonura recalled.
"I was the best-fielding right fielder in the majors," Trump says with a laugh.
"I was the best-looking guy in the clubhouse," he recalled.
"I was the best-looking rookie on the team," said Mickey Vernon.
"I was the big loser," Feller said. "I was the guy who lost to the Yankees.
"I was the big loser," Nellie recalled years later.
"I was the big surprise," Dykes said. "I was the big hope.
"I was the biggest New York guy," he says. "They had the best food in the world.
"I was the biggest disappointment," he said years later.
"I was the biggest kid in our neighborhood," he recalled. "My father was a good father and a good man.
"I was the biggest leaguer in the history of the game," he told a writer in 1993.
"I was the biggest, strongest kid in the neighborhood," Jack recalled. "I was a big, strong kid.
"I was the butt of everybody's jokes. I made everybody laugh.
"I was the cat," says former Washington Senator George Murphy, "and they put the dog out there.
"I was the favorite to be the number one catcher in this league," he observed.
"I was the first black ballplayer in the National League," he recalled.
"I was the first black player in the major leagues, and I was the first black catcher in the major leagues.
"I was the first guy in the world to try to pitch to a batter's bat," he recalled years later.
"I was the first guy who came out of the bullpen and took a position behind the plate," he recalled.
"I was the first kid that went to Columbia, the first kid that came home from the military.
"I was the first kid to come up to the big leagues, so I was a first-class guy in everything.
"I was the first kid to come up to the big leagues," he said.
"I was the first kid to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I was the first member of the Dodgers to ever play in the World Series.
"I was the first one ever to use scissors to cut vegetables. I just wanted to cut something.
"I was the first one he called," said Lou Finney, Spahn's third cousin.
"I was the first one in the minors to play in the majors.
"I was the first one that Brown got for the Tigers," Waghe said.
"I was the first one that he called up," Cougar said.
"I was the first one they called up," Calhoun recalled. "They had done well to call me up.
"I was the first one to admit it, but I was naïve as hell.
"I was the first one to admit that I made a mistake," he said many years later.
"I was the first one to admit that I was an immature player at the time," he recalled.
"I was the first one to come out of it," he recalled. "I was a huge underdog.
"I was the first one to go into the Army," he says.
"I was the first one to go … to Japan in 1946," Hatton recalls.
"I was the first one to pitch on fours. I had a pretty good fastball, but I was a bit wild.
"I was the first one to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I was the first one to play in the league, so I knew all about the rules of the time," he said.
"I was the first one to sign him," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I was the first one to tell him he was a loser," Rice said. "He was like a baby.
"I was the first one to try it," he said. "I had been on other teams.
"I was the first one who came up to the University of Michigan and majored in chemistry," he said.
"I was the first one who told [Piersall] that he'd have to take a new manager.
"I was the first to admit that I had a temper. That's how I came to be a manager.
"I was the first to go, and the first to leave," he recalled.
"I was the hardest worker in the entire ballpark," he said.
"I was the hardest-working catcher in the big leagues," he said.
"I was the hardest-working, most hard-working kid on the team," he recalled.
"I was the hottest bat boy in the league," he said years later.
"I was the kid from the family doctor's office," he recalled. "I was just born and raised.
"I was the kid who went out on the farm," recalled Dickey. "I had to leave school after that.
"I was the lead dog, and I was the dog that gave the orders," Trump said.
"I was the left-handed hitter, and that was my role for the rest of my career.
"I was the luckiest guy on the face of the earth," said Tom Yawkey.
"I was the luckiest kid in the history of the town," he said.
"I was the luckiest kid in the world," he recalled.
"I was the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told the author.
"I was the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Mitchell. "I had a great year in 1950.
"I was the lucky one," he recalled. He was the children's hero.
"I was the most popular guy in Brooklyn," he remembered.
"I was the most popular player in the league," he said.
"I was the most popular player on the team, so naturally, everybody wanted the ball in their pocket," he told the author.
"I was the number one starter," he said. "I was the number two guy in the rotation.
"I was the one in the clubhouse with the players," he recalled. "I was the one that played the games.
"I was the only African-American in the room," he recalled. "That was my greatest thing.
"I was the only Jewish kid in the school," he said.
"I was the only kid in the family, and when I was eight I had to go to school," he said.
"I was the only one who could play first base," he recalled.
"I was the only one who dared call him by his first name.
"I was the only one who thought it would be a good idea to start a little league in Baltimore.
"I was the opposite of the great hitter. I was a quiet type and I was shy," he said.
"I was the rock of the club, the anchor, the backbone," he said. "The club needed a rock.
"I was the rookie, and I felt like there was no way I was going to win.
"I was the same old kid, I went to school, worked hard, and was accepted. I didn't have a choice.
"I was the seventh and eighth greatest pitcher in baseball," he said.
"I was the type of player that went up and hit home runs," he recalled in 2010.
"I was the wrong kind of pitcher," he said years later. "I was not a fast-spinner.
"I was the youngest and I was the big one," he said years later.
"I was the youngest catcher in the big leagues," Stengel said years later. "I was just learning to catch.
"I was the youngest kid, and I was ashamed to admit that I was born in a mud house.
"I was the youngest kid, so my dad took me out to the movies and he would take me out to the ball games.
"I was the youngest pitching prospect in baseball," he recalled.
"I was the youngest player in the big leagues, and I was the second youngest in the big leagues. I was just learning to play.
"I was the youngest player on the club, and I was a new guy, and I was nervous.
"I was the youngest player on the team," said Mark Koenig. "The fact is, I was inexperienced.
"I was their catcher, and they made us wait for five years in a row for a chance to win the pennant.
"I was there for a while," he recalled. "I was pitching in the minor leagues. I was 17 years old.
"I was thinking I had a pretty good career, but I had to work hard to make it. I was determined to make it.
"I was thinking I was done for the year," he recalled.
"I was thinking about playing in the big leagues. I don't think I'll ever get that chance.
"I was thinking, 'I wonder what the Browns' Nick Feller would say about this.
"I was thrilled to get that promotion," Paxton recalled. "Young Paxton, he was tough.
"I was thrilled to get the contract from the Yankees," he said. "I had a lot of experience playing first base.
"I was thrilled when I heard they were sending me to the Phillies," said Franklin.
"I was thrilled. I had a great major league career," he said.
"I was tickled to death," he said. "I didn't know what to do.
"I was tired and out of shape. I was just hit in the butt by a foul tip.
"I was tired and sore," the 39-year-old right-hander recalled in 1995. "I could feel it.
"I was tired of playing for the local ball club, and the Babe Ruth League. I wanted to get out of that.
"I was told I was a great pitcher. I was told I was a good hitter.
"I was told by some people that I was the best pitcher in the league," he said.
"I was told that he was going to kill you," Rigney said.
"I was told that they'd take me to a few ball games," Smith recalled in 2010.
"I was too big to ever play professional ball," he said.
"I was too big to play baseball because I was so smart," he said.
"I was too busy being a baseball fan to pay much attention to the war," he told the author.
"I was too lazy," he recalled. "I just jumped on the ball and ran for four years.
"I was too scared to take the lead off," he told sportswriter Bob Broeg.
"I was too small and weak at the plate to really make any noise," he said.
"I was too small at the plate," he said, "and I wasn't strong enough at the pitching position.
"I was too small to be a catcher, but I was too big to be a pitcher.
"I was too small to play shortstop, but I was strong enough to play the outfield.
"I was too smart to play baseball," he said. "I was too smart to run to first base in rage.
"I was troubled by the fact that my parents could not provide for their growing child, who was a freshman at St.
"I was trying to get him to make the adjustment, but he just wouldn't do it.
"I was unable to play right field because the bat was so light," he said. "I had to play left field.
"I was very active in the French Lotte league," recalls Feller. "Then the Phillies came calling.
"I was very angry," he recalled. "I didn't expect to be traded.
"I was very competitive, and I think my manager, Casey Stengel, as well, had a hard time believing what I was doing.
"I was very concerned," he said. "I had the worst year of my career.
"I was very disappointed," he said. "I was not surprised.
"I was very excited," says White. "The Tall Tactician was in my face and I was singing his praises.
"I was very fortunate that the Mets were willing to give me a chance," he said.
"I was very happy to retire from the Yankees," Dickey said. "I was glad to go home and have a family.
"I was very happy," he recalled. "I had a fine year in 1940.
"I was very nervous and I was very tired. The coach told me to just relax and be happy.
"I was very nervous," Boudreau said later. "I had never played this much baseball in one game.
"I was very pleased because I felt I was helping the club and I had a good year," he said.
"I was very proud and excited," he said. "I worked on my control and learned to hit line drives.
"I was very proud and happy about that," said Wang.
"I was very proud of him," said his mother, Gussie.
"I was very proud to be a Yankee," he said. "I was very proud to be a Yankee in Brooklyn.
"I was very proud to be the first outfielder in the major leagues to wear a sashay," Johnson said.
"I was very proud when I found out," he said. "That Philadelphia Athletics had a Negro League team.
"I was very proud when I heard that they were calling me the great Negro League pitching sensation," he said.
"I was very surprised when I heard he was going to be a Red Sox player," said Boston teammate Mickey Harris.
"I was very surprised," he said. "It was only a matter of time.
"I was very upset," he recalled. "You know, I was a good catcher.
"I was walking down the street and I saw this guy get shot.
"I was working with a team in Washington, and the manager there, George Steinbrenner, is a friend of mine.
"I wasn't a fighter," he said years later. "I was a defensive player.
"I wasn't a good teammate. I was a bad teammate. I was a real troublemaker. I never cared.
"I wasn't a great player," said Henry, "I was just a good hitter.
"I wasn't afraid of getting hurt," said the Cuban. "I had a good spring training.
"I wasn't allowed to put a suit on, so I just wore pants and a shirt.
"I wasn't allowed to watch the games," he recalled.
"I wasn't even supposed to be in baseball until 1946," he recalled.
"I wasn't nervous at all. I was confident. My fastball was good. I was happy to be successful.
"I wasn't playing, I was in the box," he said. "And my foot was on the ground.
"I wasn't prepared to do that," he recalled in 1997.
"I wasn't ready to go," he told The Sporting News. "I knew I had something there.
"I wasn't really a home-run hitter growing up," he told an interviewer.
"I wasn't really a pitcher," he told author Jack Cuddy years later.
"I wasn't supposed to be here," he said. "I had to earn a place.
"I wasn't the best outfielder in baseball," recalled Porcello.
"I wasn't the best pitcher in the league," he said, "but I was damned tough.
"I wasn't the best shortstop in the league," said Harris.
"I wasn't the first one to come out, but I was the last one to leave," he said.
"I wasn't the first one to do it, but I was the only one to do it in the big leagues.
"I wasn't the only one who took the ball for the offense. I was the only one who did it at the plate.
"I wasn't worried," he said. "The boys were terrific.
"I went into the big leagues a little late," he said.
"I went into the game as a more than average pitcher.
"I went out there and I knew I couldn't be playing for them.
"I went out to the ballpark, and the guy playing center field for the Yankees had the Yankees uniform on.
"I went through a tough losing season in 1941," he recalled. "In August, I was on the disabled list.
"I went to Brooklyn and I was the first one in the big leagues in 1947. I was scared to death.
"I went to Japan in 1946 and I was a back-up outfielder in Japan," he recalled.
"I went to Texas and was told to go to a team in Beaumont.
"I went to a place in San Francisco where I was making a lot of money, and I had a contract for a movie in theaters.
"I went to his room and he was playing some jazz and at one point said, 'I want you to be a trumpet player.
"I went to right field, and I was the proudest member of my family.
"I went to the Red Sox for three years and they sent me back.
"I went to the White Sox and I wanted to play and I'd like to be a manager.
"I went to the Yankees and I was a little disappointed," Warneke said.
"I went to the park and I met the manager, Joe Engel, who was the general manager for the club.
"I went to work for Alberts's, which handled my manila payments," he said.
"I went up with the club, and I was treated really well. I think I've been treated much better.
"I will be back," he announced, "and I'll be ready for you.
"I will be there the next three months," said Dickey.
"I will choose the greatest. You know, I was the best player in the majors, but I wasn't the man.
"I will give him every ounce of my power," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I will have to say that because of his personality he attracted quite a bit of attention," said Strickland.
"I will make it to the big leagues," he said. "I've got all the equipment.
"I will never forget how I felt when I came to the park and saw the fans. I was proud to be an American.
"I will never forget the look on the face of that little boy at first base," he said.
"I will never forget this," he said. "This was the most exciting, toughest game I ever played in.
"I will not let him do it again," said Terry, "or let the public do it.
"I will pay any price," he said. "That is the American way.
"I will say this about you, I like to play the game. I like to compete. I like to win.
"I will take care of him," said the Yankees' general manager, George Weiss.
"I will tell you something. I couldn't get out of the car without hurting my hand.
"I will tell you that you have to work on your patience.
"I will tell you what you're going to do with your life," he said.
"I will tell you what you're going to do. You'll be a catcher.
"I wish I could go back and tell them I never played," he said. "But I can't.
"I wish I could say that I did everything right," he recalled. "But I wasn't.
"I wish they would have let me pitch," he said, "but it would have been a waste of time and money.
"I won the first game," he said. "I had a three-hitter. The bullpen did a great job.
"I won't be around to see it," he reportedly told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I won't be doing it for another 10 years," said the Hall of Fame second baseman.
"I won't be tiring," he responded when asked how long he would be around the game.
"I won't forget," said Jablonski. "I plan to play in the World Series.
"I won't get into the nitty-gritty of the matter," he said.
"I won't play for them again," the veteran knuckleballer said.
"I won't take the money," he declared. "I won't take any of that.
"I worked in the Yankees' farm system for a couple of years.
"I worked with Hank and the other pitchers that year, and I really enjoyed it.
"I would be very disappointed if he is not there," she said.
"I would be very surprised if he plays again," Durocher said.
"I would give him a million dollars if he wanted to use it," recalled Al Kachuadourian.
"I would give him another chance," said Whitlow Wyatt, who replaced Whitlow Wyatt as the Yankees' manager in June.
"I would give him something to shoot for that year.
"I would hate to see him go," said teammate Mike Schmidt.
"I would have been much happier if I'd scored that way," he recalled.
"I would have had to be an over-the-top star to make a comeback like that," he said.
"I would have liked to have played for them," said Davis about the first time he heard the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I would have liked to play in the World Series," he said.
"I would have loved to be a drugstore chaser like Al's," said Bill.
"I would have loved to be a hero. I liked the thrill of it. I liked the excitement of it.
"I would have loved to be able to play in the World Series," he recalled.
"I would have loved to get out of the pocket. It was too big a liability for me.
"I would have loved to have been a Basque or a Moor. I came from a middle-class background, though.
"I would have loved to have been the big New York thing," he says.
"I would have loved to have had the [Burgess] years," he said.
"I would have loved to have played for him," said Feller.
"I would have loved to have played for the Yankees.
"I would have loved to have played in that game," Blanchard says of the 1934 Series.
"I would have loved to have the 20-year career I've had," he said.
"I would have loved to play for the Cubs," he said. "They're a great team.
"I would have loved to play for the Yankees and for the great manager.
"I would have loved to play in the World Series," he said. "But I just never got the chance.
"I would have loved to stay, but it's just sad to see it go," he said.
"I would have preferred to be the leader," Ray said. "But I've always been the leader.
"I would have retired anyway," he said. "I was so sick I couldn't even tie my shoes.
"I would have retired from the game and become a big-league manager," he said.
"I would have to say that I was more comfortable in Detroit's system," he recalled.
"I would have to say that I was probably the luckiest guy in the world," he recalled.
"I would have to say that there was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to play professional baseball," said Spahn.
"I would have to say that you weren't the only one that was impressed with the way he pitched.
"I would like to get my wife and my son back," said the hard-drinking Joe.
"I would like to thank Dr. Ware for his time and advice on my arrival in the major leagues," said Mack.
"I would like to thank Everlast for all his help and advice.
"I would like to thank God for his timing," he said after the 1941 season. "He put me in this position.
"I would like to thank Tom Lehane, Lou Boudreau and all the rest for the great years they did.
"I would like to thank Walter O'Malley for being my coach in the minor leagues," said DiMaggio.
"I would like to thank my family and everyone who came out to see us. It was an amazing experience. We had a great crowd.
"I would like to thank my father and all my people for making me a star," he said.
"I would like to thank my manager, my coach and my trainers, for making me a better ballplayer.
"I would like to thank my wife, Gladys, for her patience and understanding while I was away.
"I would like to thank my wife, Maggie, for making my decision to retire from baseball," he said.
"I would like to thank the Cubs for their patience and understanding," he said.
"I would like to thank the Detroit Tigers for making me a Tiger." Ralph Kiner, March 11, 2011.
"I would like to thank the Lord for a wonderful opportunity to play baseball," the young outfielder announced.
"I would like to thank the Mets for allowing me to wear the uniform," he said.
"I would like to thank the Phillies for all the wonderful memories they've had on me," said Dickey.
"I would like to thank the Washington Senators for the opportunity to play in the World Series," he recalled.
"I would like to thank the White Sox organization for giving me the opportunity to play baseball," said Grandson.
"I would like to thank the organization for all the contributions they made me," Gamboa said.
"I would make the team, but that was a long-distance trip. … It was a long trip.
"I would not be the president if it weren't for my dad," said Joe.
"I would not have let him do that," said White. "That's a matter of pride.
"I would not wish this situation and this kind of thing on anybody," he said.
"I would rather be able to play for the Yankees and play for the people of Boston," he said.
"I would rather be remembered as the pitcher who threw a no-hitter than as the man who yelled at the referee.
"I would rather have him be a disappointment," said Whitey Ford.
"I would rather raise a child in the street and see it grow up than in the factory and see nothing but pain.
"I would rather stick my nose in the dust than in the water.
"I would say the biggest shock was Ken Keltner," Cerv continued.
"I would take him out … and hope that he would pitch," Durocher said. "He has so much stuff.
"I wouldn't be able to play in Brooklyn without them," he said.
"I wouldn't be playing here if it hadn't been for the war," he said.
"I wouldn't be sitting on top of the world if I was sitting on top of the National League.
"I wouldn't be sitting there without gas," he told reporters after the season.
"I wouldn't jump out of that airplane," he said. "I'd take a chance.
"I wouldn't know where to begin," he remembered. "I was just learning to play baseball.
"I wouldn't take a lot of money to play baseball," said Bagby.
"I wouldn't want a child of that caliber," he said.
"I wouldn't want him to come back. I'd better get him out of baseball.
"I wouldn't want him to do that," said Rays manager Bill Rigney.
"I wouldn't want him to hurt anybody," said Don Mincher. "He'll be fine.
"I wouldn't want to be a burden to the club," he said.
"I wouldn't want you to take anything for it," he told the Phillies' press box after the Series.
"I'd be in the hospital for about three weeks," he said.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that," he said.
"I'd be playing in my backyard if I didn't play for the Yankees," he said.
"I'd feel like I was doing something illegal," he said in an interview in 1977.
"I'd go out there and pitch my best, and I'd make a good score," he said.
"I'd just as soon forget about my troubles and get on with my job," he later said.
"I'd like him to stay in the big leagues," said former teammate Red Ruffing.
"I'd like to be a winner," he said. "I'll fight anybody.
"I'd like to get a couple of wins and I'm ready to up to seven.
"I'd like to get a shot at the big leagues," he said.
"I'd like to get back into the [major league] with the Yankees," Williams said.
"I'd like to get that job," said Tost. "I like to be on the field.
"I'd like to know what happened," said the 37-year-old Pop.
"I'd like to pick up the phone and tell you all about it," he told the writer Ray Gillespie.
"I'd like to play for my son," Rigney said of the trade.
"I'd like to see him back in the bullpen," said Cleveland manager Eddie Dyer.
"I'd like to see him be a starter, not a backup," said Cubs president Frank McKinney.
"I'd like to see more guys like him," said Giants broadcaster Mel Ott.
"I'd like to see the Yankees win the World Series," he said.
"I'd like to spend my retirement in the major leagues," the three-time All-Star said.
"I'd like to think there was the benefit of playing with Dewey," said Jones.
"I'd like to win the next seven and a half games and get to 10,000.
"I'd like to win the pennant," he told the Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'd love to have a great pitcher like Eddie Lopat," he said.
"I'd make the move, but it's too late now," said Greenberg.
"I'd prefer to play one year in the big leagues and then go to an American League club," he said.
"I'd rather be second, third, or even first," he said.
"I'd rather hit a home run than sit on the bench."[fn]Ibid.
"I'd rather lose the war and lose the war on the home front," he said.
"I'd rather people say I had a bum year than a national disgrace.
"I'd rather people say I've been a good teammate, rather than a bad one," said Hudson.
"I'd rather play baseball in the summers and stay in my own skin," said O'Doul.
"I'd rather play for the Yankees than for the Red Sox," said Hemingway.
"I'd rather play in the National League than in the American League," he said.
"I'll admit I was surprised when I heard the news. But I wasn't surprised at all.
"I'll admit it. I was embarrassed. I was ashamed. And I was angry.
"I'll admit that we were one of the best teams in baseball in '48," he said.
"I'll bat right down the line," he told the newspaper.
"I'll be a better hitter if I play less baseball," he said. The next season he did not disappoint.
"I'll be a better pitcher now," he said. "I'll be the home-run hitter.
"I'll be a bigger fan of the Giants next year," he said. He did not disappoint.
"I'll be a good ballplayer," he said. "I'll be a solid bat.
"I'll be a good boy." He sat in the dugout, watching his teammates.
"I'll be a good guy for the Braves," he said when he was acquired from the Red Sox.
"I'll be a manager at some big-league club," he said.
"I'll be a second baseman. I'll be the same guy in 1940.
"I'll be back for a second straight year, and I'll bring a good pitching staff," he predicted.
"I'll be back," he cracked, "and I'll be going to the White Sox.
"I'll be back," he promised."[fn]The Sporting News, September 9, 1956, 1.
"I'll be back," he said simply. He made his preseason debut in St.
"I'll be back," he said. "I'll be playing every day.
"I'll be back," he said. "I'll talk to you about it later.
"I'll be back," he said. He was, and was named to the All-Star team.
"I'll be back," said Stengel. "And I'll be back big.
"I'll be back. I'll be back for five more years," said the Big Bear.
"I'll be damned if I do," said the weary and weary-sounding Shanty Jones.
"I'll be glad to go to war if that war comes," said the president.
"I'll be glad to take over," the manager promised him.
"I'll be glad to," he said, "if he doesn't mind me saying so.
"I'll be good for four or five years," he told The Sporting News'Harry Craft.
"I'll be happy to play another year under DiMaggio," he announced.
"I'll be here to stay," the veteran infielder assured the stunned Dodgers.
"I'll be honest with you, the reason I'm here is because I'm looking for a job.
"I'll be in Washington next year," Bolton said in June.
"I'll be in the Hall of Fame," the 28-year-old outfielder said.
"I'll be just fine, and if I play until I'm 100, I'll be an ace.
"I'll be on the baseball field with him in the coming year," recalled his father.
"I'll be on the mound every day. I'll be the guy that's hitting the home runs.
"I'll be out there as long as he keeps his mouth shut," Wills said.
"I'll be out there, I'll be the man, I'll win this thing.
"I'll be out there, try to make the best of it," he told the New York Times.
"I'll be out there. I have a fine chance," he said.
"I'll be patient and wait for a call from the Indians.
"I'll be pitching for the Yankees in '41," he said.
"I'll be pitching," he promised. The next spring, he did not disappoint.
"I'll be playing every day," he said. "I'll make no enemies.
"I'll be playing my best. I'll be ready to play," he said.
"I'll be ready to pitch in the big leagues in just about any situation," he said.
"I'll be ready to play in the World Series," he said.
"I'll be sitting in the dugout on the other side of the plate.
"I'll be taking a long look at the contract. I'll send a letter to the Red Sox.
"I'll be the best centerfielder in the big leagues next year," said Hatton.
"I'll be the best he ever was," Marlins manager Eddie Stanky said.
"I'll be the best there ever was," he said. "I'll be as good as anybody.
"I'll be the best. I'll be the biggest. I'll make plays.
"I'll be the biggest dummy you ever saw," the old man said.
"I'll be the first to admit that I took a gamble on that contract," he explained years later.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was a little skeptical when the Yankees signed me.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was a nervous wreck in the spring of 1950.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was a tad skeptical about joining the White Sox," the lefty said.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was far too trusting.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was fooled by Piersall. I thought he was a genius.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was nervous about taking over the Yankees in 1941," he said.
"I'll be the first to admit that I was surprised by the news," Duren said at the time.
"I'll be the first to admit that I'm a sucker for a good story," he said.
"I'll be the first to admit that the Browns' front office and front-office personnel have been in shambles.
"I'll be the first to admit, I was scared to death. I never played pro ball in my life.
"I'll be the first to tell you that I'm very glad to get the contract," Smith said.
"I'll be the pitcher we're looking for," he told reporters after the season.
"I'll be the president," the once powerful mayor of New York declared.
"I'll be there in the first inning," he said as the game began.
"I'll be there," Clark Griffith said. "I'll be the man.
"I'll be there," Devine promised. He was right, but it was a mistake.
"I'll be very disappointed," said Duval. "I would have loved it at Cleveland.
"I'll be walking into the ballpark on time," he was reported to be saying.
"I'll be with the Yankees for as long as he wants to be there.
"I'll bet I got more zeroes than I did the first time," he cracked.
"I'll bet he scored the winning run," Lopata told The Sporting News.
"I'll bet he was one of my biggest fans," says Mayer. "He was the best.
"I'll bet he's a good-looking fellow," Groat added.
"I'll bet he's going to be one of the greatest catchers of all time," recalled Musial.
"I'll bet he's got a good laugh about this," said Faulkner.
"I'll bet he's got another one soon," O'Farrell said of Mize.
"I'll bet he's got something like that in mind," Dick Schaap told a reporter years later.
"I'll bet he's got the feeling that you're going to be gone soon," he said.
"I'll bet he's the best young pitcher you ever saw," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"I'll bet he's the best-fielding shortstop in the majors since Nellie Fox.
"I'll bet the other side got the names of all the players who were on the ball.
"I'll blow your cover," he said. "I'll show you up in a tavern brawl.
"I'll buy you a ring and a glove and a car," the president said.
"I'll call you a liar if I have to do it," Gordon told him.
"I'll carry on," he said, "but I know I'll be back.
"I'll do anything to beat them," he said. "I'll do anything to beat them.
"I'll do anything to win a ballgame," he said when he joined the Red Sox.
"I'll do anything to win the ballgame," he told reporters.
"I'll do everything I can to win the ballgame," he said.
"I'll do it again. I'll do it again. I'll do it again.
"I'll get him out of the ballpark," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I'll get him to come back tomorrow," said the Yankees manager.
"I'll get my opportunity when the Giants put together the same lineup that they did in Toledo," he said.
"I'll get over it," he said. "I'll work on my temper.
"I'll get you a job." There were, of course, exceptions.
"I'll get you outta here," shouted the right fielder.
"I'll give any six-pack rat one of my cards," he told sportswriter Jack Cuddy.
"I'll give him a couple of years," said the Tigers manager.
"I'll give him a few pointers. He's a smart player.
"I'll give him a reason why he can't play," said Boudreau.
"I'll give him every ounce of my strength," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I'll give him everything he's ever asked," Walker said.
"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt," manager Casey Stengel said of Felix Mantilla.
"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt," said Elmer Newhouser.
"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt," said former teammate Mays.
"I'll give it all I have," he said, "and it's enough to win the game.
"I'll give you one thing, and it's a little secret," he told Joe DiMaggio.
"I'll give you one thing," he told me. "I'll tell you this much about me.
"I'll give you one thing," he told the press after the game.
"I'll give you the ball. I just want to get you out.
"I'll give you their autograph," Mr. Murtaugh said.Then he handed the ball to me.
"I'll give you three figures: $60,000, $40,000, and $20,000.
"I'll go out there and fight for it," he said. "And you'll see me.
"I'll go out there and pitch the heck out of baseball," he said.
"I'll have to say, I was nervous when I went in to take my first swing.
"I'll hold out until I get my pay raise. I'll hold out until I get my pay raise.
"I'll just have to be a better hitter." He also had to work on his hitting.
"I'll just have to get back to work after the war," the president assured him.
"I'll just start knocking, just like I did with Don Mueller," he said.
"I'll keep it up," he joked after the season, "and I'll win it.
"I'll kill you," the knuckleballer told the former American League MVP.
"I'll let you in on a secret," he said. "This club is a bunch of old meatheads.
"I'll let you in on a secret. I've never been able to hold a job for more than two years.
"I'll make him mad if he doesn't pitch for me," Ed Kennedy said.
"I'll make him pay for what he's done," said Fred Ankenman.
"I'll make no apologies for saying that I'll make more than I ever made before or since.
"I'll make no bones about it, I'm just not afraid to say it," he said.
"I'll make sure I keep playing. That's all I'm going to do.
"I'll make you a promise: You're going to make the Cubs a great team.
"I'll never forget that I was in the dugout," he said.
"I'll never forget the pride that's in me," he said.
"I'll never forget the thrill I got playing for the Yankees," said Warburton.
"I'll never forget this," he recalled. "We had been to the Negro World Series.
"I'll never forget this," he said, "and I'll tell you why.
"I'll never forget this," he said. He always remembered this.
"I'll never forget," he recalled. "The next time we went up, they lined us up.
"I'll pay the price," the president promised, "if we have to use the atomic bombs.
"I'll pitch you one of the best games I ever pitched," he told a stunned crowd, according to Bobby Brown.
"I'll play anywhere except first base," the veteran first baseman said.
"I'll play for the Yankees whatever they put on me.
"I'll play if I have to," he said. "But I want to win.
"I'll play the remainder of the season for the Yankees," he promised.
"I'll play wherever they call me," he said. "I guess I'll take care of myself.
"I'll remember it for the rest of my career," he said.
"I'll say that the first time I came to the Yankees, I broke a sweat.
"I'll say this about hitting — nobody in the world does it better.
"I'll say this, I was a no-hitter in college," he told The Sporting News in 1958.
"I'll show them I'm still got it," he declared. He got a hit in his second game.
"I'll show them something they haven't seen before," he vowed. He was right.
"I'll show you something you never saw before. You never saw a ballpen in the majors.
"I'll smoke you right now. You're not going to make this mistake again.
"I'll stick with the [slug] and I'll protect it," he said.
"I'll take a $100,000 bonus from him, and I'll give it to you.
"I'll take a $25,000 bonus if they buy me out," he promised.
"I'll take a beating," he vowed. On July 27, he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"I'll take a billion dollars. That's money I'll never be able to pay back.
"I'll take a chance on him," said the Braves' manager, Johnny Logan.
"I'll take a chance on him," said the Reds' Al Bridwell.
"I'll take a chance on my own future," he declared.
"I'll take a chance." Stengel was sensitive to criticism.
"I'll take a cut for you," the manager told the shortstop.
"I'll take a cut of my salary," he said. "I'll work off the excess.
"I'll take a cut," he said. He stood by his words.
"I'll take a cut," said the veteran pitcher. "That's all I'll do.
"I'll take a cut. I'll keep it inside," he said. But he started hurting.
"I'll take a day off and I'll take a week off," he said.
"I'll take a fine over it. That's what you do in a pinch," Gus said.
"I'll take a hit for you, too, if you're going to hit me," he said.
"I'll take a hit for you," Harry Walker told his pitcher.
"I'll take a hit for you," he said. "I'll break you, too.
"I'll take a hit," said King. "I'll hit you a few.
"I'll take a little bit of an 8-8 record," he said.
"I'll take a little longer," he said. "I'll be back.
"I'll take a long time to get over it," he told The Sporting News's Jeff Monken.
"I'll take a pay cut if I get another chance," he said.
"I'll take a pay cut if he lets me pitch the same way he used to," said Lou Gehrig.
"I'll take a pay cut to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I'll take a pay cut to play in the big leagues," said Glover.
"I'll take a pay cut to play in the majors," he told the Associated Press.
"I'll take a pay cut, at least if it's going to make a difference," he said.
"I'll take a shot at him," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"I'll take a shot at them. I'll hit them in the back." [John F.
"I'll take a shot at you, and you'll take a shot at me.
"I'll take a shot at you," said a certain senator from the Old Town.
"I'll take a very hard slugging line coming in," said the fifth-place White Sox manager, Frank Lane.
"I'll take all my chances," he said. On July 22, he was much improved.
"I'll take all the hits. I'll take anything," he said.
"I'll take another if it's still legal," Trump said.
"I'll take any pitching assignment," he said. He did not, however, rule out a return to the bullpen.
"I'll take any price I can get," he responded when offered $100,000.
"I'll take care of him after the season. Wherever he goes, I'll be there.
"I'll take care of him for the rest of my career," he said.
"I'll take care of him" was the advice of one teammate.
"I'll take care of him," Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau said.
"I'll take care of him," Jones said. He was going to have to make his own way.
"I'll take care of him," Lawson declared of his young shortstop.
"I'll take care of him," Maglie said. "He's a good boy.
"I'll take care of him," said Bob Shawkey, the Yankees' farm director.
"I'll take care of him," said Cleveland manager Rogers Hornsby.
"I'll take care of him," said Red Sox manager Joe Cronin.
"I'll take care of him," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I'll take care of him," said the Cardinals general manager.
"I'll take care of him," said the Yankees' manager.
"I'll take care of him," said the manager, who had taken over from Red Rolfe.
"I'll take care of him," said the one person who knew the severity of his condition.
"I'll take care of him," the Cardinals manager said.
"I'll take care of him," the chief said, "and he'll come back stronger.
"I'll take care of him," the manager told his star player. Instead, he showed him the door.
"I'll take care of him. I don't think you should pay anybody to pitch for him.
"I'll take care of him. I'll get him some coaching.
"I'll take care of him. I'll pay for him as he gets older.
"I'll take care of it," he cracked. "I'll play every day.
"I'll take care of the ball," Liuzzo said, "and watch what I throw at him.
"I'll take care of the bat as long as it's good," he said.
"I'll take care of the kids," he said. "They'll be fine.
"I'll take care of you," Alice said, "and you'll take care of me.
"I'll take care of you," Daddy said. "I'll do everything I can.
"I'll take care of you," he said. "I'll make you a little chicken.
"I'll take full responsibility for what happened," he said in court.
"I'll take him back," said Van Horn, "because he's hot.
"I'll take him back," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I'll take him back. He's a good player, but he's too quick for the big club.
"I'll take him easy," Giants manager Bill Terry said after the game.
"I'll take him home and throw him out," said the manager.
"I'll take him in the stands and hit him with a bat that he never saw before.
"I'll take him off the hook," said Brooklyn manager Burt Shotton. Only then did the Dodgers see something.
"I'll take him off the roster immediately," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I'll take him on in a pinch," said manager Bucky Harris.
"I'll take him or me," said Castle, "but I'll take him or me.
"I'll take him out in a couple of pitches. I'll take him out in a couple of pitches.
"I'll take him out," said Baltimore manager Steve O'Neill.
"I'll take him out," said Chicago manager Al Lopez.
"I'll take him out," said Cleveland manager Joe Gordon.
"I'll take him over the first baseman's back to back," said Jerry Coleman, a Cubs scout.
"I'll take it back," he told the assembled players.
"I'll take it here," he was told, "and I'm going to beat it.
"I'll take it if he doesn't," said the president. "I'll take it.
"I'll take it no more." – Joe DiMaggio, July 8, 1956.
"I'll take it one day at a time. I'll take it one day at a time.
"I'll take it" as a given that his subpar performance was the chief factor driving the decision.
"I'll take it," Greenberg said. "I'll take it as a compliment.
"I'll take it," Ruth replied after a few moments' silence.
"I'll take it," he said, and then began to mop up the ball.
"I'll take it," he said. His teammates had no such reservations.
"I'll take it," said DiMaggio, "but I'll take it back.
"I'll take it," said the veteran catcher. "But I'll take it.
"I'll take it," the manager said. "I won't take it.
"I'll take it. But I'll be there in a minute," he was told.
"I'll take it. I'll have a good year for you," he told the pitcher.
"I'll take it. It's a trade I made." "A pleasure.
"I'll take it. They gave me a seven-figure bonus, and I decided to take it.
"I'll take it." He took it, and it was tough to watch.
"I'll take it." Lefty answered with a smile. He had one final flourish.
"I'll take my chances today," he told the writer who wrote a story about him for the Sunday New York Sun.
"I'll take my chances with him," Buckner said. "I think he'll come around.
"I'll take my chances with you, will I?" The question was posed by the stenographer.
"I'll take my chances," he said. "They've got the best pitchers in the American League.
"I'll take my chances," he told the Post. He wasn't being paid to take risks.
"I'll take my chances," he told the assembled reporters.
"I'll take my chances," said the pitcher. And he did.
"I'll take my chances. I'll take the hits," he said.
"I'll take my chances." Bobby Thomson answered the bell and that's when his troubles began.
"I'll take one more hit, and then I'll take you out," he told the players.
"I'll take one out against you," the president said.
"I'll take over as the manager next year," said Jones.
"I'll take over the pitching and hitting," he said.
"I'll take that bet," the announcer said, "and I'll win it.
"I'll take that loss," said Irene, "because I'll have felt the same way.
"I'll take the bet that he'll hit the home run for us," said DiMaggio.
"I'll take the first two rounds," said the president.
"I'll take the gloves off. I'll take them off a day or night.
"I'll take the hit," he said, and he was right. The hitter, Willie Kennedy, took the hit.
"I'll take the hit," he said. And that's just what it was.
"I'll take the hit," he was overheard saying to teammate Mickey Owen.
"I'll take the hit." He drew three walks, which was his most productive day in the big leagues.
"I'll take the money," he said. "I'll work every day.
"I'll take the money," he was told, "but you have to do the work.
"I'll take the money," the Yankee slugger said. "It's too late now.
"I'll take the money. I'll pay you whatever you want.
"I'll take the money." The Giants had a 79-73 record, good for fourth place.
"I'll take this assignment," he told his father, "because this is my last assignment.
"I'll take three more," he told reporters, "and I'll be outta here.
"I'll take three years. I'll be back in the big leagues in five, six, seven years.
"I'll take two hits," said Snider as he strode toward second base.
"I'll take two out of three," he said. "I'll take two out of three.
"I'll take you back," he said. "You're not a good hitter.
"I'll take you for a ride," he offered. "And I want to see you get wet.
"I'll take your advice," he told me. That was 1946.
"I'll tell him we're not going to win that game," said Pascual.
"I'll tell ya something, you and I might never be friends," Robert F.
"I'll tell ya'—I used to be a pretty good one-pitch hitter.
"I'll tell you something about a guy who hits. He was a right-handed hitter.
"I'll tell you something, I was worried that I was going to get hurt," he said.
"I'll tell you something, [Hoyt] Jones, you're going to be a good pitcher.
"I'll tell you something, he can beat you at the plate.
"I'll tell you that I didn't get ten million dollars for my playing career," said Maris.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, "I'll quit playing baseball.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," the manager declared.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," the manager told him.
"I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take care of my own business.
"I'll tell you what happened," he said. "I went to St.
"I'll tell you what happened," he told the press. "I was playing in a game against St.
"I'll tell you what happened," he told the reporter.
"I'll tell you what happened. He walked in. I called time and he passed me. He was a little dandy.
"I'll tell you what happened. I got a shock when I turned around.
"I'll tell you what happened. I was playing catch with Frank . . . and he hit a line drive to left center.
"I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you what happened.
"I'll tell you what happens next. I'll sit out two weeks.
"I'll tell you what his record is," Lou Gehrig said.
"I'll tell you what it was like for a while," he said.
"I'll tell you what it was like. I had a great time playing for him. He was wonderful with players.
"I'll tell you what it's like being a first baseman. It really is hell.
"I'll tell you what it's like being a kid. It's like being in a candy store.
"I'll tell you what it's like for a big-league team," he said.
"I'll tell you what the Yankees want from you. I wanted you to win the pennant for the Yankees.
"I'll tell you what the big league coach said to me when I first joined the Tigers organization.
"I'll tell you what the big leagues are for. They're for you.
"I'll tell you what the big news in baseball is," he told the crowd.
"I'll tell you what the big story is. … Carl, I've just got two words to say.
"I'll tell you what the contract is. If you don't like it, go home and get a television.
"I'll tell you what the deal was with the ball club, Bob.
"I'll tell you what the trouble was," he said. "I had a plate for four years.
"I'll tell you what they're doing. They're doing everything they can to get rid of me.
"I'll tell you what they're going to do now," he said.
"I'll tell you what they're going to do this year," he told the paper.
"I'll tell you what they're going to do to me," he told the press.
"I'll tell you what they're going to do," he told the writer Jim Murray.
"I'll tell you what to do," said Jackson. "I'll take my chances.
"I'll tell you what to do. I'll take it. I know I'll take it.
"I'll tell you what you'll do next year. You'll start playing professional ball in the Midwest.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do next year," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do on the mound," he told the young pitcher.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do this year.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do this year. You're going to do everything.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do with your life," he said.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do, I'll hit you one.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," Traynor told him.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," he announced to the crowd.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," he told his catcher.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," said Connie Mack.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," said the Sheriff.
"I'll tell you what you're going to do. You're going to run the bases.
"I'll throw out a curve and he's got to go," Jackie Robinson said.
"I'll try not to make too many waves today," he told reporters.
"I'm a bad-hop hitter," said Burdette, "and I throw hard.
"I'm a ballplayer," said Carl, "I'm just a regular guy.
"I'm a believer in second chances," he told the Chicago Tribune's Irving Vaughan.
"I'm a better athlete for being a part-time player.
"I'm a better ball player than I was when I was on the Yankees," he said.
"I'm a better ballplayer," said Black, "than I was when I was a kid playing.
"I'm a better ballplayer. I'll do anything to win a ballgame.
"I'm a better batter than I was in the minors. I can hit the ball far more.
"I'm a better catcher than Trump's going to be," the president said.
"I'm a better hitter now than I was when I stepped up to the plate," he said.
"I'm a better hitter now," he said. He was right. He hit .281/.364/.
"I'm a better hitter than I was a pitcher," Bobby Thomson said in 1973.
"I'm a better hitter than I was when I came into the league," he told the author.
"I'm a better hitter than I was when I came to the big leagues," he said.
"I'm a better hitter than I was when I started out," he told Ralph S.
"I'm a better hitter when I'm not aggressive," he said.
"I'm a better hitter when I'm not stressed," he said.
"I'm a better hitter when I'm not throwing the ball," he told the author.
"I'm a better pitcher now than I was when I came up," he said.
"I'm a better pitcher now than I was when I was a rookie," he said.
"I'm a better pitcher now than when I came up. My control is better. I know the ball.
"I'm a better pitcher now than when I was the starter," he said.
"I'm a better pitcher now," the forty-three-year-old lefty boasted.
"I'm a better shortstop than I was before," he said. That was the way he described his career.
"I'm a big believer in developing young pitchers," said Tug McGraw.
"I'm a big believer in physical conditioning," he said.
"I'm a big believer in simple, hard work. I don't believe in flashy, flashy catches.
"I'm a big believer that you don't win a pennant on the strength of a sub-.
"I'm a big fan," said Phillips. "But I've got to work hard.
"I'm a big sucker," he said. "I'm a sucker for a good fight.
"I'm a big, burly guy," he said. "I'm not a thin boy.
"I'm a big, strong little boy," the youngster told interviewer Bob Considine.
"I'm a big, strong man and a good-field hitter, but I'm not that good at pitching.
"I'm a big, strong man," he told the writer that year.
"I'm a big-game player," he said. "I like to fight.
"I'm a bit of a joker, yeah, but I'm serious. I'm a businessman.
"I'm a born liar. … I lied about four things: my injuries, my suspension, and my refusal to play baseball.
"I'm a different pitcher now," he explained to the Boston Herald.
"I'm a dirty, rotten, rotten liar." — Joe DiMaggio, March 10, 1974.
"I'm a fan of the Yankees, but I'm also a Yankee," he said.
"I'm a fidgety little kid, but I'm no lanky," he says.
"I'm a firm believer in charity," he said. "I'll help any number of people.
"I'm a firm believer in the power of competition," the veteran catcher said.
"I'm a firm believer in the power of the crowd," he said.
"I'm a firm believer that baseball is a spiritual game," he said.
"I'm a firm believer that the best way to get rich is to get rich early," he said.
"I'm a flare-hitter," he said. The question was whether he could do it.
"I'm a good hitter," he said. "I just had to work on my hitting.
"I'm a good-field hitter," Cook said. "I don't have to attack the ball.
"I'm a good-hitting catcher," he said. "I just have to do a little more catching.
"I'm a great believer that if you don't play hard, you don't have a chance.
"I'm a hard-luck loser," said Lowe, "but I'm also a winner.
"I'm a hit-and-run pitcher," he told the Athens World Today.
"I'm a little afraid," he said, "of being sent back to the States.
"I'm a little better now," he said after the season.
"I'm a little boy, but I'm a big, big, big guy. I just like the big guy.
"I'm a little cold," said Durocher, "and I'll tell you what to do.
"I'm a little different from most players," a reflection of his need to put on the uniform his own distinctive style.
"I'm a little disappointed. I thought I was going to make the big-league club," said Mize.
"I'm a little embarrassed," Boudreau said after the game.
"I'm a little more than a day ahead of everybody," he said.
"I'm a little nervous," he said. "I'll be the first to admit I made a mistake.
"I'm a little older than he is," Scully told general manager Paul Richards in a telephone interview.
"I'm a little older," he said. "I've been playing baseball for 50 years.
"I'm a little sick," he told his wife, Joan, on the morning of June 30, 1950.
"I'm a little strange," he said. "I like to wear my cap off.
"I'm a little tired," Roughead said. "I've been playing all the time.
"I'm a little too polite for my own good," he said.
"I'm a little," he said. "I just have to work harder than ever.
"I'm a lively guy," Mathews said. "I like a lively crowd.
"I'm a lousy .250 hitter," said a disappointed Sun, who finished with a .260 average.
"I'm a lousy catcher," he said. "I make mistakes all the time.
"I'm a lousy hitter," he said. "But I'm not a lousy fielder either.
"I'm a lousy judge of men," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'm a lousy mother. What have I done?" he retorted years later.
"I'm a nut," he cracked. "You see, I've been nuts before.
"I'm a picture of consistency. And I look at myself as a picture of consistency.
"I'm a pitcher now," he said. "I do everything the other position players do.
"I'm a real big fan of the Little Rock Travelers," Heidenry said.
"I'm a showing-off type," he said. "I like the thrill of it.
"I'm a smart catcher. I don't catch every pitch. I catch about 85 percent of them.
"I'm a smart player," he said. "I know what I can do.
"I'm a strong believer in doing your homework," he said.
"I'm a sucker for a good fight," Tuck told The Sporting News.
"I'm a sucker for a good fight," said Gino, "and I'll fight anybody.
"I'm a sucker for a good fight," said Whitey Ford. Ford was an even bigger sucker.
"I'm a sucker for a good hit," he said. And he was.
"I'm a sucker for a good punch," he told a sportswriter.
"I'm a sucker for a good story," Walsh said. "This story has it right.
"I'm a sucker for a good story," he told the writer Frank Shea years later.
"I'm a sucker for a good story," the World Series hero explained.
"I'm a sucker for a good story," the svelte Norm Siebern said.
"I'm a sucker for bats," he said. "I like to hit the ball to the corners.
"I'm a sucker for good baseball," Smoky said. "I like the hustle of it.
"I'm a sucker for peanuts," he said. "The Phillies are the same way.
"I'm a taller, stronger man. I'll tell you what I did in the minors.
"I'm a tough competitor," he said. "I like to win. If you win, I get mad.
"I'm a tough cookie," the flinty Scot told an interviewer.
"I'm a very responsive hitter," he said. "I don't come down swinging at bad guys.
"I'm actually surprised by how well he played. He was my catcher, and I had a pretty good year.
"I'm afraid I'll be back out at the plate soon," he said.
"I'm afraid I'll miss a lot of games," said O'Doul.
"I'm afraid he'll be in the Hall of Fame," said Yankee third baseman Jimmie Foxx.
"I'm afraid he'll do something to hurt me," he told the newspaper.
"I'm afraid he'll hurt you. If he does, you're done for the year.
"I'm afraid it's going to be another cold one," said Feller.
"I'm afraid to go out there now," he told a reporter in 1959.
"I'm afraid to stand in the batter's box," he said.
"I'm all for change," says Joe. "I cannot understand why all this has been done.
"I'm all right," said Romine, "but I'll have to cut back on my playing.
"I'm always glad to be getting those hits," he said.
"I'm always glad to go to a big-league game," he said.
"I'm amazed at how well he plays. He can run, throw, and field well.
"I'm an honor student, but I'm not stupid," he said.
"I'm ashamed," Gail said. "This is the first time I've felt that way.
"I'm back," the son said. "I'm not going to lie about that.
"I'm blessed with a tremendous sense of humor," he said.
"I'm giving baseball a new lease on life," the third-place Red Sox said.
"I'm glad I didn't play in the [World Series]" he said.
"I'm glad I didn't play there," he said years later.
"I'm glad I was in the right place at the right time," he said.
"I'm glad I was there to help them," he told Howard Cosell.
"I'm glad I'm not in Brooklyn," Jimmy Choo chirped.
"I'm glad I've been with the Yankees for three years.
"I'm glad they let me go." He was discharged early in 1946.
"I'm glad to go away," he told the Detroit Free Press.
"I'm going for the Triple Crown," he declared. He was leading the league in batting average (.
"I'm going to bat now," he announced, "and I'm going to hit you.
"I'm going to bat with my right hand," said the 25-year-old rookie.
"I'm going to be a better hitter. I'm the leader of the pack.
"I'm going to be a big star," the youngster stated to a sympathetic paparazzo.
"I'm going to be a good ballplayer," he told the editor of the Sioux City Journal.
"I'm going to be a real tough competitor," he said.
"I'm going to be careful as I go along," he told the author.
"I'm going to be full of surprises," Fordham University announcer Mike Mandel later declared.
"I'm going to be the best pitcher in the history of the game," he declared.
"I'm going to be the best pitcher that's ever lived," says Alvarez.
"I'm going to be the best third baseman of my career," he said. He was.
"I'm going to be the big loser," he told his father.
"I'm going to be the kind of manager that's tough," Muskie said.
"I'm going to beat them on the mound," Rawlings said.
"I'm going to enjoy the rest of my life," he announced in 1977.
"I'm going to get my chance." Then he was hit behind the right shoulder by a pitch.
"I'm going to give you a little something to think about.
"I'm going to have to do something to stand out." This prompted the nickname "Flipper.
"I'm going to have to play in the outfield, and I'm going to have to be a good hitter.
"I'm going to keep on working," said the wise-cracking Del.
"I'm going to keep working hard and I'm going to win," Feller said.
"I'm going to make a big move," he said. "I'll retire.
"I'm going to make him a pitcher," Dickey promised.
"I'm going to make him pay for his mistakes," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I'm going to make him pay for making a mistake," the Sox manager said.
"I'm going to make this noise." And he did, for years, until his death.
"I'm going to miss baseball," the younger Benzile told the author.
"I'm going to miss him more than anybody," said the elder Miller.
"I'm going to miss it," he told a reporter. "Baseball's a great game.
"I'm going to miss it," he told reporters late in the season.
"I'm going to miss it. I'm glad I wasn't on the road," he said.
"I'm going to miss playing for him," Fil Moeller told the Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I'm going to miss that," said DiMaggio. "They were great ballplayers.
"I'm going to miss the balance of the season," he said.
"I'm going to miss the big leagues," he said. "I'll be back.
"I'm going to miss the big leagues," he told reporters.
"I'm going to miss the big leagues," said the fiery King Kong.
"I'm going to miss the big leagues. I'm not ready yet. I'm not all that pleased.
"I'm going to miss the feeling of belonging," said Parker.
"I'm going to miss the good times. I'm going to miss everybody's enthusiasm and support.
"I'm going to miss the last three seasons of my career," said Garver.
"I'm going to miss the old days. I'm not part of the 1950s," he said.
"I'm going to miss the old-time feeling of winning and coming back," he said.
"I'm going to pitch the ball no matter where it comes from," he said.
"I'm going to pitch the game of my life," he told his wife.
"I'm going to play for you," Lou Gehrig told him. "I'll play every day.
"I'm going to play in Brooklyn," Van Lingle Mungo announced.
"I'm going to play my heart out and I'm going to make the club.
"I'm going to play until I pass my 70th birthday," he said.
"I'm going to play with the Houston club," he said.
"I'm going to play," he said, "but I'll take it easy.
"I'm going to take a chance on this guy," said Mickey Mantle.
"I'm going to take a hike today," Joe DiMaggio said, and he meant it.
"I'm going to take a little bit of a breather," he told reporters on the way out of the clubhouse.
"I'm going to take an 8-0 lead into the ninth inning. My first pitch is a slider.
"I'm going to take him out," said Manager Billy Herman.
"I'm going to take it." The game was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
"I'm going to take these guys," he told the Boston Herald's Robert Creamer.
"I'm going to take this chance…to play in the big leagues," he announced to the Yankees' press.
"I'm going to try to make it through this season," he said.
"I'm going to try to win the ball game," he was quoted as saying.
"I'm going to use my experience from the past two years to help him," said Jimmie Wilson.
"I'm going to win this thing for the Braves," he announced to the fans.
"I'm going to win this thing," he told the writer who wrote the story.
"I'm gonna hit one out of here," he announced to his teammates.
"I'm gonna make you promise to stop that little spatty," the president told him.
"I'm gonna take my chances," he said. He went to bat against the St.
"I'm got a feeling that nobody can start this game," he said. That day, he was right.
"I'm having a great year," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"I'm having a hard time believing it," he told the author.
"I'm here to stay," Devine said. "I'll be the regular catcher in 1951.
"I'm impressed. He's a great guy. He helped me so much when I was younger.
"I'm in the middle of a family affair," he explained.
"I'm in the twilight of a career, and I hope that a change of scenery will help me make more money.
"I'm in the twilight of a great career," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"I'm jealous," he says. "I want a wife who'll be as good.
"I'm jealous," said Duke Snider, and it was a comment that he would never be shy about making.
"I'm just a bit unlucky," he said. "I was a bit unlucky to be playing in Brooklyn.
"I'm just a kid, I was raised that way," Dickey said.
"I'm just a kid, but someday I'll be in the big leagues.
"I'm just a kid," [Page] wrote The New York Times's Arthur Daley in August 1948.
"I'm just a kid," he said. "I don't expect to do anything.
"I'm just a kid," he said. "I'll be playing baseball when I grow up.
"I'm just a kid," he said. "I'll never be a big league pitcher.
"I'm just a kid," he told his mother. "I'll do anything to get a baseball.
"I'm just a kid. I'm not even that old," he told a reporter years later.
"I'm just a regular guy," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'm just a regular kid," he said. "I don't know anything about the gods.
"I'm just a starter," said Berra. "I'm not a guy who starts.
"I'm just glad I wasn't able to lead them to an error," he recalled.
"I'm just glad I wasn't in the hospital when he died," says his son, Dave.
"I'm just glad I'm not in the position of having to worry about my health," he said.
"I'm just glad it didn't go to a World Series," he said.
"I'm just happy to be able to play for him," said Piersall.
"I'm just happy to be healthy and I can play my natural game," said van den Berg.
"I'm just happy to be there," he said. "I'm comfortable.
"I'm just happy to play in this big league," he said. "I have a good group of guys.
"I'm just lucky to be in a position where I can help the club," he said.
"I'm just lucky to be in the position to play in the major leagues.
"I'm just not sure how much money he can make in the big leagues," Maris said.
"I'm just not used to it," he said in his first spring training in 1959.
"I'm like a kid on the playground," he said. "I want to play.
"I'm looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd.
"I'm no Babe Ruth, but I'm a pretty good bunter," he said.
"I'm no athlete. I'm just happy-go-lucky," he says.
"I'm no ballplayer, but I had a good career," he recalled. "I had all the moves.
"I'm no better than average," he said. "I know I'm better than average.
"I'm no better than average. I have the work to do. I've always been more of a hustler.
"I'm no big league pitcher," he said. "But I can throw hard and I'm smart.
"I'm no clown, but I do clown for a living," he said.
"I'm no fan of Joe Gordon, but his attitude and understanding of the game made me a believer.
"I'm no fidgety first sacker; I just like to play," he said.
"I'm no fighter," he replied when asked what he meant by that.
"I'm no flashy guy," he told the author. "I've got a fine reputation.
"I'm no great poet, but I don't have to be an artist, either," he said.
"I'm no liberal," said Durocher, "but I'm a winner.
"I'm no macho," he said. "I just like to play the game.
"I'm no more," he told the baseball writers. "I'll give it one more chance.
"I'm no nut," he said. "But I'm just a regular guy.
"I'm no pianist, but I can play the piano," he told the author proudly.
"I'm no psychiatrist, but I know about a lot of sick people," he said.
"I'm no slick-fielding left-handed hitter," he said.
"I'm no status symbol, but I have no phony pride, either," he said.
"I'm not Jewish, but I am patriotic, and I believe in the American people," he said.
"I'm not a 12-year man," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'm not a big believer in superstitions," Monroe said.
"I'm not a big drinker," he said. "But I like to have a little beer.
"I'm not a big fan of 'em, but I'm a fan of Dillon," Cornell said.
"I'm not a big fan of 'em," he said. "I like to win.
"I'm not a big fan of 'em. But that's just how baseball is.
"I'm not a big fan of his," said former teammate Al Rosen.
"I'm not a big fan of the [playing] in the All-Star Game," he said.
"I'm not a big fan of the big contract," recalled Palmer.
"I'm not a big fan of the commissioner, but I have to say he did an amazing job.
"I'm not a big fan of the designated-hitter rule," he said.
"I'm not a big fan of the guys who come out of the military.
"I'm not a big fan of the national pastime," said the righthander.
"I'm not a big fan of the press conferences," Howard told the author.
"I'm not a big fan of the press," he said. "But I like to be long-legged.
"I'm not a cheat," said Joe DiMaggio, "but I am a sucker.
"I'm not a clown," said Denny McLain. "I'm a tough competitor.
"I'm not a crook," the Oakland A's manager said. "I have guts.
"I'm not a fan of the reporters," he said. "But I would like to keep them.
"I'm not a flashy guy," he said. "When I play baseball, I'm quiet.
"I'm not a good manager," he said. "I just like to take control.
"I'm not a great believer in statistics, but I know something about pitching," he said.
"I'm not a great believer in superstitions, but I believe in them," he said.
"I'm not a great fan of the name, as I've had my share of ballplayers get the nickname.
"I'm not a hater," Reiser said. "I like people. I like people who like me.
"I'm not a huge fan of the press conferences," he said. "But I can tell you one thing.
"I'm not a perfectionist. I just like to play and play well.
"I'm not a racist," said Gainey, "but I do believe there is a problem of some type.
"I'm not a ringer for Al Capone or any of those great crooks," he said.
"I'm not a saint," he said. "I had a bad year at the plate.
"I'm not a star, I'm just another outfielder in big leagues," he said.
"I'm not a star, but I sure am a good player," he said.
"I'm not a superstitious person, but I have a very strong superstitious attitude," he said.
"I'm not a superstitious person, but I know I won't be playing for this club for long.
"I'm not a superstitious person," he said. "I just like to believe.
"I'm not a superstitious person," he told the author.
"I'm not about to get involved in another playoff," said Goody.
"I'm not complaining," said the batting champ. "I'll be happy to play every day.
"I'm not concerned about my arm. It's good enough for most purposes.
"I'm not convinced that he's capable," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I'm not crazy about it," he said. "I've had enough.
"I'm not defending myself," he said years later. "I was just exercising my right to free speech.
"I'm not even close to being a 20-game winner, but I'm going to work every day.
"I'm not even close to what I'm doing," Rizzo said.
"I'm not even going to try to deny that he was a better hitter in the minor leagues than he was in the majors.
"I'm not even going to try to hide the fact that I am a black man," he declared.
"I'm not even supposed to be back in baseball." He retired after the 1966 season.
"I'm not exactly a fan of his style," recalled his teammate, Dave Philley.
"I'm not exactly thrilled to play for that team," he said.
"I'm not flying in the No. 9, I'm flying in the No.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I'm just going to stay in baseball.
"I'm not going to argue with (McDougald)," the leading hitter told the New York Times.
"I'm not going to argue with you," he said. "I think you're going to jail.
"I'm not going to be on the bench," he said. "I'll go out and play.
"I'm not going to dignify that with a response," said Mike Garcia, the longtime New York Giants broadcaster.
"I'm not going to get into who controls the ownership of the Yankees," he declared.
"I'm not going to get involved in a politics that could cause division," he said.
"I'm not going to get involved in another World Series. I like to play in the World Series.
"I'm not going to get involved in politics any more," he said when he resigned from the board.
"I'm not going to get involved in politics," he said. "I don't like it.
"I'm not going to get involved in politics," said Lopata.
"I'm not going to get involved in politics," the legendary catcher said. "I just want to play baseball.
"I'm not going to get involved in the internal politics of the Giants," he told a reporter.
"I'm not going to get involved in the political process," he said.
"I'm not going to get involved in the political process," the pitcher said.
"I'm not going to give them another chance," the president said.
"I'm not going to give up on my good fastball," said Curtis.
"I'm not going to return the favor," said the giant.
"I'm not going to say being a major-league ballplayer is easy," said Sam.
"I'm not going to say how I feel, but I can say this: I'm a Chicago Cub fan.
"I'm not going to say how good I think he is," said Boudreau.
"I'm not going to say that I can't help the other club," he said.
"I'm not going to say that I didn't like it, but I had to work for it.
"I'm not going to say that I was surprised," Healy said.
"I'm not going to say that I'm as good as I used to be," he said.
"I'm not going to say the war will be over in a day or two," said Carter.
"I'm not going to sit around and wait until I get paid.
"I'm not going to sit on the bench or take the place of the great, the great pitcher," he said.
"I'm not going to start a fight with you,"" the president told him.
"I'm not going to take anything for it," he told the coach.
"I'm not going to take it anymore," said the clench-heavy Strode.
"I'm not going to talk about my feelings or my difficulties," the 37-year-old rookie told the author.
"I'm not going to tell you how to win," he told reporters after the series.
"I'm not great," he said, "but I've got good stuff.
"I'm not interested in headlines," he said. "I'm not interested in anybody looking for headlines.
"I'm not intimidated at all," he said. "I'll take care of them.
"I'm not one of the guys who got caught stealing," he's reported to have said.
"I'm not quite ready to quit baseball," he admitted.
"I'm not really a fan," he said. But he was a fan of the game, and his job.
"I'm not really a fighter. I'm the type that likes to fight.
"I'm not really a great believer in winning," he said. "I just try to do my best.
"I'm not really that big of a man," said Grover Cleveland Alexander.
"I'm not supposed to be standing here in the second inning, '" Dickey told The Sporting News.
"I'm not sure I'll ever play professional baseball again," Wood said in 1973.
"I'm not sure I'm as strong as I was before I started," he said.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to play. I'll take a long time to get back.
"I'm not sure I've ever seen a baseball game that wasn't entertaining," he said.
"I'm not sure he's a good ballplayer," said Kiner.
"I'm not sure he's the best catcher in the business," said Mantle.
"I'm not sure if I'll ever play professional ball again," he said.
"I'm not that good a hitter, but I'm a good fielder and everything," he said in December.
"I'm not the greatest pitcher in baseball," he said.
"I'm not the kind to tell you how to vote," he said.
"I'm not the only one who noticed that when he walked, he felt like a big kid," recalled his son.
"I'm not the type to discuss my feelings," said the redhead.
"I'm not the type to plaster the whole ball club with advertisements for my private life," he told the Associated Press.
"I'm not the type to show off," he told reporters. "I just live and let live.
"I'm not trying to be modest here," he told reporters after the World Series.
"I'm not trying to be modest or anything like that," he told the newspaper.
"I'm not trying to be modest, but I'm just not good enough.
"I'm not with him," he said in the clubhouse after the Giants' early-season collapse.
"I'm not worried about hitting home runs. I'm worried about passing them.
"I'm not worried about that," he said. "I'm not worried about anything.
"I'm only 29 and I've got a lot of years ahead of me," Shoemaker recalled.
"I'm only 30, but I'm not going anywhere," he said.
"I'm only thirty-five, but I'm just about old enough to be in the big leagues.
"I'm proud of my Japanese-American heritage," he said.
"I'm proud, proud, proud," he said. "This is the nicest deal you could ever make.
"I'm ready to fight," Wilson said. He had been preparing for months.
"I'm really glad to hear from him," said Chicago manager Charlie Grimm.
"I'm really glad," he said. "I'll tell you about it.
"I'm representing my country," he responded when asked about his military service.
"I'm scared," he said after the Series. "I'm not in the zone.
"I'm serious," he said. "I have played right field for nine years.
"I'm sitting in a hotel and I'm watching a baseball game," he said.
"I'm sorry, but you're a hoot," he told reporters on the plane ride to New York.
"I'm sorry," he replied. "I'm not going to argue with you.
"I'm starting to get a headache," he told reporters.
"I'm starting to see a pattern here. Because he has a certain temperament, he seems to like to keep things simple.
"I'm still a rookie, and I'll be pitching a lot of rookie stuff.
"I'm still glad I didn't join the Red Sox," he said.
"I'm still young," Stephens said when the Phillies acquired him in May.
"I'm sure I'll be able to go," he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"I'm sure of it," said the outfielder. "I know I'll be back.
"I'm sure that there's no way I'll ever win 20 games," he said.
"I'm sure the staff knew," he said. "They believed I was a good catcher.
"I'm taking a gamble," the rookie outfielder told the Associated Press's Peter Golenbock.
"I'm telling you he's a better hitter than he looks.
"I'm telling you, I've been thinking about it a lot," he told the Times.
"I'm the best catcher in baseball," he said. "I look at the way I play.
"I'm the best catcher in the business," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'm the best pitcher in the majors," said Mickey Mantle, "except for the other guy.
"I'm the best right-hander in the business," he stated.
"I'm the best-conditioned pitcher in the majors," he said.
"I'm the best-looking catcher in baseball," he told an interviewer. "I can catch a ball.
"I'm the best-looking player in the league," he said.
"I'm the greatest baserunner in the history of the game," he said.
"I'm the greatest thing that ever happened to baseball," he said.
"I'm the greatest," said Coleman, "so I'll take that challenge head on.
"I'm the guy who threw the ball, I throw the curve, I throw the fastball.
"I'm the guy who's been in the World Series," recalled Bush.
"I'm the guy who's changing my career," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"I'm the luckiest guy on the face of the earth," he told a reporter.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," Mr. Cub offered.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he cried.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he declared.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said after the draft took effect.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said in his autobiography.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said. And he was wrong.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said. And he was.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said. He was right.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told a reporter after the 1941 season.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told the AP's David Dickman.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Brown.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Lefty.
"I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said the 26-year-old rookie.
"I'm the luckiest manager in baseball," Cleveland's Bob Lemon said.
"I'm the luckiest young man on the face of the earth.
"I'm the lucky one. I've been on the winning end, and the people have gotten to know me.
"I'm the most popular pitcher in the Reds' history.
"I'm the one that he should have played for," Gomez said.
"I'm the only guy who can beat him," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"I'm the only guy who could play in the 1920s like that," Gino said.
"I'm the only guy who would pick him," said DiMaggio.
"I'm the only one who can do it," said Lopata, who could make contact.
"I'm the only one who can do it," said Snyder, "and I'll do it.
"I'm the only one who can say that I was a proud dad," said Gehrig.
"I'm the part of the family that knows the score," he said.
"I'm the same kid who played for the White Sox," he said.
"I'm the second one to go," he said, "but I'll go and play.
"I'm the sixth man," said an exasperated Aaron. "I was the ninth man.
"I'm the type that likes to play every day," the daughter said.
"I'm the worst kind of ballplayer," said Ramsey. "I'm a coward.
"I'm thinking I'll be playing in the big leagues soon. I'll be right back.
"I'm thrilled to come back," he said. "I'll give it my all.
"I'm tired of 'talking about' baseball," said Chicago Tribune sportswriter Irving Vaughan.
"I'm very happy to be able to manage Barrow," Henrich said.
"I'm very proud of that kid," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"I'm very proud. I've never been more proud of something," the president proclaimed.
"I've Got a Secret," was one of the most enduring baseball moments of the 1960s.
"I've always been a Yankee fan," said Lopata, "but this is a big season for me.
"I've always been a Yankee, and I'll never be one more.
"I've always been a [loud, profane] type," he told the author.
"I've always been a big fan of the Red Sox, but I was always most proud of being a Yankee.
"I've always been a big fan of the home run as a celebration, but I was never into fireworks.
"I've always been a fan of 'em," said Cass in his dry-as-vinegar manner.
"I've always been a smaller guy, but I wanted to get to be big," said Radcliff.
"I've always been a sucker," he says. "I've always been a sucker for money.
"I've always been a winner. If I win, I have a good feeling about it.
"I've always been amazed at how he played," said his friend and teammate, Eddie Waitkus.
"I've always been an outdoorsman," he said. "I've always been a hiker.
"I've always been fortunate to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I've always been grateful to God for the opportunities He gave me," he said.
"I've always been lucky to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I've always been pretty tough," Nuxhall said. "I think I've always been tough.
"I've always been proud of my Negro League career," he said.
"I've always been proud of my roots," says Hallahan, "but it's not just pride.
"I've always been proud of that game," he recalled.
"I've always been proud of the fact that I was a Yankee," he recalled.
"I've always been proud of the fact that I was my own boss," he said.
"I've always believed it was the stress of the extra game.
"I've always considered myself a lucky guy," he said.
"I've always considered the Triple Crown to be the most important thing in my professional career," he said.
"I've always felt that I've been hardheaded and stubborn," said Martin.
"I've always felt that I've been lucky to play in the big leagues," he said.
"I've always felt the Yankees were my team, but I never thought I would play in the World Series for the Yankees.
"I've always felt the game was about more than just the number on the scoreboard.
"I've always had a hard time dealing with the media," he says.
"I've always had a tough time sleeping at night," he said when he was breaking camp with the Cardinals in 1936.
"I've always held him in great esteem," said Chicago Cubs broadcaster Mel Allen in a somber tone of voice.
"I've always known I was pretty good," he recalled. "But I always had trouble believing it.
"I've always loved it and I'm really glad to be on the ballfield somewhere," he said.
"I've always made it clear to Bill that I appreciate his accomplishment," he said.
"I've always said that I would retire from baseball," Aguilar said in May 1960.
"I've always seen him as the greatest player I ever saw," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"I've always seen him as the greatest player ever," said Chapman.
"I've always stood by the fact that I'm a sore loser," he said.
"I've always stood for the flag," he said of his early playing career.
"I've always thought that I was a better hitter because I had a better arm," said Gino Cimoli.
"I've always wanted to play in the World Series," said Mondell.
"I've always wondered why they put me on the bench," he told The Sporting News's Tom Gage.
"I've asked him about it on the radio," Philadelphia Phillies' broadcaster Bill Rigney said.
"I've been a Cub since the day I was born, and I'm going to stay until the end of the season.
"I've been a Red Sox fan my entire life, and I will always be a Red Sox fan," he said.
"I've been a Red Sox fan my entire life. I was a Dodger fan. I was a Yankee fan.
"I've been a Yankee fan my entire life," said New York native John Gleeson.
"I've been a Yankee fan my whole life," Don Larsen remembers.
"I've been a Yankee fan since I was a little boy, and I still am," he said.
"I've been a Yankee," he said, "and I'll carry a big chip on my shoulder.
"I've been a big believer in common sense," Nuxhall says of his early training as a professional.
"I've been a big fan of the Capitan, and was excited to play for him," he said.
"I've been a big fan of the Cubs since I was a kid, but never had they been to the World Series.
"I've been a big fan of the Dodgers ever since I was a kid.
"I've been a big fan of the Dodgers for a long time," Mays said.
"I've been a big fan of the Giants for a long time," he says.
"I've been a big fan of the Giants for a long time," said Ula.
"I've been a big fan of the Yankees ever since I was a kid," said Durocher.
"I've been a big fan of the Yankees for a long time.
"I've been a big fan of the Yankees since before I was born," The Hunger Games star said.
"I've been a big fan since I was in high school," he says.
"I've been a big supporter of the Yankees for years," he said.
"I've been a catcher all my life," said Walker Cooper.
"I've been a catcher and I've been wondering how you can play a little bit of everything.
"I've been a catcher for 10 years, and I know how tough the job is.
"I've been a catcher for 12 years and I know what a good catcher is.
"I've been a catcher for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this.
"I've been a catcher for twenty-five years, and I'm a good catcher.
"I've been a fan since I was a kid," he told The Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I've been a high school coach for 10 years and I know more about these things than most coaches.
"I've been a major league baseball player for thirty-seven years.
"I've been a real happy guy since I came to the Yankees," he said. "I like it.
"I've been a strong believer in hitting," said Hatton.
"I've been afraid to walk into the room and knock on the door for a long time," he said.
"I've been around a long time," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I've been around baseball for 20 years and I know a lot about it," he told the author.
"I've been around baseball for 30 years, and I know about the strike zone. I know how to strike out.
"I've been around long enough," says Richardson, "and you're supposed to be tough.
"I've been around the block so many times," he said, "I just have to keep on winning.
"I've been around the circuit for 20 years and know all about the big-league teams.
"I've been asked what my signature is," said Green. "That's easy.
"I've been asking him to come back," said Spahn, "and he's refused.
"I've been at the ballpark 30 years and I've seen the fans grow.
"I've been at the ballpark a few times and I'm not getting anything.
"I've been at the ballpark for years and it's truly amazing how the fans react to these ballplayers.
"I've been at this for 22 years," he said. "I know what baseball is all about.
"I've been at this for 25 years and I'm not going to stop," Rigney said.
"I've been awake for two years, and so have you," he told a reporter.
"I've been called a heathen for criticizing Fidel Castro," said one of Trump's backers.
"I've been dead for ten years," he said. "I've had some wonderful times.
"I've been dormant for a couple of years," he told a writer.
"I've been dreaming about it for two years. I'm going to make the big leagues by next summer.
"I've been dreaming about it for years," he said in a 1996 interview.
"I've been dreaming of it for years," he said. "It's like a dream come true.
"I've been dreaming of that one," Hal Newhouser recalled. "I was a pitcher.
"I've been drinking and driving," he said, "and I'll be driving less.
"I've been driving around New York, and I'm seeing a lot of old people.
"I've been fishing for a long time," he said, "and I enjoy it.
"I've been fortunate to play for a manager who has never been a manager," Robinson said.
"I've been fortunate to play for guys like Gehrig, Abner all summer and then a young fellow named Kiner.
"I've been fortunate to play in so many great ballgames," Durocher said.
"I've been fortunate to play in some great parks. I've been to bat in some great basestages.
"I've been fortunate to play with guys like Durocher, Feller, and Nap," he said.
"I've been fortunate to play with guys like that," he said.
"I've been getting the sense that he's going to be a convenient scapegoat.
"I've been hearing a rumor for a while," he recalled. "I'm a little nervous.
"I've been here a long time and I've enjoyed the game," he said.
"I've been hoping for a chance to play professional baseball," he said.
"I've been hoping since last September, and I've been waiting patiently for the signal," he said.
"I've been hunting for him for years," the Brooklyn Dodger said.
"I've been in 30 or so nightclubs and kept to myself," he said.
"I've been in a Yankee uniform and a Red Sox uniform since I was 20," Parnell said.
"I've been in a lot of ball games and I know a lot of things.
"I've been in a lot of ball games, and I've never seen anything like that.
"I've been in a lot of ballgames and I've never seen a ballgame like that.
"I've been in a lot of ballgames, and I've never played more than 30," he said.
"I've been in a lot of ballgames, and I've never seen anything like that.
"I've been in a lot of big-league stadiums, but I've never seen anything like this.
"I've been in a lot of mudholes," the "Mudhole Kid" said.
"I've been in a lot of tough spots," Preacher said, "and I'll tell you this.
"I've been in a lot of tough spots," he told the New York Times. "This is the toughest.
"I've been in baseball for 13 years and I'm still learning," Gee Walker recalled.
"I've been in baseball for 20 years and I've seen the best and the worst.
"I've been in baseball for 23 years, and I know a lot of pitchers.
"I've been in baseball for 25 years, and I'm not going to stop for anybody," he said.
"I've been in baseball for 25 years, and I've never seen anything like this.
"I've been in baseball for 25 years," he told the author.
"I've been in baseball for 30 years, and I've lived through all phases of the game. Things change.
"I've been in baseball for 30 years, and I've seen a lot of changes.
"I've been in baseball for 30 years, but I've never played another game.
"I've been in baseball for thirty-five years. I know the game. I can throw strikes. I can curveball.
"I've been in baseball for thirty-six years. I've seen a lot of changes.
"I've been in baseball for twenty years and I'll never stop," said Baldock.
"I've been in big-league baseball for 25 years," said Boudreau.
"I've been in it over the years, and I know how it feels," he said.
"I've been in management and coaching for 20 years, and I'm used to it," he said.
"I've been in many other places, but never had I seen anything like this." The Giants were in St.
"I've been in more bad jams than I've been in good," he said.
"I've been in more than 600 World Series. I've won more World Series than anybody in either league.
"I've been in more than my share of ballgames," he told the author.
"I've been in my business for 30 years," he said. "And I know all about business.
"I've been in my hotel room with a camera at the ready to capture anything that comes my way," said Frank.
"I've been in over 100 big-league games and I'm still learning.
"I've been in ten World Series, all the way from Newark, and I've never lost one.
"I've been in ten major-league teams, and I've played for a lot of good teams.
"I've been in the Marines for seven years," he told a reporter.
"I've been in the National League a long time," Reagan said.
"I've been in the Philadelphia area for some time," he said.
"I've been in the Red Sox organization for 30 years. I've been with five different teams.
"I've been in the Yankees organization for ten years and I'm a big, big fan.
"I've been in the ballpark a long time," he said. "I know the ballpark.
"I've been in the ballpark two dozen times, and I've never seen anything like that.
"I've been in the barbershop quartet since I was 17.
"I've been in the baseball world for 30 years. I know what it takes to win. I have seen the things.
"I've been in the big league since I was 15," Kiner said.
"I've been in the big leagues for 20 years," he said.
"I've been in the big leagues for 25 years, and I know what it's like.
"I've been in the big leagues for 25 years. I think I have done all right.
"I've been in the big leagues for nine years, and I can't say enough is enough.
"I've been in the big leagues for thirty-three years.
"I've been in the big leagues for twenty-five years.
"I've been in the big leagues just about 15 years, but I've never been to the World Series.
"I've been in the building business for 25 years, and I've been in politics for 30.
"I've been in the building since '47," he recalled.
"I've been in the bullpen since I was 19," he said.
"I've been in the bullpen since I was 23," he said.
"I've been in the clubhouse a few times, and it's tremendous fun," he said.
"I've been in the clubhouse and seen the guys before and after I'm pitching.
"I've been in the dark. I don't have anything to say," he said.
"I've been in the field for 20 years and I've never seen anything like this," said Johnson.
"I've been in the field for 32 years. I know what this is about," he said.
"I've been in the front lines with the Vietcong," Wright said.
"I've been in the game 47 years, and I've seen a lot of change.
"I've been in the game a long time, and I really enjoy it.
"I've been in the game almost thirty years, and I've seen a lot of changes.
"I've been in the game for 25 years and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.
"I've been in the game for 25 years, and I don't want to be out there anymore.
"I've been in the game for 25 years, and I'll be back. I'll be the manager.
"I've been in the game for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this.
"I've been in the game for thirty years and know what a great organization it is," he said.
"I've been in the game for twenty-five years and I've seen things," he said.
"I've been in the game for twenty-two years," he said. "And I get paid to play.
"I've been in the game long enough," he told reporters after the season.
"I've been in the game longer than anybody," said Brown. "I think I was a better hitter then.
"I've been in the game more than my fair share," he said.
"I've been in the hotel bar and the barman is a Jew.
"I've been in the hotel bar with the fellows behind the counter. I've always found it quite amusing.
"I've been in the hotel," he said. "I've driven the bus.
"I've been in the hotel. I'm the only one in the suite.
"I've been in the industry, but I never got the chance to prove what I can do in the major leagues.
"I've been in the league for twenty years," he said.
"I've been in the major leagues for 27 years, and I never have done anything like this before," he said.
"I've been in the minor leagues for six years now, and I know what it's like.
"I've been in the minors for nine years, and I'll tell you what happens when you're president.
"I've been in the oil business for thirty years, and I've never seen anything like this.
"I've been in the park a long time, and I know how to play the position," he said.
"I've been in the pennant race for a full year now.
"I've been in the position of having to take somebody's place," he said.
"I've been in the room of guys who became greats," he said.
"I've been in the saddle for six months now and I'm all ready to give it one more go.
"I've been in this business 27 years and I'm an old school foot soldier," he told the author.
"I've been in this business a long time," he said in his autobiography.
"I've been in this business fifteen years," O'Brien said.
"I've been in this business for 20 years. I know how to win and I know how to lose.
"I've been in this business for 25 years and I know what it takes to get a big-league ballclub.
"I've been in this business for 30 years, and I can tell you this. Not one single bad thing.
"I've been in this business for 30 years, and I've seen many things.
"I've been in this business for 35 years, and I'm a big, strong guy," he said.
"I've been in this business for forty-five years, and I've been through a lot.
"I've been in this business for thirty years, and I know more about baseball than anyone else.
"I've been in this business for thirty years," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I've been in this business for thirty-five years," he explained.
"I've been in this business long enough. I know what these things mean. They mean opportunity and they mean money.
"I've been in this business twenty-five years, and I've seen a lot of bad things.
"I've been in this place for five years. I'm a big boy now. I have responsibilities.
"I've been in this thing for twenty years. I know all of the tricks and pitfalls and how they work.
"I've been just lucky," he said. "I've had a little bit of a bad season.
"I've been knocking on your door since I was 14," he told me.
"I've been looking at him," said Dick Brodowski, a scout for the St.
"I've been looking at him," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"I've been looking at it," said Hagel, "and he's got to be right.
"I've been looking for a job like that," DeMaestri said.
"I've been looking for him since I was 18," said Mike Higgins, the Reds' scout.
"I've been looking for one thing, and I'm going to get it," he said later.
"I've been looking forward to this for some time," said Al Al Lopez, the club's manager.
"I've been looking forward to this for years," he said.
"I've been lucky in so many ways to have had the privilege of playing baseball," he said.
"I've been lucky that I have had a wife who has been a good cheerleader," he said.
"I've been lucky to play for a few great managers, Frank Sullivan was the best I ever played for.
"I've been lucky," Cobb said. "I've received good advice and I'm learning.
"I've been lucky," Ruth told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I've been lucky," he acknowledged. "There's a sense of pride, of accomplishment.
"I've been lucky," he said. "They've been great to me.
"I've been lucky," he said. He added, "I'll take it as a compliment.
"I've been lucky," he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"I've been on some great teams," he said. "But this is the greatest.
"I've been on the West Coast for two years, and I've had some great experiences.
"I've been on the road in Cleveland for three days now. I'm tired.
"I've been on three World Series teams," said Killebrew.
"I've been out there on the rubber by myself," he said.
"I've been pitching to him for years, and he's never called on me," Rodriguez said.
"I've been pitching, but I'm not a big fan of the position," he said.
"I've been playing baseball for 20 years," said the former All-Star.
"I've been playing baseball for a long time and I think I know more about what goes on in the game than most people.
"I've been playing baseball for seven years and I'm not going anywhere," he said.
"I've been playing baseball for six years, and I'm happy to report that I am making good.
"I've been playing baseball for twenty years, and I've always been a winner," said Grissom.
"I've been playing baseball for twenty years. I have played with some great teams.
"I've been playing for the Cretin-Browns for two years now.
"I've been playing for them for a year and I'm glad I did it," Cain said.
"I've been playing golf for 30 years. I played 73 [at Syracuse] and 78 [last season].
"I've been playing golf for 40 years, and I'm pretty good," he said.
"I've been playing golf for all of my life," he said.
"I've been playing golf for as long as I can remember," Arroyo said.
"I've been playing golf for three years and I've never lost a game," he said.
"I've been playing golf since I was 14," he remembers.
"I've been pretty much a bunt at the plate," he said.
"I've been rather lucky in life," he said after his retirement from baseball.
"I've been right there for 30 years," the outfielder said. "I've had the whole career.
"I've been sitting on that ball for 18 months," he said.
"I've been sober for a year, and the last three months have been hell.
"I've been studying the good and the bad," the former Red Sox standout recalled.
"I've been thinking a lot lately," he said in 1963.
"I've been thinking about it a lot lately," he said.
"I've been thinking about it for a long time, and I just realized that I'm wasting my time.
"I've been thinking about it," he said. "It's a tough spot.
"I've been thinking about it…I've been out there every day since the first game," he said.
"I've been thinking and feeling about it," he said.
"I've been to the moon, back to the park, and back to the park.
"I've been told he is the best catcher in the majors. That he handles pitchers better than anyone.
"I've been told they're not that kind of ballplayers. That's the way they talk about baseball.
"I've been using this word for many years, but I believe it is correct," said Boudreau.
"I've been very fortunate in my life," [he] told Sports Illustrated's Robert Creamer.
"I've been waiting for my chance," the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder told The Sporting News.
"I've been waiting for the best opportunity to get into a World Series," said Mantle.
"I've been waiting for this day for 50 years and it's finally here," he said.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," he said.
"I've been waiting for this season for a year and a half," Jablonski said.
"I've been waiting for this, and I'm so glad to get it.
"I've been waiting for years for a chance to turn my career around," said Hatton.
"I've been watching him and I'm afraid he'll be the first one to go.
"I've been watching him closely," said Tigers broadcaster Salsinger.
"I've been watching him closely," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"I've been watching him for a long time," said Dodgers great Carl Erskine.
"I've been watching him for a long time," said Hendrix.
"I've been watching him for a long time," said Jim Maloney.
"I've been watching him for a long time. He has neither the temperament nor the heart of a lion.
"I've been watching him since he was a kid," Gail said.
"I've been watching him since he was a kid," said Joe McCarthy.
"I've been watching that Mathews game all season," said Joe Black, then the Orioles' manager.
"I've been watching the Dodgers since I was a kid," said pitcher Dazzy Vance.
"I've been watching the Yankees for a long time," he said.
"I've been watching the Yankees since I was a boy," he said.
"I've been working on the motor ever since I was a kid," he said.
"I've been working on the slider for years. I've always used it as a change-up.
"I've been working with him for two years, and he's improved every year.
"I've been writing a lot about how the Yankees are going to be a tough team to play against," he said.
"I've decided that I cannot play baseball in the future," Al said.
"I've got a 14-game lead over the Indians and the Yankees," he declared.
"I've got a better feeling in my gut now," he said.
"I've got a better job," said Joe, "I'm in the war zone.
"I've got a feeling I'll be pitching for the Yankees at some point," he said.
"I've got a feeling he won't make it," said Gibson.
"I've got a feeling he'll be on our team for a long time," said Blue Moon.
"I've got a feeling he'll be pitching for the American League," said Philadelphia manager Connie Mack.
"I've got a feeling he's going to get the Hall of Fame," McGraw said.
"I've got a feeling that [the White Sox] are going to send somebody down," he said.
"I've got a feeling that the Indians will trade me," he said.
"I've got a feeling the Cubs will let us go the rest of the way," said Hyde.
"I've got a feeling the Pirates won't cut my salary," said Mitch.
"I've got a feeling the Red Sox will give him another shot," said Walsh.
"I've got a good one," he said. "I'll pitch it to the mound.
"I've got a good one," he said. He was on to something.
"I've got a great arm," Rickey said. "Not great, but it's good enough.
"I've got a great arm," he told the Boston Herald's Shirley Povich.
"I've got a great ball club. … I'll take my chances wherever I can.
"I've got a great bullpen, but I'm not going to take any chances.
"I've got a great curve ball, but I don't know how to use it.
"I've got a great curve, but I'll have to work on my control," he said.
"I've got a great fastball, I'll use it. I'll use it in the bullpen.
"I've got a great fastball, but I can't pitch it long," said Trimble.
"I've got a great fastball, but I don't have a good curve, either.
"I've got a great fastball, but I'm not a powerful pitcher," Blasingame said.
"I've got a great temperament," said Wills. "I have a fine, easy going personality.
"I've got a great, strong hook," he told the author.
"I've got a handshake deal to do a song with a major-league team.
"I've got a little something for you," he said. He showed me a glove.
"I've got a little something for you," the president told him.
"I've got a lot of experience on the mound," he said.
"I've got a nice bat and I'll bat right through you," said the big redhead.
"I've got a pretty good arm," said Washington third baseman Vern Stephens.
"I've got a pretty good bat. I've got good speed. I've got good hitting power.
"I've got a pretty good crank arm. I've used it like a weapon.
"I've got a pretty good curve ball, and I'm going to use it.
"I've got a pretty good curve, but I really like the breaking ball," Coulthard said.
"I've got a pretty good feel for the American League," he said.
"I've got a pretty good feel for the majors," he said.
"I've got a pretty good feel for this kid," said Avila.
"I've got a pretty good feeling about playing in the majors," he said.
"I've got a pretty good hunch that he was a great hitter," said Yankees third sacker Mickey Mantle.
"I've got a pretty good one. I'll show it to you," the manager told his coach.
"I've got a pretty good year. I've been pitching. I've been hitting.
"I've got a reputation for being a little 'uck." The nickname came from his strong voice.
"I've got a terrible case of pneumonia," the great Chicago Fireman said.
"I've got a tremendous crowd on the sidelines," Stanky remarked.
"I've got enough," he barked at the top of his lungs.
"I've got good stuff," she said. "But I have to work on my control.
"I've got it now. Now I want to pitch it in the rain.
"I've got no use for the money," said the big bull.
"I've got no use for the pennant," the three-time All-Star said.
"I've got nothing against the other players in the clubhouse, but I don't like to be disturbed by Mr.
"I've got nothing more," he told the Boston Herald. "I'm broke.
"I've got plenty of stuff," he said. "I've got a pretty good slider, too.
"I've got something to say to you, Mr. Mack." The words came out in a loud whisper.
"I've got the feeling that he's going to be a big-league star," said Stengel.
"I've got three kids, and I'm going to take care of them," he said.
"I've got to be a good hitter. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little tired.
"I've got to be careful about my words because some people think I am encouraging people to do things," he said.
"I've got to be careful. They are going to keep coming up like wild horses.
"I've got to be clever about what I put on the field," he said.
"I've got to do something else to keep myself sharp.
"I've got to do something for the family," he said.
"I've got to do something to help my dad," Cleveland pitcher Bob Fournier said.
"I've got to do something to help my pitching," he said.
"I've got to get a hit," said Stanky, who was batting .
"I've got to get back to my roots now. I'm not going to be taken out of baseball.
"I've got to get back to the Hall of Fame," he cracked.
"I've got to get rid of him," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"I've got to get rid of him," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I've got to get rid of that player," Cubs manager Charlie Grimm said.
"I've got to get rid of that slugger," Murphy said.
"I've got to get rid of this guy," he said. "You've got to.
"I've got to get the ball and I'm the catcher," Buckley said.
"I've got to get the ball more. I've got to pitch more.
"I've got to go out there and make some plays," Jackson said.
"I've got to go to work," he said, "and that's North Carolina.
"I've got to have him," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"I've got to hit better," he said. "I've got to pitch.
"I've got to hit," he said. "I've got to hit for some good hitters.
"I've got to hit," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I've got to look at what I did as a manager," he said in 1986.
"I've got to make some money somewhere," said Cronin.
"I've got to make something happen," said Alfonso "Tite" Perez.
"I've got to respect the fact that he was out there throwing the ball," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"I've got to say, that was the best thing that ever happened to me," said Moore.
"I've got to show them something," he said. "I've got to make them see something.
"I've got to show them something," he said. He pointed to a pair of shoes in the store.
"I've got to stop this now," he declared. "I've had enough.
"I've got to take a hit," he said. "I've got to bat for the cycle.
"I've got to take one of my hits to win the game," he said.
"I've got to teach them something or I'll quit playing.
"I've got to win for my club and for the fans," said Cy Williams.
"I've got to win one more," Del Crandall told the Daily News's Jim Cairns.
"I've got two young pitchers that I think can really help us," said Maris.
"I've gotta get rid of that turkey. I'm a busy man," said White.
"I've had a few bad breaks, but I've always kept on straightening them," he said.
"I've had a good career," Kerner said. "But I have no regrets.
"I've had a good career," he said. "I've had a lot of good times.
"I've had a good season," the Milwaukee Braves pitcher said.
"I've had a great career," said Bob Feller in his typical dry-brained fashion.
"I've had a hell of a time hitting. But I'm learning. I'm learning how to hit.
"I've had a lot of good ballplayers, but you're still a young ballplayer.
"I've had a lot of good years," he said. "But I'm not getting any younger.
"I've had a lot of great opportunities," he remembers, "but this is the best.
"I've had a lot of hits, but I've never hit anybody for a home run.
"I've had a lot of nice things said of my play," said Whitlow Wyatt.
"I've had a lot of things I've regretted, but I'm proud of that one.
"I've had a number of bad breaks but this is the worst," he said.
"I've had a number of people come up to me who had played ball in the Negro leagues, 'Mr.
"I've had a pretty good career," he said. "I've had a couple of bad ones.
"I've had a privilege to play in the National League.
"I've had a quiet year," said the happy-go-lucky Robinson.
"I've had about as much fun playing baseball as I'll ever have," he said.
"I've had enough," Washington's Chuck Stobbs told the author in 2000.
"I've had enough," he announced. "I'm not even going to argue with you anymore.
"I've had enough," he cried, as he rubbed a tear from his eye.
"I've had enough," he said. "I'll go home, and Rod will come after me.
"I've had enough," he told the Associated Press reporters. "I've had enough.
"I've had enough," said Cronin. "I've had enough.
"I've had enough. I'll talk to my wife. I'll talk to my mother.
"I've had enough." An American Legion postman named John L.
"I've had five or six conversations with my father.
"I've had good years and bad years," he said. "But I'm ready.
"I've had good years and bad years. I've had good years and bad years.
"I've had it with my whole life," he told the author.
"I've had just about everything you could want in a ballplayer. You can get a better contract at a higher salary.
"I've had many a good ballgame," he told a reporter.
"I've had many a good ballgame," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich in 1964.
"I've had many a good career," he said. "But this is the best.
"I've had many a good career," he said. "It's a long, interesting life.
"I've had many a good evening at the plate, but not many.
"I've had many a good pitcher before and after me, but never one like 'em all at once.
"I've had many a good sandwich," said Durocher. "But this is the best.
"I've had many a good shot," he said. "I'll take one more.
"I've had many a good time," he said. "I've had some terrific times.
"I've had many a good year," he told the New York Times.
"I've had many a run-in with the law in my day," he recalled.
"I've had many a run-in with the law of diminishing returns," he told the author.
"I've had many a showdown with Big Three," the storied catcher said.
"I've had many an affair with his sisters," Mrs. Fothergill said.
"I've had many an affair," he said. "And some women are way better than others.
"I've had many an affair," he said. "I've had affairs with senators and everything.
"I've had many bad experiences," said Feller, "but this one is the worst.
"I've had many discussions in my career with men who thought I was too soft," he said.
"I've had many discussions with Bucky Harris about my role in the game," Harris said.
"I've had many discussions with my wife, and none has ever involved me in a draft.
"I've had many excellent managers in my time, but I never understood why they never called me.
"I've had many opportunities to win," the slugging outfielder told the AP's Frank Torres.
"I've had many, but I'll never forget any of them," he said.
"I've had many, but I'll never forget this one," said Garcia in his soft-spoken way.
"I've had more fun playing baseball in my life," he says.
"I've had more good runs batted in than in a season," he said.
"I've had more luck in the last two years," he said, "and I'm not complaining.
"I've had my eye on you for a long time," said the sheriff.
"I've had only three pitches in my career," he remembered in 1991. "One was a fastball.
"I've had several things thrown at me," he told a reporter.
"I've had several wives, but I'll be with my wife tonight.
"I've had so many good teams, but never a team like the Yankees.
"I've had so many good times," he recalled years later.
"I've had so many good years, and I'm enjoying them," he said.
"I've had so many great years, but I'll never forget this one.
"I've had so many," he said, "I just don't like them.
"I've had some good ones," said the champion lefthander.
"I've had some great days and some bad days. I've had bad days.
"I've had some pretty tough years," he said. "But I'll handle them.
"I've had some swings at the bat in my time, but never like this. I'm out there swinging.
"I've had some very good teams in my time," he told The Sporting News's Jim Murray.
"I've had the privilege of coaching for some great teams," he noted, "but this one is the greatest.
"I've had those kinds of pitchers before, but I never had one like Ron.
"I've had three requests for you," said Bill Wight, "and I'll have three more.
"I've had to work," he told the author. "I have to do something.
"I've had two of them," he recalled. "I made the first one look like aces.
"I've had two pretty good years," he said. In 1932 he led the American League in batting average (.
"I've heard a lot of bad stories about how I took care of St.
"I've heard it said that he could hit a ball and miss it.
"I've heard stories of his throwing. But I never heard him say a word of it.
"I've heard that before," Cooper said. "This year, I've actually seen it myself.
"I've heard that he's a troublemaker," said a sympathetic Broeg.
"I've heard that his daddy shot him," said Wally. "That's true.
"I've heard that name before, but it never stops being mentioned.
"I've heard that you've been doing a fine job with the Indians," Shotton said.
"I've heard they've been good to play the big games.
"I've hit the big one," King said after his 11-year big-league career.
"I've just about reached the top," he said. "I just need two more innings to show my strength.
"I've just been dropped in the middle of nowhere," he told a reporter.
"I've just got lucky," he told the writer Bill Madden.
"I've just got to hit. I'm a good hitter," said Rickey.
"I've known a lot of football players who are as good as Orr," he said.
"I've lived in the country for thirty-five years, and I've seen the ups and downs.
"I've made a mistake," he told reporters. He said he would work on it until he was 100.
"I've made a mistake," the manager told his star pitcher.
"I've made the big leagues, but I'll be a big leaguer for a long time.
"I've never been able to play baseball anywhere but in the National League," said Ula after the war.
"I've never been in a World Series. I've been all over the World Series.
"I've never been in a nice position," Rizzuto said.
"I've never been in the circus," he says. "I've always been in the real world.
"I've never been in the hospital, but I've been in the hospital a lot.
"I've never been on a baseball club that wasn't happy," Goslin said.
"I've never been out of baseball," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"I've never been to Cuba, but I'll tell you what Cuba is like.
"I've never been to Mexico," he said. "Mexican soccer was always a third world affair.
"I've never been to a Babe Ruth Day at Fenway, so I never will be.
"I've never been to a ballgame that I didn't think I could play," he said.
"I've never been to the West Coast," he said. "But they all want me to go.
"I've never been to the moon, but I know I'll never be out of this.
"I've never felt so proud," he said. "I've been proud of my country.
"I've never played a day in the big leagues," he said.
"I've never played the game like that," said Michaels.
"I've never seen a ballplayer cry like that kid did today," Jack Kramer said years later.
"I've never seen a ballplayer cry," Donbot recalled.
"I've never seen a ballplayer do something so crazy," he said.
"I've never seen a ballplayer do what Tommy did," said former teammate and Yankee Frank Shea.
"I've never seen a ballplayer who could play the game like Paul," said pitcher and lifelong Phillies fan Robin Roberts.
"I've never seen a baseball game like that," Jackson said.
"I've never seen a baseball game like that," he said.
"I've never seen a baseball game like that. It was just unbelievable. I'll never forget the excitement.
"I've never seen a better ballplayer to come up than Michael Jordan.
"I've never seen a better bullpen," he declared. He was right.
"I've never seen a better fielding play in a double-play combination than I've ever seen at Fenway.
"I've never seen a better glove man for a second baseman than George 'Bill' Walsh.
"I've never seen a better group of guys than we had," he said.
"I've never seen a better group of kids in baseball," he said.
"I've never seen a better group of players," said Whitey Ford.
"I've never seen a better hit in the National League," Cooper said.
"I've never seen a better lineup in the history of the game.
"I've never seen a better manager," said His Majesty. "He isn't going to change.
"I've never seen a better pitching staff in baseball," said Spahn.
"I've never seen a better pitching staff," he said.
"I've never seen a better spring training," Trump said after his third victory.
"I've never seen a better team than the Cardinals," said Schnozz.
"I've never seen a better-fielding team than the Cleveland Indians," he said.
"I've never seen a better-sounding name for a catcher.
"I've never seen a catfight like that," he recalled.
"I've never seen a comeback like that," said Morris. "We started out slowly and we came back strong.
"I've never seen a game like that," Rosar said about the 1954 World Series.
"I've never seen a kid like Leo or a better effort.
"I've never seen a little kid like Jackie Robinson," said Monk.
"I've never seen a living ballplayer like that," he later remarked.
"I've never seen a more complete lineup in baseball," he said.
"I've never seen a more miserable feeling in all my years in baseball," he told reporters.
"I've never seen a more miserable, sad, pitiful place to be alive," he told The Sporting News.
"I've never seen a more perfect, and most of the guys in that room, I think, could beat you.
"I've never seen a more wonderful game," he would recall years later.
"I've never seen a mound like that," said DiMaggio.
"I've never seen a nicer lineup than the one we've played today," said Cougar Pete.
"I've never seen a party like this," said Kwame Brown, who was the governor of Mississippi.
"I've never seen a pitcher like that little fellow," said Burdette.
"I've never seen a stadium like this," he said. "It's huge.
"I've never seen a tragedy like that," said Mel Parnell.
"I've never seen anybody as great as Ted Williams," said Beck.
"I've never seen anyone like him," Yankees manager Miller Huggins said.
"I've never seen anything like it," Johnson said after he joined the Red Sox.
"I've never seen anything like it," MacPhail said afterwards. "I felt so confident.
"I've never seen anything like it," Rosar said. "You have to see it to believe it.
"I've never seen anything like it," he said soon after.
"I've never seen anything like it," he said years later.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Brady, who was not alone.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Lopata. "It was a scary feeling.
"I've never seen anything like it," the Hall of Fame third baseman said.
"I've never seen anything like it." All of a sudden, the Giants were playing the Dodgers.
"I've never seen anything like it." He continued, "There were four or five Giants on the field.
"I've never seen anything like that before," said Dodgers pitcher Dazzy Vance.
"I've never seen anything like that in baseball," said O'Doul.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he remembered.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he said years later.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he said.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he said. "It was just unbelievable.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he told the writer Roger Kahn.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," said George Stahl.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," said Mantle.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," said Newhouser.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," the large left fielder said.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life. I've been around baseball for 25 years.
"I've never seen anything like that," Dickey recalled.
"I've never seen anything like that," Feller said years later.
"I've never seen anything like that," Harry Kenney said.
"I've never seen anything like that," Robinson said.
"I've never seen anything like that," baseball commentator Mel Allen said of the series.
"I've never seen anything like that," he remembers thinking at the time.
"I've never seen anything like that," he said. "I can't believe it.
"I've never seen anything like that," he said. "It was like a carnival.
"I've never seen anything like that," he said. "It was pitch after pitch after pitch.
"I've never seen anything like that," he said. … I've been afraid all my life.
"I've never seen anything like that," he told reporters.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Carl Erskine.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Joe DiMaggio.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Lou Boudreau.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"I've never seen anything like that," said teammate Carl Erskine.
"I've never seen anything like that," the left-hander said.
"I've never seen anything like that. I'm glad I was the first one to go.
"I've never seen anything like that. I'm in awe. I'll never forget this.
"I've never seen anything like that. I've never seen anything like that.
"I've never seen anything like that. I've seen everything.
"I've never seen anything like that. I've seen nothing like that.
"I've never seen anything like that. It was a high-pressure atmosphere," said Curry.
"I've never seen anything like that. It was like a war zone. The noise level was deafening.
"I've never seen anything like that. The players were throwing the ball; it was crazy.
"I've never seen anything like that. You just feel a lump in your throat. It's unbelievable.
"I've never seen anything like this," he told country singer Frank Sinatra.
"I've never seen anything like this," he told the AP's Jim Murray.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Newhouser.
"I've never seen anything like this," said the Yankee Clipper.
"I've never seen anything like this. I've seen everything, but never anything like this.
"I've never seen anything like this. My right fielder is saying something and he's about to hit a home run.
"I've never seen anything like" the birth of his son, said his wife, Mary.
"I've never seen anything quite like this," McCullough said.
"I've never seen him like that," recalled teammate Ed Lopat.
"I've never seen him like that," said his uncle Joe.
"I've never seen him struggle like he's struggling right now," said Cleveland pitcher Jim Kaat.
"I've never seen so many Negroes in one place," he said.
"I've never seen so many great players," he said. "I've been around the long enough.
"I've never seen so many guys in the dugout." He was the only player to do so.
"I've never seen so much excitement in a World Series," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris after the Series.
"I've never seen so much passion for a game," he said.
"I've never seen such a great bulldog as the bulldog," said Babe Ruth.
"I've never seen the Dodgers play better. I believe they'll win the pennant.
"I've never seen the kind of spirit he has on the ball field," said Cincinnati's Bob Lemon.
"I've never seen the kind of spirit that baseball has."[fn]New York Times, August 24, 1966.
"I've never seen the kind of spirit this joint will bring to the game," said Grove.
"I've noticed in every game I play," he said, "that the opposition is getting more and more nervous.
"I've only known two black people, and one of them was Jackie Robinson.
"I've played in a couple of World Series, and I've seen a lot of great players get killed.
"I've played in some hell for those people," he said. "I'll take it all.
"I've played three ball games in my life, and baseball has been the most to torment me," he said.
"I've put the best five of the quartet together," he said.
"I've read somewhere that he won the All-Star Game by himself," said Johnny Neun.
"I've seen a lot of bad managers," he said. "But I think I can win.
"I've seen a lot of great athletes, but I've never seen a great ballplayer like Ted Williams.
"I've seen a lot of great players get hurt," he told the writers after the season.
"I've seen a lot of lousy ballplayers. None of them can hit you with the ball.
"I've seen enough," he wrote. "I'll vote for [Donald] Trump.
"I've seen guys get off to a slow start, and I'm not one of them," he said.
"I've seen guys with big heads, but I've never seen a head like that of a bald eagle.
"I've seen him do things that no other athlete in baseball history has ever done," said teammate Johnny Blanchard.
"I've seen him hit four home runs. He's just a piece of work, really.
"I've seen him hit the ball over the wall several times," said teammate Tim Fuss.
"I've seen him hit three home runs, four doubles, and a triple in a game.
"I've seen him hit triplets and line drives to right field and center field," said teammate Paul Waner.
"I've seen him hit two balls to center in the space of one inning.
"I've seen him in action several times, but I have not seen him in person.
"I've seen him in the standoffs and the like, but he was playing for the World Series's champion.
"I've seen him throw a baseball in the air, but I've never seen him haul a ball in his face.
"I've seen him twice," recalled his son, Ned,'s first years.
"I've seen it a million times," he said, "and I've still got nightmares about it.
"I've seen many a tailgate party before, but never one like this one," Skowron said.
"I've seen other guys, but he was the class of the bunch," said a contemporary.
"I've seen people get cut down and put on the wheel. I don't want to see that.
"I've seen some bad movies, but I've never seen anything like this. It's unbelievable.
"I've seen some excellent teams, but I've never seen a bad team," he said.
"I've seen some good action and I'll take advantage of it.
"I've seen some great things in baseball, but I have not seen anything like this. It's just incredible.
"I've seen some incredible things," he said. "But I can't believe this. Wow.
"I've seen some of the best pitchers in baseball, but I think I'll be better.
"I've seen some of the taunts, but never anything like this," he said.
"I've seen the Dodgers win the World Series," he said.
"I've seen the movies and I've seen the hype, but I'm not going to pay it.
"I've seen the movies of everybody coming back from the war and I've seen some of the movies of Ted Williams.
"I've seen the movies, but I have never seen a real wedding.
"I've seen the movies," the All-Star said. "But this is a real life.
"I've seen the show before," he said. "This is a different kind of show.
"I've seen the stuff, but I've never seen the guts of it.
"I've seen the television in my living room, the whole thing was in slow motion.
"I've seen things, even in a tough neighborhood, that a Yankee fan would have loved.
"I've seen what he can do," said Boudreau. "But I think he can do it better.
"I've struck out four times in my career, but I'll talk about five," said Joe.
"I've wanted to be a big leaguer since I was in high school," he said.
"I've worked on that. I know I'm not going to be able to catch it.
"I, Joe DiMaggio, was a third-division player," he noted.
"If Avila comes back, I'll be his wing man," Don Johnson said.
"If I am going to play baseball, I am going to do it in a professional manner.
"If I can end my career in baseball, it's because I'm not a good hitter.
"If I can get in there and play like that," he said, "that will be a bonus.
"If I can help them, I would like to help everybody," he told a reporter after the season.
"If I can play in the big leagues, I want to play for you," he said.
"If I can't play in the World Series, I wouldn't play at all," said Ruth.
"If I could have three dogs, they'd all be out of baseball by now," he said.
"If I could just get that job, I would be very happy.
"If I ever had a son, I'd want him to be Tommy," Smith said.
"If I get a free pass from this press corps, I won't hesitate to try for the White Sox' records.
"If I get hit by a ball, I'll be up in the stands," he told the Sporting News.
"If I go to the ballpark, I like to run. And I like to play the outfield.
"If I had a kid, I'd be the biggest fan of him," recalls Pat Scantlebury.
"If I had a son, I would let him play baseball," Crosetti said.
"If I had a son, he would look like George Washington Slew," Mulcahy said.
"If I had been able to stay on, I would have played in the majors," Bagby told reporters after the 1958 season.
"If I had known he'd luck, he'd have won more games for me.
"If I had known the extent of his injury, I would have called him a dummy.
"If I had known what he was planning to do, I would have voted for him," said Henry L.
"If I had known what he would do, I might have brought him back later," he recalled.
"If I had known what he'd do to me," said Frankie, "I probably would have gone up.
"If I had known what the club would use me for, I would never have left the country." — Henry W.
"If I had one complaint, it'd be that I was too small to play the game.
"If I had to give it up, I would have to give my job to Maris," said Pete Runnels.
"If I had to name the top three, I would choose Greenberg, because he was the leader in that field.
"If I had to pick one thing I'd change my whole life," he said.
"If I have something," said Lou, "I'll buy it for you.
"If I have them, I'll run the bases and play defense.
"If I keep my mouth shut, nobody will call me out on this," he said.
"If I played for Brooklyn, I would grow up to be a Dodger.
"If I tell you something, there's nothing you can do about it.
"If I was a hitter, I would be scared to death," he recalled.
"If I was a pitcher, I would have to be that guy," he said.
"If I was somebody, I wouldn't have signed with the Yankees," Dickey says.
"If I were a hitter, I would be so intimidated," Weaver said.
"If I were a pitcher, I would take the hill as soon as I started the game," he said.
"If I were sitting in the dugout and he was pitching, I'd jump for joy.
"If I were you, I would get a job that would pay me $150 a month.
"If I'd known that he would be so confident, I could have persuaded him to go for two years.
"If I'd known where he'd be, I'd have let him go," said Oldham.
"If I'm going to play in the minors, I'll pay the money.
"If I'm not careful, I'll go and wind up in the bullpen.
"If I'm not mistaken, he's the greatest third baseman I ever played with," said Lewis.
"If I'm playing baseball I'll go to bed after nine at night and never go to sleep until daybreak.
"If I'm working in the trade, I'll never work it again," he told The Sporting News.
"If a guy gets five hits, he's a big leaguer," Pete Runnels said.
"If a guy has a chance to go to the big leagues, I'm looking at him," manager Joe McCarthy said.
"If a pitcher can go 3-for-3 and do it more often, he's doing something that makes him stand out.
"If a pitcher can make hitters hit, he's a great pitcher," Cronin said.
"If he can go, I don't want to play with him," said former teammate Gerda.
"If he can help us, I'll be glad to have him," said New York manager Bucky Harris.
"If he can play all nine innings, he'll be a good starter.
"If he can play baseball, I want him to be a doctor," said Wagner.
"If he can play like the other pitchers I've seen, I'll take him.
"If he doesn't like you, he's a hell-raiser," said his first umpire.
"If he keeps on like that, he'll never be able to play the game he wants to play.
"If he wanted to go out and play another season, I would have him sign my contract," said Slapnicka.
"If he wants to go back to the minors, fine, but he has to do it legally," said Lewis.
"If he was a big-league pitcher, he would be in the Hall of Fame.
"If he would have stayed, he would have had a real nice car and a job with a respectable company," recalled Woody English.
"If he's as good as he says he is, I'll take him away.
"If he's going to go to work, he has to stay in work," Kelly said.
"If he's going to make a play, he's going to make it.
"If he's going to pitch," said Kluszewski, "I'll take him on.
"If he's going to play baseball, he ought to make a living at it.
"If he's going to play baseball, he's going to play it in the big leagues.
"If he's going to play, I'll let him know how much I like him," he said.
"If he's good enough, I'll go out there and beat him.
"If he's here, he must be a good hitter," said Skowron.
"If he's honest with himself, he should be in the Hall of Fame," said one contemporary.
"If he's not 100 percent, I'll bet he's over 100 percent.
"If he's not going to play, let him go. It will be a lesson to him for the rest of his career.
"If it hadn't been for him, I'd still be in the hospital.
"If it hadn't been for the war, I'd still be alive," he said decades later.
"If it wasn't for him, I'd be sitting in jail right now," Garcia recalled.
"If it wasn't for the cat, I would have been a professional ballplayer," he said.
"If that kid ever comes back," he warned his son, "I'll get rid of him.
"If that son of a bitch stops bothering me, I'll find a job somewhere," he told the newspaper.
"If the Cubs don't want me, they will have to pay for me," he said.
"If the bastards in the papers had been scoring like they did yesterday, I'd have been in there for 15 minutes.
"If they can take two out of three, I'll take four out of five," he said.
"If they're going to keep him, they should do it right," said his friend.
"If they're going to protect me, I'll take them out.
"If this is the way to go, I'll be out in a minute." He was not mistaken.
"If this is true," he prayed, "then I have no wife." He was wrong.
"If we can get the ball in the batter's box, we'll take it.
"If we're going to win, we're going to pitch the shortstop, the big middle, the leadoff hitter.
"If you can play baseball and not play it, you can do it.
"If you have a bad day, they say it to you. They don't mean it to you.
"If you let him out of the box, he's going to hit for you.
"If you look at the history of the New York Giants, they have always been the most popular team in the National League.
"If you pass me on the field, I'll kick your ass and you'll be the better for it.
"If you play like that you're in the lineup," the manager said.
"If you say so," he barked at me. I did not say so, but I did say so.
"If you see something, say something. I'll be the first one to admit it," he said.
"If you're a good hitter, you'll lead your club the rest of the way.
"If you're a good hitter, you're expected to play every day," he said.
"If you're a high-paid employer, you don't waste time on people like me," he said.
"If you're a hitter, you're meant to be a threat. You're supposed to be a genius.
"If you're a hot dog, you can't help but eat hot dogs.
"If you're a man of conviction, you're a hell-raiser." (Ibid.
"If you're a pitcher, you're a clown," he told his son.
"If you're a real ballplayer, you'll take whatever it takes to win," he said.
"If you're a smart catcher, you're always looking for a trick pitch.
"If you're going to be a hitter, you're going to be a good hitter," he said.
"If you're going to be a pitcher, you'll be a big-leaguer.
"If you're going to be a pitcher, you're going to have to be a good hitter.
"If you're going to be a professional, you've got to be a pro.
"If you're going to be a prospect, you'll be a cool prospect.
"If you're going to be good, you'll need a lot of work," said Moore.
"If you're going to be kind of a big-league player, you've got to play your position.
"If you're going to beat me, you'll have to beat me in the bullpen.
"If you're going to beat the Yankees, you'll have to beat the St.
"If you're going to beat the Yankees, you're going to have to beat their pitching.
"If you're going to beat the Yankees, you're going to have to break their rhythm.
"If you're going to catch a fly, catch it with your hand.
"If you're going to do something, you're going to do it alone.
"If you're going to do something, you're going to do it in a wild way.
"If you're going to get angry, you'll find a way to get angry.
"If you're going to get hit by a ball, maybe the catcher should be the batter, not the other way around.
"If you're going to get hit, you're going to get up there and make the most of it.
"If you're going to get it, you've got to get it now," he said.
"If you're going to hit a home run, you'll probably hit it high," he said.
"If you're going to hit, you'll have to swing from the hip.
"If you're going to hit, you're going to hurt everyone," said Brown.
"If you're going to knock somebody down, you're going to knock them down.
"If you're going to make a baseball play, you're going to have to make it in the play.
"If you're going to make a bet on a ballgame, you better bring your suit and tie.
"If you're going to make a hitter out of a pitcher, you're going to take a chance on him.
"If you're going to make a living wage, you're going to have to make it a living wage.
"If you're going to make a living, you're going to earn it.
"If you're going to make a mistake like that, you're going to pay for it," he said.
"If you're going to make fun of somebody, make it with them, not against them.
"If you're going to make some noise, you'll make a big one.
"If you're going to play baseball you've got to pitch like the pros.
"If you're going to play baseball, you'll have to work for it," he said.
"If you're going to play baseball, you'll play it at least for a while.
"If you're going to play baseball, you're going to have to pitch," he said.
"If you're going to play baseball, you've got to work," he said.
"If you're going to play games, you have to show some zip," he said.
"If you're going to play in the big leagues, you'll get paid to play.
"If you're going to play in the major leagues, you have to be able to play in the big games.
"If you're going to play, you'll stick with what you know," McGraw said.
"If you're going to sneeze, you're going to sneeze now.
"If you're going to take a shot at my record, you'll find me after the season.
"If you're going to talk about a strike, you'd better make it good," said Bartell.
"If you're going to talk about batting prospects, you've got to talk about Willie Keeler.
"If you're gonna play baseball, get ready to work," he said.
"If you're making enough money to live comfortably, you're probably a bum.
"If you've been a Yankee, you've seen the Great White Mouse.
"If you've been a ballplayer your whole life, you're used to playing on a team.
"If you've ever wanted to see a good scrub, now you can.
"If you've got a chance to play in the big leagues, you'll take it," he said.
"If you've seen a baseball game, you've seen Billy Martin.
"In 1930, the New York Giants won their first World Series since 1925, capturing their first in 108 years.
"In 1939 the Tigers signed two solid major league players, one of which, Jimmie Foxx, was going to be an All Star.
"In 1948, we had a little more money, but we didn't have a real uniform.
"In August, he was our leadoff hitter, and in the last month of the season he was our leadoff hitter again.
"In Cleveland's short series with the Yankees in early September, two of the games were decided in extra innings.
"In June," he said, "I had the flu, which made me more susceptible to contracting the common cold.
"In Spokane they call me the Squirrel Girl, but in Palm Springs they call me the Flint.
"In a game like that, you've got to hit the ball to the outfield.
"In a game of great tension between the Cubs and the St.
"In a raucous clubhouse, I don't recall any complaints or scoffs about my fielding.
"In a word," Spahn said, "I'm like a kid coming up.
"In a world of quick reaction," he said, "this is the way to win.
"In all honesty, I am going to retire before the end of the season.
"In all of his years of big-league experience, Bob was nothing short of brilliant," said teammate Peaches Martin.
"In every Hall of Fame tradition, we've got a story to tell. And this is my story.
"In every box, there's a little something I can't live without.
"In every field," he said, "I've tried to do everything.
"In every league, there was at least one other team interested in him. But I didn't talk to anybody.
"In every sense of the word," he said, "I've been lucky.
"In forty years of professional baseball […], my index and middle fingers have never been tired.
"In his first few years, but certainly in his career, Wilbert Robinson had one of the finest pitching arms I ever saw.
"In his first three years, Chico never had a losing record, but then, of course, he had his two best years.
"In his first year of professional baseball, Frank Zehndert was a 20-game winner for the St.
"In life, you never stopped trying to be a better pitcher," he said.
"In many ways the experience of playing for the Dodgers was a lesson in maturity," he said.
"In most of my games, I've got to take a chance," he said.
"In my first couple of years in the majors I played all-out for the Newark Eagles.
"In my first game, I was given the ball and the manager said 'Give me the ball back.
"In my first game, I was hitting well and had an RBI, but the Giants rained on me.
"In my first game, they're gonna kill me," he said.
"In my first year in professional baseball, in the Pacific Coast League, I was the catcher.
"In my first year in the big leagues, I was a sensation," he remembered.
"In my first year in the majors, I was a first-string catcher.
"In my first year in the minors, I was the youngest player in the big leagues," he recalled in 1998.
"In my first year of national service, I was assigned to the infantry at Fort Bragg.
"In my first year with the Giants, I had Tommy on the mound for two innings against the Pirates," recalled Coleman.
"In my last season as a big-league pitcher, I made fifty-one starts. That was in 1953.
"In my last year in high school, I ran the hundred in the 200, and the year after that, I became the coach.
"In my own mind, I know I will miss the team, the fans, the support they have given me," he said.
"In my time, baseball was my life. And like most important things, it would change.
"In the back of my head, I was all over the map. I didn't know what to do with my concentration.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
"In the beginning there was baseball, and I was the catcher. I was the catcher, and I became the manager.
"In the beginning, I was just a thrower. I was a real wild one. I threw strikes.
"In the beginning, the big leagues, it was the bats and the running. Then it was the pitchers and the hitting.
"In the big leagues, you've got to work on your curve.
"In the center of the park," he recalled. "They had a row of bats. I walked out to the bat.
"In the dawn of the July Fourth, the Yankees had a shot in hand against the Chicago Cubs.
"In the early days of baseball, a player could be a hero or a villain.
"In the early days of baseball, there were two things that made a ballplayer tick. One was his bat.
"In the early going he was handsome, looked good in a dress, and was very strong, so I just had to get him.
"In the end, I never thought I was going to play in that league again," he said. "I was fine.
"In the end, the West Indies, with its 5-2 victory, was the greatest backdrop for the World Series.
"In the end," he said years later, "I had no choice but to play.
"In the final week of the season," he wrote, "I was sitting in the dressing room of the St.
"In the first few days after the card was issued, I received several telegrams informing me that I had been inducted.
"In the first game I'd hit a home run and a double," said Allen.
"In the first game of the World Series, I'd rather be the winning pitcher," he said.
"In the first game, he threw a curveball and I hit it for strike three," recalled Ruthenian.
"In the first game," he recalled, "I got three hits, but lost three balls.
"In the first inning he was just another kid who came up and tried to play the game.
"In the first inning of the first game of the World Series, I was going to line drive a fastball down the middle of the plate.
"In the first inning, I threw the ball hard," he told the author.
"In the first inning, I'm working in the bullpen," he recalled.
"In the first inning, the first pitch hit me in the mouth. It was a pitch I'd thrown in college.
"In the first month of the season, I was pitching and I had a sore shoulder.
"In the first two innings, I was just trying to get the ball over the plate so I could score the run.
"In the hot summer months, I don't think I'll be out there for a long time.
"In the last six games of the regular season, 's record was 5-4.
"In the last two weeks of the season, the Boston Braves lost two games to New York and one to Cleveland.
"In the last week of the season, I'm gonna put on my big-league uniform," Hearn said.
"In the middle of the 1950s, the Scooter was back, and he was in the big leagues again.
"In the seven years he was managing, he was president of three minor league teams and he ran these little schools for years.
"In the seventh inning," he said, "I'm going to hit for the cycle.
"In the spring of 1930, I was the fourth starter for the Cardinals.
"In the spring of 1941, a letter arrived at the headquarters of the Federal Communications Commission.
"In the world of baseball, you've got to be a good hitter.
"In those days, when I was with Jacksonville, we had speed, and we had power.
"In three years I'll be playing in the majors," said Harry Simpson.
"In twenty-six years of professional baseball, I have never missed a spring training.
"In two of the three nights I was there, the weather was terrible," he recalled.
"Inber was the most underrated pitcher in the big leagues. … I always have a soft spot in my heart for him.
"Including the fine example of the Hawaiian boy," noted F.C.
"Inside the Giant See-Thru Hurlers," New York Times, July 7, 1937, 28.
"It Takes a Village," the New York Times, April 7, 1948, 2.
"It all comes together in the big leagues," he said.
"It came down to a 40-to-34 split between the Dodgers and the Giants.
"It came down to a coin flip between the first base side and the outfield side.
"It didn't take long for him to put together a great season," recalled Harry Danning.
"It got me looking at the ball more, and I started to slow down a little bit," he recalled.
"It got to the point where I was about ready to fall," Rod says.
"It had to be done," he said in his dry, grave manner, "because I'm not dead.
"It happens to be, of course, that I had a pretty good year in 1943.
"It has always been," he said, "the greatest compliment a pitcher can get when he wins a ballgame.
"It has been said that the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies were the two greatest teams ever made," said Shotton.
"It is a beautiful sight to see a ballplayer become a champion.
"It is a beautiful thing to see the other team lose," said Mays.
"It is a big relief to know that the fans are still interested in the game," he said.
"It is a great relief to win the championship and to be crowned a world champion," said Boudreau.
"It is a party of equals," he stated. "We all want to play in the big leagues.
"It is a sad fact that Negroes are not as good as whites," said Del Baker, the Cubs' executive director.
"It is a tremendous privilege and a thrill to be able to play in the World Series," George Steinbrenner said.
"It is a tribute to the great man who was Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis," said Commissioner Landis.
"It is a wonder he was still playing," said one sycophant columnist.
"It is an honor to wear the uniform of the Brooklyn Dodgers," he said.
"It is not uncommon for a pitcher to get some good news," said catcher Mickey Owen.
"It is the most satisfying thing that ever happened in my life," said Kaline.
"It is the most wonderful thing in the world," said his wife, Margie.
"It just adds to the fun. It's like a big birthday cake.
"It just looks like he's crazy," said teammate Charlie Keller.
"It looks like I've been traded to the Chicago Cubs.
"It may be that the fans were right and the players were wrong.
"It might be the most exciting thing in the world," he said.
"It must have been a relief for him when he could start to play.
"It seems like he's been through the wringer a couple of times," Smith recalled.
"It should have been a no-brainer," said Williams. "He was a good-hearted guy.
"It sounds counterintuitive, but the key to success in baseball is the same as in any other artform, patience and hard work.
"It started as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more it sounded like a serious matter," he recalled.
"It took a while for him to put it together," the team's trainer said.
"It took a while for me to get over my fear, but once I did, I was fine," said Harris.
"It used to be that I made more money playing baseball in the summertime. I started to think that maybe I should get a job.
"It was 'Bloody Sunday' when I made the decision to sign with the Yankees," Don remembers.
"It was a 'cute girl,'" Grant recalls of his time at the Boston Braves.
"It was a 'lousy year,' said Joe, "and I was hitting.
"It was a 'wicked, wicked wind.' I felt like I was in a cockpit.
"It was a bad break, but I had to deal with it. … It was a given that I was going to Baltimore.
"It was a bad-hop ball I was throwing and it left a little space in the low third of the plate.
"It was a bad-hop ball, and the guy was trying to make a catch," said Mets catcher Mickey Owen.
"It was a big shock when he realized he was going to be in a baseball game.
"It was a big surprise to play in a World Series," Elmer recalled years later.
"It was a big, fat 'hick,' but it had the virtue of being a joke.
"It was a bit of a shock when I came back," he recalled.
"It was a bit of a shock when the news came out," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"It was a blessing in disguise, since I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing.
"It was a blessing in disguise," he said. "My dad took me to a lot of ball games growing up.
"It was a breath of fresh air," recalled center fielder Al Kozar.
"It was a case of mistaken identity," his brother recalled.
"It was a cold, a lot of colds, lots of colds," he recalled.
"It was a cold, but it was the only cold we would get," he recalled.
"It was a combination of luck and a long practice," he recalled.
"It was a crazy year," said Boudreau. "We played all of our games and we had a great team.
"It was a cruel twist for all of us. We were so close," he said years later.
"It was a dastardly trick. It was a dead rabbit trick. It was a pirouette trick.
"It was a demonstration of the skill set of Mickey Mantle," he recalled.
"It was a different feeling when you won the pennant," he remembered. "It was like a victory lap.
"It was a difficult decision," Coakley recalled. "That's the way it is with a bad break.
"It was a disaster," recalled Martin. "We had a lot of injuries.
"It was a draw," said Hallahan. "I was just unfortunate that the game went to extra innings.
"It was a fait accompli," recalled his friend and teammate, Ángel Dichi.
"It was a gift from heaven, really. He was like a father to me.
"It was a given that he was going to be a starting outfielder for us," Durocher said.
"It was a given that he would get a big pay raise. And he'd get even more.
"It was a good experience," he recalled. "The starting pitcher was a good guy. He understood the American League.
"It was a good game." He was not at all happy with the way his season ended.
"It was a good move," recalled Ken Keltner, "and I was surprised the Yankees took him.
"It was a good pitch for a curve," he said. "I just wanted to get it over the plate.
"It was a good pitch for a curveball," he recalled.
"It was a good pitch," said Billy Pierce. "It was a change-up.
"It was a good pitch. It was a change-up. It was a change-up that changed the count.
"It was a good story," he recalled. "The Reds won the pennant, and I was the big loser.
"It was a good thing I came back to the States," he said. "I had a great career in the States.
"It was a good thing for the Mets," O'Neill said. "The Cardinals couldn't hold us.
"It was a great advantage to have a good arm," he told The Sporting News's Bob Considine.
"It was a great break," Parnell recalled. "I was hoping to play for the Yankees.
"It was a great day," he recalled. "I began the day by throwing to the Yankees.
"It was a great experience," he recalled of the trip. "I enjoyed every moment of the trip.
"It was a great experience," he recalled. "I really liked playing with the Yankees.
"It was a great experience," recalled Spahn when he retired from baseball in 1992.
"It was a great honor to play for the Cubs," Durocher said of his time in Wrigley Field.
"It was a great honor to play for the Yankees," he recalled.
"It was a great honor to play in the majors," he remembered. "The fans were great.
"It was a great honor when they announced my name," he said.
"It was a great idea," O'Donnell later told Sports Illustrated's Jim Murray.
"It was a great pleasure to be a part of the Yankees," he said.
"It was a great relief to have my wife there," he recalled.
"It was a great relief to know I wasn't being used as a pummel ball," he recalled.
"It was a great relief to see him go out like that," said Stengel.
"It was a great relief to see him go," recalled his wife, Rose. "What a wonderful guy he was.
"It was a great relief to win that game," he recalled years later.
"It was a great relief," said Toronto Maple Leafs historian Ray Berres. "It certainly put the pressure off.
"It was a great thing to play for him," said Groat.
"It was a great thrill playing for the Yankees," he said. "It was a great team. They were great.
"It was a great thrill to play for the Giants," he recalled.
"It was a great thrill to play for the Red Sox, and I was proud to be a part of it.
"It was a great thrill to play for the Yankees," he said.
"It was a great thrill to play for them, and I was proud to be a part of it," he said.
"It was a great thrill to play in the Polo Grounds for the first time," he said.
"It was a great thrill to play in the World Series," he recalled years later. "I was so proud and excited.
"It was a great thrill," Duren said. "I had a good feeling about it. It was exciting.
"It was a great thrill," Remmel recalled. "My dad and I had been golfers for a while.
"It was a great thrill," he recalled. "I won it, and the fans were great.
"It was a great thrill," he remembered. "I was a big-league rookie. It was exciting and surreal.
"It was a great thrill," he said years later. "I got to play in front of my old teammates and opponents.
"It was a great thrill," said Butler. "I started out by going out there and playing like my old self.
"It was a great thrill. The fans, they were great. The fans were thrilled. We were thrilled. We had a great start.
"It was a hit and run. He was after me. He was like a deer in headlights. He was the biggest guy in the ballpark.
"It was a hit or two, but not enough to get me to break camp, so I stayed in the minors.
"It was a horrible shock," said Seals pitcher Blaine Boros. "He was the perfect catcher for the times.
"It was a horror show," recalled Terry. "We were playing in Yankee Stadium and he came in with a bang.
"It was a huge relief. I didn't get to play the next day.
"It was a joke, how could you make a man laugh like that?" — Rick Northrup, July 3, 1972.
"It was a learning experience," he recalled in 2009.
"It was a little bit of superstition. I got a bad case of chicken pox.
"It was a little hard to believe, but the Yankees were winning the World Series. And then they lost the Series to the Dodgers.
"It was a little more complicated than that. I did it because I wanted to win the pennant," recalled Bush.
"It was a long haul," recalled Hal Smith, "but I was glad to be able to get that home run.
"It was a lousy worst case scenario for us all," said Red Sox catcher Mickey McDermott.
"It was a major blow to the confidence of the team. It had been a long time since we had a losing season.
"It was a masterpiece of engineering and chemical design," said UPI.
"It was a matter of pride and honor, just like the Olympics," he recalled years later.
"It was a matter of pride and honor," he recalled years later.
"It was a matter of pride and honor. I played for the Reds and that was all I cared about.
"It was a matter of pride and honor…I was proud to be a Yankee. I was proud to be a member of the Yankees.
"It was a matter of pride," he explained. "That was the year we won the National League pennant.
"It was a matter of pride," he recalled. "I was a big fan of playing in New York and having fun.
"It was a matter of pride," he said in 2001. "We were proud of our country and our people.
"It was a matter of pride," he said. "I was proud to be a Yankee.
"It was a matter of pride," he said. "We beat the Yankees in a playoff.
"It was a matter of pride," recalled Maurice. "I was proud that I was a competitor, not just a hitter.
"It was a miracle he was alive," said fellow infielder Raymond Katt. "That kid was a wonder.
"It was a mistake to come along and play for him," said former teammate Jimmie Foxx.
"It was a mistake to leave him on the bench," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins. "He was terrific.
"It was a mistake to let him go. He was a great competitor, a great hitter, a great fielder.
"It was a mistake to rush into the [game with] such high expectations," Ginsberg said.
"It was a nasty little trick," he recalled in an interview years after his retirement.
"It was a no-brainer. I'd been in the hotel, and the Yankees were playing the Reds.
"It was a perfect piece of equipment," Crandall said of his signing with the Tigers.
"It was a perfect scene," said Browns general manager Bill DeWitt.
"It was a perfect setup," said Shotton. "We had a beautiful ball park and great park for pitching.
"It was a pity I wasn't young in those days," said Piersall.
"It was a pleasant surprise when he came to the plate in the ninth inning," said manager Joe McCarthy.
"It was a pretty big deal because I was married and had a little boy, but it was still pretty shocking.
"It was a pretty exciting time for me," Flair recalled.
"It was a privilege to play in the same league with a team like the Yankees, and I enjoyed it.
"It was a relief to be able to get out of the ballpark," said Red.
"It was a relief to be able to go back to the States and play in the big leagues again," Mr.
"It was a relief to get the start," he said about getting rid of the rust.
"It was a relief to have the boys back together again. I think they'll like it.
"It was a relief to have the courage to say, 'I've had enough,'" Wills remembered.
"It was a relief to know I'm not going to be in the lineup," he said.
"It was a relief to know that I didn't have to go through that again," he told the author.
"It was a relief to know that I was not going to be in that position again," said Feller.
"It was a relief to know that I wasn't dead," the big right-hander said.
"It was a relief to know that I wasn't going to jail," he recalled.
"It was a relief to know that in those days there were no restrictions on the number of times I could play," he recalled.
"It was a relief to know that," he recalled. "I had gone through so much. I was scared to death.
"It was a relief to not have to worry about him every day," Roe said of his time away from baseball.
"It was a relief to see that I was not a liability," he said.
"It was a relief when he came out. I knew I was in good shape," Feller recalled.
"It was a relief when he got the call. He didn't know what to expect. Then a shock.
"It was a relief when she saw the baseballs hit the wall," his widow, Joan, recalled years later.
"It was a relief. As it turned out, I was in the big leagues to stay," he recalls.
"It was a revelation to me. I had been accustomed to seeing black players in the majors, but never a trio of white men.
"It was a sad day for the Yankees," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"It was a shock to me when they released me," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"It was a shock to see the kid get up to the big leagues. He was a kid who had never seen the majors.
"It was a shock. I didn't even know what time it was. I went to bed at five or six.
"It was a shocking revelation to me," recalled Murray. "I was a big believer in the Yankees.
"It was a sick feeling from seeing a kid like that hurt," said Mickey Mantle.
"It was a simple, one-two punch," recalled his catcher Buddy Hancken.
"It was a slider, and it was a change of pace. I was just out there trying to get a strike on the ball.
"It was a stolen base. He'd get the ball and that's what he'd do.
"It was a strain that I didn't expect," he recalled.
"It was a teachable moment for the kids, because the first guy they came across was Rafael Ramirez, who played for the Cubs in Pittsburgh.
"It was a terrible disappointment for me," Don recalled.
"It was a terrible shock," recalled Lewis. "When I walked into the clubhouse, there were about nine of us.
"It was a terrible shock. I first saw him on TV in '42 and he was still on the team.
"It was a terrible shock. I've only known the real Blanche Kilgallen for four or five years.
"It was a terrible shock. … At the time, I didn't know what to do.
"It was a terrible thing to see. He was a great ballplayer. He was a little guy. He was a gentleman.
"It was a terrible tragedy," said Cleveland Indians coach Al Aber.
"It was a terrific arrangement," Smith recalled. "The outfield was filled with good, experienced players.
"It was a terrific move for the Pawtucket club," said Bean.
"It was a tough assignment for me," Gurley said. "I had to fight for a position.
"It was a tough assignment," McCaw recalled. "I was playing in front of more people.
"It was a tough assignment," he recalled. "We were in a tough spot.
"It was a tough assignment," recounted Bobby Valentine in a fascinating account for New York Times Magazine.
"It was a tough assignment," said Cleveland's new manager, Lou Boudreau, in typical fashion.
"It was a tough assignment," said Davis. "We had to defeat a class team like that, and the Yankees.
"It was a tough break" for the Pirates, Carrasquel recalled.
"It was a tough call," Ed Reulbach recalled. "For the Mets, it was a no-brainer.
"It was a tough place to come from. We had no other choice but to play in it.
"It was a tough sell," recalled former teammate Bill Werle.
"It was a tough situation," he recalled about leaving Atlanta for the AL-Washington Nationals.
"It was a tricky situation," the manager remembered.
"It was a turning point in my career," said Brown. "I started thinking about what I wanted to do after baseball.
"It was a very bright and sunny day," he recalled. "We were playing in the Polo Grounds.
"It was a very cold day and I was just miserable," he said.
"It was a very, very special feeling," he remembered. "We had a good team.
"It was a vicious sting. I was stung so bad, I had to give up my career.
"It was a wonder to be a kid again," he recalled. "I was able to go to school.
"It was a wonder to me," he told a reporter years later. "I had no idea how to act out there.
"It was actually the other way around," he recalled years later.
"It was all a game," he said. "They'd lined up in front of me and I was shaking.
"It was all downhill from there. I didn't have the fun of the season. I was miserable.
"It was all downhill from there." After the 1954 season, the Cubs traded him to the Boston Red Sox.
"It was an accident," Webster said. "I was driving and Mrs.
"It was an accident," he said after the collision. "I was trying to turn my steering wheel.
"It was an alarming realization," he said. "I had played the game for 20 years and had won it.
"It was an easy decision for him to make and a decision that he could not, in good conscience, disagree with the Browns.
"It was an eight-run lead when I led off," Johnson said.
"It was an embarrassment to play for him," said Clinton.
"It was an honor to play for Coach Dickey," he said.
"It was an honor to play for Joe DiMaggio," Rizzuto said.
"It was an honor to play for him," said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clendenon Williams.
"It was an honor to play for the Yankees, but also a curse," he told the author in 1995.
"It was an important part of our victory," said White.
"It was an opportunity to play in front of great people, to do things that are never done in a ballgame, and it was thrilling.
"It was an unfortunate incident. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was just doing that which I thought was permitted.
"It was an unusual move," recalled Waugh. "And I was glad to make it.
"It was as a result of his reckless and criminal behavior that the Browns were forced to release him," said the younger Miller.
"It was as if a light went on for the team," recalled Farrell.
"It was as if a million black holes suddenly appeared out of the blue.
"It was as if he had a pistol trained on me," recalled Hoak.
"It was at that point that I realized that I was making a lot of noise," he recalled.
"It was awful," he recalled. "We were a bad team. I don't know what happened.
"It was awful," he said later. "I was so sore. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.
"It was big news in the South," he said. "If it is, it's not happening to me.
"It was cancer," recalled his wife, Ira, who also had Hodgkin's disease.
"It was his big chance, and he took advantage of it," said Red Sox coach Jimmie Wilson.
"It was his success at bat that was so exciting to fans," says Cobb.
"It was in our time," he recalled in an interview with the author, that he first heard of a Negro Leagues team.
"It was in the spring of 1954 that I made up my mind that I was going to quit playing baseball," he recalled.
"It was just a matter of time before he won the big one," said his son, Tom.
"It was just a shock," said George Selkirk, who had come to the White Sox in a trade with the St.
"It was just a trick play," he recalled. "I was hoping to get a base hit.
"It was just an accident," remembers Wally Westlake, Disney director and former star player.
"It was just another Saturday in Brooklyn. I had a blast. It was fun, you know.
"It was just another opportunity to play baseball," he said. "I had all the natural tools.
"It was just like a firewater chaser, but you could feel it in your hand. I felt it in your elbow and everything.
"It was just like a scene from a movie," said Collins.
"It was just like being in the World Series," said Kelso.
"It was just one of those days that you were pretty sure you were going to be pitching," he remembered.
"It was just one of those things that happened in a big league World Series," said Martin.
"It was just part of the gig. To me, it was a great thrill, especially when they brought it home in a box.
"It was just something that he did for fun," his brother Roger said. "He was just a kid.
"It was just the beginning of a great career," he recalled years later.
"It was just the beginning," recalled Sam, "of a great career.
"It was like a dream, really. I woke up one morning and I couldn't get in the shower.
"It was like a father asking you to play the game he wants," said King.
"It was like a highlight reel," said Giants announcer Murray Knight.
"It was like a little open sewer. The fans were mad. We couldn't stay in the ballpark.
"It was like a scene from a movie," said pitcher Rusty Staub, "with all the players on the field.
"It was like a scene out of a western," he recalled.
"It was like being on a medallion in a long fight," he said.
"It was like being on the front porch and getting a wet dog or something," recalled teammate Marv Blaylock.
"It was like getting out of a sinking ship. I never felt so scared.
"It was like going into a movie theater. There was no music, no lights. I just sat there for hours.
"It was like his legs were on fire," recalled teammate Mickey Owen.
"It was more like a thrill. It was like a big bird in the sky.
"It was my bad luck to be on that team," said Nehemiah.
"It was my best day in baseball," Hallahan recalled.
"It was my fate to play for the first-class men, and I never wanted to get to the top.
"It was my good luck charm," said Powell. "I was lucky to play for a guy named Bill Werber.
"It was my great misfortune to play in the World Series against the Yankees," Duren recalled.
"It was my plan to get him out of the league. He played a few games, and then I went to work.
"It was never a good sign for a young pitcher to take the mound. The bullpen is a good place to be.
"It was no secret that Bob was a ballplayer," Verban recalled.
"It was not a good year for me," he said. "I was sick and tired of all this fuss.
"It was not a miracle," he said. "I was confident I would make it.
"It was not because I was weak," he said. "It was because I was young and untested.
"It was nothing personal," Frank said. "He was just tired of hearing that I had a bad knee.
"It was one of the best days of my life," he recalled. "I was in high school.
"It was one of the greatest thrill of my life," he recalled.
"It was one of those places that was so close to home, you just wanted to go play there," said Williamson.
"It was one of those things that could go wrong. Baseball was a dangerous game, and you just never learned how to play it.
"It was one of those things you dream about," said Hallahan.
"It was only a matter of time before I'd get the job," he said.
"It was pretty cool…if you came back from a war and it was pouring rain, it was a big, big deal.
"It was probably the greatest thrill I ever had in baseball," he recalled.
"It was really a pleasure to play for them," said Berra.
"It was really about the lack of preparation," Spahn recalled years later.
"It was right in front of us," he recalled years later. "We were playing in the Polo Grounds.
"It was so devastating for him, and he suffered through it for the rest of his life," his son Peter said.
"It was some big, fat cat," said Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett.
"It was something novel and crazy to see that he was hitting that home run," said his son, Joe.
"It was standing under a huge waterfall," O'Brien said.
"It was such a relief to be able to play with the guys like that.
"It was such a shame the way he was treated," said Arroyo, "because he was one of the best.
"It was such a thrill to play for the Senators, it was like winning a game for the first time," Sain said.
"It was supposed to be a test of skill, but it turned out to be a great mental test for me.
"It was terrible," said Cuyler. "I was in the hospital for three days.
"It was the best thing I ever did in baseball," he said.
"It was the best thing that could have happened to my career," says former Red Sox player and manager Eddie Lawson.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me in baseball.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," Meyer recalls of his acquisition of the triple.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," O'Doul recalled. "I had a great year.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," he recalled.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said years later.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to the Dodgers," recalled teammate Elston Howard years later.
"It was the biggest thrill I ever had in baseball," he recalled.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, getting off that train," Sain said.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, getting to play in the World Series against the Yankees," he said.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, riding that tubal swing," he said.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, the Philadelphia Philles winning the World Series.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, the thrill of moving on into the unknown," he said.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, traveling all over the country and talking to people," the Colorado native recalled.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, winning the World Series," he recalled.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, winning the World Series," he told reporter Jack Cuddy.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life, winning the ballgame.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life," he recalled.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life," he recalled. "I was going to play for my hometown team.
"It was the biggest thrill of my life. I was going to play in the World Series.
"It was the first time I came out to play. I had never been in a big-league game," he said.
"It was the first time I ever felt so free to do something," Burdette said.
"It was the first time I ever played in a World Series in my life, and I was so proud to be a part of it.
"It was the first time I got over the fear," he said.
"It was the first time I had ever seen a ballplayer throw a baseball," recalled Gumpert.
"It was the first time I had ever seen the White Sox play in Ohio," said Rennie.
"It was the first time I looked at myself in the mirror and I said, 'I'm a loser.
"It was the first time I was able to go out there and pitch and play baseball," he said.
"It was the first time I was really out and I felt exposed.
"It was the greatest big league game you ever saw," he said.
"It was the greatest game I ever saw," Schoendienst said.
"It was the greatest relief – not just for the pitcher but also for the fans.
"It was the greatest thrill I ever had in baseball," he recalled years later.
"It was the greatest thrill I ever had in sports," said Stanky.
"It was the greatest thrill I've ever had in baseball," Henry Aaron said.
"It was the greatest thrill I've ever had in my life," Murdoch said.
"It was the greatest thrill I've ever had in sports," Al said.
"It was the greatest thrill I've ever had in sports," said Wertz.
"It was the greatest thrill of my career, riding the bull.
"It was the greatest thrill of my career," he said. "I got to play on the big stage.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life to play in the big leagues," he said. "I was honored.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life, getting to play in front of half a million people," he said.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life, having to beat the Yankees. … I was very proud that I was a Brave.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life, playing in the Show. I was so nervous. I was so tense.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life, to be in the World Series," he said.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life, winning the Little Rock team and winning the Mississippi State League.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life," Crosetti told The Sporting News. "I was honored.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life," he recalled.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life," he told the author.
"It was the greatest thrill of my life. I've been dreaming of it for many years," he told the author.
"It was the most amazing experience I ever had in baseball," he recalled.
"It was the most difficult decision I ever made," he said.
"It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do," he said.
"It was the most exciting time in my life, but one of the most depressing was the turning down of my scholarship.
"It was the most important day of my life," Leona said in recalling her father's nervousness at her inclusion.
"It was the most incredible thing I ever saw in my life," he recalled.
"It was the most incredible thing I ever witnessed.
"It was the pennant-winning team, so we had to win every day," he recalled.
"It was the toughest thing I ever had to do," recalled Eaton.
"It was the worst thing I ever did in baseball," he recalled about the incident.
"It was time to trade him. He was the best outfielder in the league and he was underpaid.
"It was two years ago that I signed my first professional contract, and I had a good year.
"It was very exciting to play for Willie," Rossi said.
"It wasn't a coincidence," he said later. "He had been playing golf since he was 13 or 14.
"It wasn't a tough call. He was a fine ballplayer, no doubt about that.
"It wasn't the baseball. It was the stink," he recalled.
"It would be a shame if we didn't win the pennant," he said.
"It would be a shame if we lost our jobs," he told The Sporting News's Bob Broeg.
"It would be the first time I'd ever worn a [steel] brace," he recalled.
"It"s a good thing he's a black guy," the announcer said.
"It's a beautiful city," said Vern Stephens, the Cleveland Indians' player representative.
"It's a beautiful park with a nice view of the sea," he said. "We just played in there.
"It's a beautiful park," said New York Times sportswriter Arthur Richman.
"It's a beautiful sight…when you see a curveball go out there and in front of you.
"It's a beautiful thing to see a great ballplayer look up.
"It's a big deal," he said, "when a guy like that comes along.
"It's a big relief to play a game like that," he recalled.
"It's a big, big gift," Ula told reporters after the match.
"It's a big-league job," said Melvin. "I can play every day.
"It's a bit of a mystery to me," he told the New York Daily News's Arthur Daley.
"It's a bomb," said Tommy Henrich. "It's a good idea.
"It's a boy, it's the innocence of a thousand," sang the great Woody Herman.
"It's a dead man walking. I want to get rid of him.
"It's a fine ball, a good slider, and it's worth while.
"It's a fine prospect," Celso recalled. "He's just a kid.
"It's a fine thing for the player to go out there and learn.
"It's a good situation for the ball club. We have some veterans who have played in the big leagues.
"It's a good thing I didn't play baseball to get away from it," he said.
"It's a good thing I had a manager who was a crooner," Sain said.
"It's a good thing I had to go to work for a ball club now," he told the author.
"It's a good thing I'm a pretty good catcher," he said.
"It's a good thing I'm playing in Detroit," he recalled.
"It's a good thing I've got a wife and a family," he said.
"It's a good thing he didn't know how to drive," said pitcher and teammate Jim Brosnan.
"It's a good thing he didn't play baseball," said Weir.
"It's a good thing he doesn't know shit about the quarterback position," said his buddy Al Kaline.
"It's a good thing he hasn't come to me yet," protested Gibson.
"It's a good thing he picked up a baseball," said one wag.
"It's a good thing he slowed down," said Dick Schaap.
"It's a good thing he was a relief pitcher," Moeller said.
"It's a good thing he wasn't around in 1930," Stengel said.
"It's a good thing he went to the minors," said Mantle.
"It's a good thing he's a Jewish kid, too," his mother said.
"It's a good thing he's a big-league ballplayer," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"It's a good thing he's a first baseman," Fishburne said.
"It's a good thing he's a little older," Pauline Seals recalled.
"It's a good thing he's got a bad arm," said Detroit Tigers owner Walter Briggs.
"It's a good thing he's got a wife, because he wouldn't have had a chance.
"It's a good thing my dad never had to go up in a plane," said Little John.
"It's a good thing or a bad thing," the manager remarked.
"It's a good thing the Phillies have Mathews," Asimov answered when asked about Mathews.
"It's a great city, but you have to work hard. You have to work all day and night to earn a living.
"It's a great city," he said. "Great people, great spirit – all over. I like it.
"It's a great city," he said. "It's got great people.
"It's a great feeling going into the clubhouse," he said.
"It's a great feeling to know that people are liking it," he said.
"It's a great feeling to know that people like you," he told the AP.
"It's a great feeling to play in the World Series," Nuxhall said.
"It's a great feeling to win something that you believe in," he said.
"It's a great feeling, especially when you don't have to worry about the weather every day.
"It's a great feeling," said Dickey, "but it's also a bit scary.
"It's a great honor for playing baseball," Wilson said. "Every starting pitcher should be proud of it.
"It's a great honor to play professional baseball," McKenzie said.
"It's a great honor," he told the assembled reporters.
"It's a great relief to have a win like that," said Garner.
"It's a great relief to see a young fellow like Jimmie Williams playing baseball," Stanky said of Williams.
"It's a great team," he said. "We're all glad to be there.
"It's a great thing to be able to play in the World Series.
"It's a great town," he said. "You're in the great weather.
"It's a hot day," he said, and he was about to go out for a ride.
"It's a hot day," he said. "And the sky is blue. And the clouds are high.
"It's a little bit different in Baltimore, with the Orioles. We have a good team. We can win.
"It's a little bit different with the Dodgers," he said.
"It's a little bit like a birthday party," he said.
"It's a little bit of a blessing in disguise," Nagle said.
"It's a little difficult to see, but the Giants have a lot of pitchers with winning records," Rickey said.
"It's a little hard for me to believe," he told reporters after the Series.
"It's a little unusual for a third baseman to be on the same team as the first two.
"It's a long year. You're going to miss a lot of bats.
"It's a new standard for how we get players to come to camp," said Yankees manager Durocher.
"It's a pity the Yankees don't have enough left-handed pitchers," said the president.
"It's a pity," said Bucky Harris, "because he was a great pitcher.
"It's a relief to be able to go back home and relax again.
"It's a relief to have that peace of mind," he told the author.
"It's a relief to know that I'm not being persecuted because of my race," Denman said.
"It's a relief," he said. "I've been sitting around worrying about my leg.
"It's a serious injury," said Chicago White Sox boss Jimmie Foxx.
"It's a shame he couldn't have gotten the better of it," said teammate Ron Santo.
"It's a shame if you're in a slump and you're not hitting.
"It's a shame that he's not in the Hall of Fame," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.
"It's a shame the way I looked at it," he told The Sporting News.
"It's a shame the way he died," said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"It's a shame the way he fell on the bat," said the Reds manager, Charlie Dressen.
"It's a shame the way he played in the World Series," said Roseboro. "He was the star.
"It's a shame the way he twisted the knee," said Roseboro.
"It's a shame the way he was treated in Boston," said Lakers general manager Eddie Dobson.
"It's a shame the way he's treated me," Jeff told Cramer.
"It's a shame the way they did it," Lanier said of the suspensions. "I have no regrets.
"It's a shame the way they treated him once he became a big leaguer," said Bucky Harris.
"It's a shame the way they treated him," said Rickey. "He could have been a great one.
"It's a shame they couldn't have played in the World Series," he told the author.
"It's a shame they didn't have a real good night," Williams said.
"It's a shame they didn't have him" — The Sporting News of April 21, 1971.
"It's a shame to see a club like that lose," said Cimoli.
"It's a shame," he admitted, "but there's nothing I can do about it.
"It's a shame," he said in his usual dry, matter-of-fact way.
"It's a shame," he said, "because I've had a lot of fun playing baseball.
"It's a shame," he said, "because I've had a lot of good years.
"It's a shame," he said, "because we had a great group of players and great people.
"It's a shame," he said, "but I don't know what to do.
"It's a shame," he said. "I was nervous, but I didn't dare to move.
"It's a shame," he said. "I was young, got to play and it was a pleasure.
"It's a shame," he said. "I'm glad I didn't play that game.
"It's a shame," he told The Sporting News's Gordon Cobbledick.
"It's a shame," he told reporters after the season. "I'll be back.
"It's a shame," he told reporters, "because it would have been a great exhibition game.
"It's a shame," he told reporters. "I thought I was going to be a great pitcher.
"It's a shame," one of the fans said, "that he can't play for the Yankees.
"It's a shame," said Gene. "I've had a blast playing for him.
"It's a shame," the manager said. "We'll take him with us.
"It's a shame. I had a blast. I've had a blast playing for the Red Sox.
"It's a shame. It would have been nice to get the job done.
"It's a shoddy attack," he said. He did not stop there.
"It's a smart move," he said. "I'll take a chance on him.
"It's a success," he said. A handful of scouts came to see him pitch.
"It's a tall order," he declared. "I don't know what I was expecting.
"It's a terrible shame," Rolfe said. "I think it's terrible for the club.
"It's a tough break," said Maris. "I don't know how he did it.
"It's a tough situation," he said. "We're losing big.
"It's a tough spot," he said. "We're losing good players to retirement.
"It's a very exciting time for baseball," said a visibly excited Durocher.
"It's a very good ball," said DiMaggio. "It's a good bat.
"It's a wonder he didn't get hurt," said his friend and teammate, Al Leyland.
"It's a wonder he didn't get killed himself," Sandy Koufax said.
"It's a wonder he hasn't been killed yet," said Bartell.
"It's a wonder he hasn't been killed yet," said his uncle. "Poor kid.
"It's a wonder the guy can even raise a baby," Gus said.
"It's a wonder the kid can even raise a kid," said Chicago Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges.
"It's a wonder they didn't run him off the field," said teammate Woody English.
"It's a wonderful place to play. It's a great ballpark.
"It's a wonderful, fantastic fit for me," Dunn said.
"It's all one big big lie," he said. "The press has made a big stink about the money.
"It's almost as if the Yankees are trying to show me they mean it.
"It's almost like being a father," the former New York Yankee said years after he retired from baseball.
"It's always a thrill to see a kid out there play," he told the AP's Jack Cuddy.
"It's an interesting question," said the Red Sox manager.
"It's an old story," said Yogi Berra. "But it's true.
"It's as if a bat just was born," Dodger catcher Mickey Owen said.
"It's as though he's talking to himself," his friend Roy Sievers said.
"It's as though they're using me as a bat," Durocher said.
"It's beautiful, really," he said, "but it's a little uncomfortable.
"It's because I was a good hitter and threw good," he said.
"It's because I've got something I can't live without," he said.
"It's because of the Filipino fans," one of the most famous Dodger fans, said Cepeda.
"It's become a cliché, but it's true," said Durocher.
"It's been a devastating blow to the Yankees," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"It's been a long illness," he said. "I've been in the hospital since November.
"It's been a long time coming," he said, "but I'm just getting started.
"It's been a privilege to play in the major leagues. It's been a thrill and a pleasure.
"It's been said of Babe Ruth that he smoked as much marijuana as he could fit in his mouth.
"It's been said that the best way to beat a pitcher is to beat his back.
"It's been tough," said Duren. "I've had to use my brain more than ever.
"It's definitely a new style of play. I've never seen it before.
"It's easy for a rookie to get carried away," said Bob Friend, who managed the Phillies from 1946 to 1950.
"It's easy to be in a slump," he told the Sporting News' during spring training.
"It's easy to see how he could be a tough competitor," said his father.
"It's easy to understand why he's in the Hall of Fame.
"It's for the best," he told reporters. "We will win it.
"It's going to be a tough act for him," said manager Jules Tygiel.
"It's going to be a tough act for the kid to follow," he said.
"It's going to be a tough act for the kid to follow," said Knickerbocker.
"It's going to be a tough act for the kid to follow," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"It's going to be a tough act for the kids to follow," he warned at the time.
"It's going to be a tough act for the players to follow," Boston manager Joe Cronin said.
"It's going to be a tough act for the younger kid to follow.
"It's going to be a tough crowd," he said. But the fans will be excited.
"It's good to get back to the drawing board," he said.
"It's hard to believe that the last time I saw Fred Thomas play, he was pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"It's hard work," said Swisher. "I'll tell you something else.
"It's just a matter of time before I'm on the pennant-winning team.
"It's just a matter of time," he reflected years later. "I think the Yankees will make it.
"It's just a matter of time. I just hope they don't let me go.
"It's just a trick play," he said. "I've seen pitchers screw it up before.
"It's just another day in the park, so don't get too anxious.
"It's just another time-out for him," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"It's just been a great experience," he said. "It's been a thrill.
"It's just like being a big leaguer," said Gormley.
"It's just like driving a car," he said. "You have to be a master at all times.
"It's just like going to war," he told The Sporting News.
"It's just like having a favorite color," he told sportswriter Dan Daniel years later.
"It's just like playing in a big league. I'll be back.
"It's just like the old days in Washington," said McGrath.
"It's just not fair," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"It's just one more step in the job," said Bonds. "You're a workhorse.
"It's just one more thing to get rid of that skipper," he said.
"It's just one of those things that happens in a big league clubhouse," Gee Walker said years later.
"It's just one of those things that happens when you're taking a good pitch," he recalled.
"It's just one of those things that happens," he said. "I'll keep it to myself.
"It's just so. . .the only thing I can think of is that I was sitting there with a broken wrist.
"It's just something they tell me about you," he said.
"It's just the beginning of a long struggle," he said.
"It's just the difference in timing. You might be down, you're hot, and all hell breaks loose.
"It's just the first time I ever saw a winner in the big leagues," he said.
"It's life-changing. It's like a drug. … I'm a different person after the game.
"It's like a balancing puzzle," said Grover Cleveland Alexander.
"It's like a baseball diamond," he said of his home in Frankfort, Illinois.
"It's like a big summer camp for two-sport players. It's still a growth spurt for them.
"It's like a car dealership," said Chicago Cubs announcer Vin Scully.
"It's like a car with 60 horsepower. I can drive it harder. I'm sure I can beat the Yankees.
"It's like a dream," he said when he wakes up each morning.
"It's like a great big kid that wants to be your teammate," he recalled.
"It's like a jigsaw puzzle," said Alfonso "Tite" Torres.
"It's like a kid playing with a big bat or a golf ball," he said.
"It's like a kid who wants to go to Harvard," Walters said.
"It's like a kid with asthma. They're not going to do anything at all.
"It's like a lawn mower. You get a little clogged up.
"It's like a pitcher's mound. When he starts, he throws the ball over the plate.
"It's like a school yard accident. You're in seventh grade and you're studying for a test.
"It's like a second marriage," he told sportswriter Bob Broeg.
"It's like a switch," he said. "I can't believe he's coming back.
"It's like a weight off my shoulders," said Hatton.
"It's like an allergic reaction. I should be all right.
"It's like an itch that you can scratch," Kaline told reporters.
"It's like being a catcher. You can see the ball all the time.
"It's like being a kid again," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"It's like being a kid in the neighborhood," he said.
"It's like being a pitcher in a big league," he said.
"It's like being a teenager. You feel like a kid, immediately. You don't know where the fun is.
"It's like being in a car wreck and then having a heart attack.
"It's like hitting .500 in minor league training," said the Chicago Cubs' Whitey Kurowski.
"It's like playing for the White Sox," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"It's like playing the game with a disability," said Pat Moore.
"It's like playing the outfield in this town," said Jablonski.
"It's like something out of a cheesy movie — a bad dream," he said.
"It's like starting all over again," said Eddie Robinson.
"It's like taking a young ballplayer and putting him in a car with all the other kids.
"It's more fun to play in the league's playoffs," said Mays.
"It's no coincidence Jack is a big-game hitter," said Chicago Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"It's no secret that I was never able to hit professionally. I just never got around to hitting.
"It's not a race," said Burdette. "It's a series of games.
"It's not easy being a white guy in baseball," he said.
"It's not his fault," said his mother. "He's got to have something to live for.
"It's not just the bats," Grompert said of the performance of his infield.
"It's not my business," he replied, "but I hope you'll be able to help it.
"It's not our fault the line drive hits me in the throat." The line drive never stops.
"It's not that he didn't like the league or the pitchers.
"It's not that important to me," the manager said. "I'll take care of it.
"It's not the hitting, it's the effort," recalled Dickey.
"It's not the money that counts," said Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg.
"It's not the money," he said, "it's the intensity.
"It's not the plate appearance," he said. "It's the way you play.
"It's nothing personal," he said. "I always knew he was my baseball hero.
"It's one of my favorite stories," he told the author.
"It's one of the beauties of the job—the commitment to quality," said Chicago manager Charlie Grimm.
"It's one of the best things that ever happened in his life," said his wife, Margaret.
"It's one of the most beautiful parks in the league," said Meyer.
"It's one of the reasons I'm here," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"It's one of those things you have to learn as you go along," he said.
"It's only a matter of time before we're in the war," he told the New York Times.
"It's only a matter of time," he said, "until we're in the World Series.
"It's only fair," Tugcoat told his new wife, "that you also learn to drive.
"It's perfect. It's perfect for us."[fn]The Sporting News, October 16, 1956.
"It's pretty much the same for all of us. We're trying to do our best.
"It's really a relief," he said. "I'm very pleased by it.
"It's really a shame. He's doing a great job for us.
"It's really not a good thing. It's like having a baby.
"It's simple," said Brady. "I was going to retire, but the Yankees kept me.
"It's so wild, it's unbelievable. You're not going to believe it," he said.
"It's something that has been bothering me for a long time," he said.
"It's something you'll see all over the country," he said.
"It's strange to me," said Gee, "but I'll give the ball to you.
"It's terrible," he said. "It's one of the greatest disappointments of my life.
"It's the best thing you can do for an organization.
"It's the big game," he said. "I've got to win it.
"It's the biggest thrill of my life, to be on first base," he said.
"It's the biggest thrill of my life, winning the ballgame," he said.
"It's the biggest thrill of my life. I'm going to the Dodgers.
"It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen in a ballgame.
"It's the death knell for the Yankees," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"It's the difference between a man and a ballplayer.
"It's the dumbest thing you could possibly do," he told Sports Illustrated's Robert Creamer.
"It's the first time I'm being made to look bad," Dickey said.
"It's the first time I've ever seen a ballgame of this magnitude. It was amazing.
"It's the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life," he said.
"It's the greatest thrill I've ever had in baseball," he said.
"It's the greatest thrill of my life, getting to play in the World Series," he said.
"It's the holy grail of baseball," said former great Joe DiMaggio.
"It's the kind of thing that some guys, when they get older, take for granted.
"It's the little things, isn't it, Ron?" said a voice behind him.
"It's the most amazing thing," said Joe DiMaggio, "the way they count the players.
"It's the most difficult thing I have to do," he said.
"It's the most difficult thing in the world," he told a reporter.
"It's the most exciting thing I've ever done in baseball," Marshall said.
"It's the most incredible feeling in the world, to be out there," he said.
"It's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard," he said.
"It's the same for all of us," he told the Los Angeles Times's John Kieran.
"It's the same for all of us. We're not going to take anything for it.
"It's the same for me," he told the writer Sid Mercer.
"It's the same in baseball as it is in love," told Ed Krichell.
"It's the same in baseball," said the All-Star second baseman.
"It's the same when I play for the Yankees," he said. "I just want to win.
"It's the same with my pitching," he said. "I can throw harder and I have more range.
"It's the type of stuff a big league pitcher must master in order to pitch at the next level.
"It's time for the Cubs to put this behind them," said GM Lou Boudreau.
"It's time for the Yankees to put the brakes on the gravy train," the New York Times reported Gray.
"It's time to call them the 99th and put 'em on the field.
"It's time to retire," said Lou Boudreau in the clubhouse after the All-Star break.
"It's too bad, because the Cardinals have a chance to win it," stated Stahl.
"It's too bad, but I would not change it," he said.
"It's too bad," Harry Walker said, "because he's an inspiration to all of us.
"It's too bad," he said. "But it's OK. I'll be back.
"It's too bad," he said. "But it's a part of baseball.
"It's too bad," he said. "I was a good pitcher and I learned a lot.
"It's too bad," said Avery, "because I had a good year.
"It's too bad. … But I think the fans are going to be great.
"It's too bad." Brewer was a firm believer that pitchers could adjust to a new pitch.
"It's too early in the season to worry about the race," he said.
"It's too late now to change the rules," Durocher said. "We have changed the rules.
"It's too late now," he said. Before long he would be traded.
"It's too late now. I knew what I had to do. I was going to pitch to 'em.
"It's too soon to talk about it. We're all going to be tired.
"It's true the Cubs were a better team in '46, but the Cardinals were a bunch of dumber.
"It's true, I missed my opportunity to play in the big leagues," the future Hall of Famer said.
"It's very hard to try to kind of see where he was going with the ball," Pettine said.
"It's wonderful to be back in the majors," he said.
"I‎ll take few chances, but I'll take them, too," he continued.
"Jackie Robinson was the greatest ever," Dick Schaap told the writer Dan Daniel years after the fact.
"Jackie Robinson was the greatest player to ever play baseball," Whitey Ford said.
"Jackie Robinson's major-league career was the product of his imagination.
"Jackie Robinson, For Most of His Career, Had Been a Yankee.
"Jacob," he called, "I want you to know that I'm not going to try to be dramatic.
"James Bond" is a term that refers to a man who is both strong and mysterious.
"Jamie," Peter, is an honorific given to a player who plays on a team that counts him among its alumni.
"Jim and I've been married for 41 years, and we have two children, a son, Jim Jr.
"Jimm was a great father," O'Doul said. "He was an excellent mentor to young players.
"Jimmie" worked in the offseason with the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Senators.
"Jinx Cancelled," "The Best and the Brightest" by Walter M.
"Jocko," he called me, "you're not a good enough center fielder.
"Jocko," said Durocher, "I'll take you out in the alley.
"Joe DiMaggio had an uncanny knack for hitting home runs. He had an uncanny knack for hitting home runs.
"Joe Gordon is a great pitcher, but he is also a wonderful hitter," said Mets manager Casey Stengel.
"Joe Rogan, if you put your head in your ass, I'll kill you.
"Joe, you're doing it wrong. You're not pitching either today or tomorrow.
"Joe," "I'm going to put on the neck a few pounds," the retired Babe Ruth said.
"John, you can't hit a ball by mistake," said Kurie.
"John," the dog, was coming around and barking. George ran to the front door and the dog barked back.
"John," the jailor, is a well-known name in baseball circles.
"Johnny Pesky was a fine hitter, but could never hit the ball hard.
"Johnny is a brilliant fielder, but he can't hit the ball any farther than I can. He's too quick.
"Johnny just had a tremendous arm. He had to have a good curve and a good fastball, and he had a good change of speed.
"Johnny, that's a good-looking fellow. He looks like a movie actor.
"Johnson is a good-hearted guy, but he's got a tough mentality about him," the manager said.
"Joltin' Joe" (Rickey) had been the big game. He was the heart and soul of the club.
"Josh, I don't know what to tell you. I've had enough.
"Just Cause" was a social and political movement that sought to create a union among the black professional players in the Negro Leagues.
"Just a couple of years ago, if you were a Dodgers fan, you were a die-hard Dodger fan.
"Just a few more wins, and I'll take my chances in the next four at-bats," he said.
"Just a touch more," said the call from the broadcast booth, "and you'll be there.
"Just another lucky guy," he said. "He'll keep on doing the things that make him so special.
"Just because I was a kid, it didn't mean I wasn't a lunatic.
"Just because he can hit the ball doesn't make him a good hitter," said Lee.
"Just because you play in the major leagues, you're bound to them," he said.
"Just because you've played baseball doesn't mean you have to fight for every victory.
"Just swings and misses," he said. "I have a bad, sore wrist.
"Kamala Harris is a remarkable woman, and I am proud to call her my wife.
"Kanell was a great competitor, and a great teammate. He was just a great team player. He kept everybody busy.
"Kauff was the best defensive catcher I ever played with," he said.
"Keegan could be just as dangerous the next time around.
"Keep that glove on the ground," he warned the batter, "and I'll make a good glove for you.
"Keesling, a fine pitcher," reported the New York Times. It wasn't a compliment.
"Ken Chase" and the thousands who watched from the sidelines are not all that forgotten today.
"Kenny and I were going to be roommates," said Zernial. "I had a roommate.
"Kiki Cuyler, a terrific shortstop and excellent hitter, was a very fine ballplayer and a great leader for the Giants.
"Kiki needs to play harder and be more aggressive," said Rock Hudson, who coached the Dodgers' farm system.
"Kiki was one of the first people I went to see play in the big leagues," said Cerv.
"Kiki," Mickey Vernon, was born on July 8, 1934 to Tommy and Victoria Vernon.
"Kirby and I are still friends," said Crowe. "I'm just friends.
"Kiss me or I'll kill you," said a serious looking Ruth.
"Kiss my ass," He followed that up with another fine year, batting .
"Kissing a Cucumber," The Sporting News, December 9, 1935.
"Kissing him was like kissing a dead duck," Dyer said years later. "He was just a coward.
"Kissing the Boy"" is the story of a kiss between two 18-year-old baseball players.
"Kissing" is the way some men describe a woman's kiss. It is a way of life.
"Klein has the greatest temperament of any pitcher I ever saw," said Boston manager Mickey Vernon.
"Klein really showed his versatility this year," said Hall of Fame pitcher and umpire historian Warren Giles.
"Klein was a nice guy," recalled Jack Dunn, who coached with him for two seasons in the minors.
"Klein," a super-sleeper who had started the year with Baltimore, was given a spot start.
"Klon's a real good pitcher," said the Giants' manager, Mel Ott.
"Knowledge of this kind is of value in a man's dealings with others.
"Kramer, I'm your father." "Kramer, I'm your father.
"Kris is a fine cat. He's got great poise, and he's really smart.
"Kronk is a big, strong kid," said Mets outfielder Wally Post.
"Kubek is the greatest guy I've ever seen in all my years in baseball," said Stengel.
"Kuhn," said The Sporting News, "is a big catcher who can handle the position.
"Kurowski is the best pitching prospect in professional baseball today. He is the best of the young, big-league pitchers.
"Kurry was right," said Whitey Ford. "I didn't have a chance.
"L.A." was the dream setting for the '48 Dodgers, a team loaded with stars.
"Lance, I'm the one who told you to be a better man.
"Lebovitz had the guts of a red-necked old cowherd," recalled former teammate Bob Lemon.
"Lefty and I," said Davey, "We've been buddies for twenty years.
"Lefty was a big, powerful guy, and he could throw hard.
"Lefty would take a couple of pitches and really hit them to the corner.
"Lem doesn't have the hitting that he used to," said manager Connie Mack.
"Lem has much to teach us all," said Dick Bartell, who was then playing for the Washington Senators.
"Lem said, 'That's enough,'" Sam recalled. "He was right.
"Lem's a hard-working kid," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"Lem, I'm a lot older than you are. I can't you wait until you're 30.
"Lemmy was the best catcher in the major leagues," said former teammate Tom Ferrick.
"Lena," wrote The New York Times, "the daughter of a Ukrainian immigrants, is the most famous Russian in America.
"Lenny was my best friend and I will miss him. He was a great guy, a fabulous golfer, a wonderful family man.
"Lenny," the youngest of the Giants' first four full-time managers, was the most familiar face on the club.
"Leo Durocher, the great Yankees catcher, is a good catcher, but he is also the most dangerous.
"Lestrange's baseball field is a fine training ground for the future," wrote The Sporting News.
"Let me tell you about the big leagues," said Bobby, "and this is a big league.
"Let the man who can pitch, win, and lose, teach me," he said.
"Let's Be Honest About This," read a headline in the St.
"Let's be clear about this," he said, "this team is not a basket case.
"Let's be clear, this is not some schoolyard brawl," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"Let's face it, Tito was a great hitter and a great team player.
"Let's face it, most of us would rather play golf than watch a baseball game.
"Let's get rid of this pretentious son of a bitch," shouted the Red Sox manager, Bones.
"Let's go to the White Sox," he said, "and see what they can do for me.
"Lets get rid of the bull" said Mayor Rogers Hornsby.
"Like a glue man," the Phillies' Harry Heilmann said, "Bert is like glue. He sticks.
"Like a hurricane," he said of his performance in September. He batted .284.
"Like a lot of good ballplayers, Harry Reckowski was a little naïve. He thought he could do anything he wanted with the ball.
"Like a lot of veterans, I'm crying," he said years later.
"Like the shot-put competitor, I just try to take it," he says.
"Liked it? Share it with your friends. Tweet it to others. Leave a review. Contact Me.
"Linda, what are you doing?" I said. "I've got a job.
"Listen, if you're going to stick up for yourself, you're going to stick up for me.
"Little Joe" Fain was a "daddy" in the clubhouse, and in the clubhouse he was big.
"Little League baseball has been around for 30 years," he said.
"Little Willie," the name of the namesake street in Brooklyn, is one of the most recognizable baseball players of the past century.
"Live long enough and you learn how to live alone." The life of the Milwaukee Braves fan was no picnic.
"Liza was wonderful, she was so sweet. She was just a wonderful person. I got to know her.
"Lo and behold, he's going to be our number one catcher," says manager Bucky Harris.
"Logan was a great relief pitcher. He was a good hitter and a good fielding pitcher.
"Logan was a magnificent clutch hitter," recalled his former teammate Pete Reiser.
"Logan," Jack Cavanaugh took the reins of the team in 1955, replacing the retiring Babe Herman.
"Lola, I don't know how you feel. I'll tell you how you feel.
"Lonnie before his baseball career, Billy before his political career.
"Look at him. He looks like a kid, a raggedy kid. Not a big kid.
"Look at the numbers. The Yankees are turning into a great team.
"Look at those figures! That's how many people there are. It's a hell of a crowd.
"Looking back, I want to be remembered as the Cubs' first great pitcher," he said.
"Lou Finney was one of the most beloved players in the Negro Leagues.
"Lou Pettingle was a fine left-handed pitcher, who won more games (124) than any other pitcher of the time.
"Lou is the perfect pinch hitter. He's smart and he's willing. And he has power.
"Lou" Gehrig was the greatest of the greats, and one of the Alabama sacklings of the greatest.
"Lucky" Hatton, who played 13 years in the majors, was one such player.
"Luis is everything that was good about the Bronx Bombers. He was everything. All he was missing was the right arm.
"Lumary and Warneke are two of the finest old-time catchers in the game.
"Lyle" became a fan favorite and a model minority.
"Lyle's the best I've seen in a long time," said Chicago manager Charlie Gehringer.
"Mack would have been a great manager for the Yankees," said McCarthy.
"Magnificent! Just beautiful, really. Magnificent, really, you know how I wanted it.
"Major League Baseball has decided that I am eligible to play in the big leagues," Escobar said.
"Man, I'm glad I was never a catcher. I would have loved to have been a first baseman.
"Man, I'm glad they took him out of the lineup," said Boston manager Joe McCarthy months later.
"Man, he was a great pitcher," remembered former Phillies coach and current Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"Manager Carter's decision to send me to the minor league did not sit well with me.
"Many of [the fans] were not fans of the high-pitched ball games that the Yankees played," he recalled.
"Marrero is the most popular player in the majors," said Joe Cronin.
"Marty is a fine young man and a fine pitcher," said Phillies manager Bucky Harris.
"Mason—I could see it," said the young man, "the way he moved, the way he swung.
"Maurice," "the most popular player of all time," was the unlikely Babe Ruth.
"Max Greenleaf was born in the Bronx on September 12, 1922, the youngest of three children born to Ralph and Etta Greenleaf.
"Maybe I was naive. Maybe I was stubborn. But I'm not going to deny that I was wrong.
"Maybe I'm doing something that's not right," King said.
"Maybe he was racist, but I don't think he was proud of what he did.
"Mays is a great player, but he could be a little too aggressive," said Slapnicka.
"Me, I'm not playing ball to get rich. I'm playing to win.
"Meyer always gave baseball a good try," said Sam, "but he never could get it together.
"Mission Accomplished," New York Times, November 5, 1956.
"Mondy looked in the mirror and saw something different. He said, 'This fellow is different.
"Most Popular Player" is rarely a statistic when talking about players that garnered much fanfare.
"Most people have done a good job. I've been fortunate.
"Most people in baseball use a little spice in their coffee," said Daniels.
"Mouse over West, West is over the left-center plate.
"Mr. King," said Harry, "one of the nicest men I ever met. He was a great guy.
"Mr. Mack and Mr. Ford," he announced to the assembled reporters.
"Mr. Mack was a brilliant jurist, a wonderful judge of character.
"Mr. Mack was a fine gentleman and he should have been in the Hall of Fame.
"Mr. Mack was a great salesman. He had a great knowledge of the market.
"Mr. Mack was a wonderful gentleman. He was just a wonderful guy. I just found out he was murdered.
"Mr. Mack".[fn]The Sporting News, May 31, 1938, 3.[/fn] "Mr.
"Mr. Mack," said the young young man, "you're the best manager I ever played for.
"Mr. President," proclaimed the blustery voice of Lou Boudreau in the Oval Office of the White House.
"Mr. Shortstop." "Mr. Shortstop." The voice of Mr.
"Mr. Shorty" was a team that included many former big leaguers.
"Mudcat is the best left-handed pitcher in baseball. He plays more than one position, and he can throw both.
"Mudcat," as the Cats called him, was a tough, tough competitor," said his catcher, Mel Ott.
"Mungo's Day" was celebrated in Brooklyn on April 25, 1939.
"Murder and Cigarettes: The First Gay Baseball Players" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
"Murder of a Coolidge Fan," New York Times, September 2, 1943, 1.
"Murderer's Row" — The American Dream," September 1, 1941. David N.
"Murderer's Row" — the story of the most heinous crime in American history — is just beginning.
"Murderer, I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said.
"My Favorite Team," by Dan Daniel, September 21, 1941.
"My God, he was a great kid," said former Browns infielder and manager Monte Irvin.
"My God, they've got to have a better pitching staff." Stengel was right.
"My arm is fine. In fact, I'm more powerful than ever.
"My arm is strong enough to play any outfield position," he said.
"My arm was strong, and I was able to throw the ball.
"My back was killing me," Hill recalled. "I could barely get out of bed in the cold.
"My bad luck," he told reporters. "I've been hit over the head by cars and pushed by people.
"My bad," he said, "I was always trying to get them to hit the ball where I wanted it to go.
"My bad," he said. After the season, he visited with the team in Havana, Cuba.
"My bad," he said. The day after the Series he got off to a poor start and was booed.
"My best foot" only became a problem for the Braves outfielder in the wake of his late-season slugging.
"My big goal is to play baseball for my country again," Wilson said in his only speech as a major league player.
"My big thrill was when I was on the big stage at Cincinnati's Crosley Field," Radcliff remembers.
"My biggest fear was that I would hurt my knee," he said.
"My biggest problem was, I was a lousy student," he recalled.
"My body was weak," he recalled. "I couldn't swing a bat. My left hand was dead.
"My boy is a better ballplayer than the average pitcher. He doesn't throw the ball like a regular pitcher.
"My boys are going to be great," the Cubs' manager, Charlie Grimm, predicted of his starting rotation in 1939.
"My boys' father was a lawyer. He was a conservative Republican. I remember him well.
"My brother was a good ballplayer, and he was a good ballplayer for three years in a row.
"My dad and I were always together," said Robinson. "He was a chauvinist.
"My dad never got to see me play in the big leagues until after my high school graduation.
"My dad took a liking for me," Johnny Rutherford remembers. "He was a big proponent of baseball.
"My dad used to go out there and play catch with them and they would hit the ball back at me.
"My dad used to take me out to the movies when I was a kid.
"My dad was a good catcher and he taught me everything I know. I'll always remember him.
"My dad was a good egg eater," said Lonnie. "He would vacuum a couple of houses a week for eggs.
"My dad was a real good driver. He'd pick up the kids from school and bring them to the park.
"My dad was the best criminal I ever knew," King Jr. says.
"My dad went up to the Yankees, and when he came back after the war, he was a real big fan.
"My dad, when he was a young boy, he saw a lot of trouble. He heard a lot of stories about this and that.
"My daddy had a job in the war and that was a guard on the railroad.
"My daddy was a great father, and I respect him. I want to be like him," said Sam.
"My daddy was a pretty good catcher," said Jimmie Wilson. "He would catch anything. He could do anything.
"My daddy was a real good hitter," Tot would say decades later. "He could run .400 and hit home runs.
"My daddy was a semipro first baseman, and I was the star pitcher," Hamner recalled.
"My daddy was an engineer by trade and a good one," Shanty said.
"My dear, you're going to be a great one," said Cronin.
"My dog was high-pitched and I couldn't put him down," Mays said of the incident.
"My family is not only Lebanese but they are also Jews," the matriarch of the family said.
"My family was small and growing," he said. "I didn't have a job.
"My family," he said, "looks like a cross-section of America.
"My family," he said, "would be devastated, really.
"My father and I had enjoyed a harmonious marriage," said Selva.
"My father and I were both born in India and followed the Hindustani's religion," he said.
"My father and I were very close," says Galan. "He was a big man.
"My father had a big, fat farm, and I was the second of four sons.
"My father had a gambling problem," said Mary Elizabeth Reaves.
"My father had a good sense of psychology," said Sam. "He saw that I'd get upset easily.
"My father was a gambler and spent time in jail for various things.
"My father was a very religious man," Tait explained.
"My father would have liked it," said Sam, "but I had to stick to baseball. I liked it.
"My favorite part of baseball is getting to see it grow and improve," he said.
"My favorite things in life are the military," Bagby said. "And baseball.
"My first training camp, I went to the Kansas City Blues in the Western League.
"My first year, I was a superstar," he recalled in 2010. "I was dominating the baseball world.
"My greatest thrill was playing in the World Series," he said.
"My hands were shaking. I couldn't even hold a candle! I had never seen anything like it.
"My heart is a bigger man than the scoreboard," he said.
"My heart was beating so fast and furious that I could hardly breathe," he said.
"My heart was pounding, I was in a bad way," he recalled. "I was in a hospital bed.
"My hunch was that he was going to play," recalled Hall of Famer Lefty Grove.
"My illness was bad enough that I couldn't even tie my shoes, let alone play baseball," he said.
"My job is to get the ball out of the infield," said Culler, batting practice swing in hand.
"My job is to get them out of there," he said. "I want them to see my talent.
"My job is to win, and I'm winning, and I'm pleased with the way I've played.
"My kids are so excited to play baseball," Mays said.
"My kids are the best in the league, and that includes my wife's kids.
"My life changed when I came to the Philippines in 1952. I was a 20-year-old boy.
"My life is a big adventure," he told a reporter late in his career.
"My life is just beginning," he told teammates after the Yankees' thrilling five-game victory at Yankee Stadium.
"My life was about to change forever. I was going to move in with them and they were going to move out with me.
"My little boy is a genius. He knows more about baseball than anyone else.
"My little brother was a lot younger than me," he recalled.
"My little sister and I used to ride with Dad all the time.
"My mind is off racing to the plate," he said. "I'm not getting there fast.
"My mind was on something else," he recalled years later.
"My mom and dad wouldn't let me go to school," Jackie Robinson said.
"My mom told me I'll be the first one in the family to go to college," he said.
"My mom was a homemaker," said Nashua's Ray Freeman.
"My mother always said that if you worked hard enough, you'd be just like Mike Tyson," Pascual said.
"My mother always said you're a good-looking guy, but you're not a good-looking pitcher.
"My mother always told me that I'd be a good ballplayer," he said.
"My mother talked me into buying the first baseman's glove, which cost $40, because she thought it would be better.
"My mother told me that if I signed my first contract, I would be able to go to college," McNair said.
"My mother was fine," he recalled. "She was just upset that something had to be done.
"My mother would be in bed with me and I'd cry all night. I wouldn't be able to sleep.
"My mother, who was a homemaker, was always telling me that I'd have to work.
"My name is Lou Boudreau. I was born on December 9, 1924.
"My name is Michael," he says. "I was born on October 4, 1925.
"My name is Mickey. I was born in December of 1932. I was born in Atlantic City.
"My name is Neal, and I work at a department store in Brooklyn.
"My own view is that a big-league career is a long way," he told the author.
"My religion taught me to take care of my body," the 4-foot-11, 195-pound left-hander said.
"My right fielder is a young fellow from the city. He is a student and he has a good arm. He can run.
"My right knee was dead," he said. "I can't run or throw the ball.
"My right knee went numb," he said. "I can still only hobble around, but the pain is unbearable.
"My right to play baseball is still there," said Herbert.
"My second year in the majors, I think I was like a kid in the park," Barrow said.
"My time was coming to an end, and I wanted to get out of the front office," he said.
"My wife gave birth to our only son in the summer of 2010. He was a boy named Michael. And that was it for me.
"My wife never wanted me to come out as a gay player. She was against it.
"My wife said, 'There's a kid out there who's going to be a great one.
"My wife's a nurse, and I'm the doctor, so we're good.
"Mya was the best and most dependable pitcher in baseball," said Baumholtz.
"Nancy," he said, "don't want you to be so sensitive.
"Nats" fans were notorious for their on-field behavior and off-field grumbling.
"Nats' Chuck Stobbs" was the name of a pitching prospect that Giants manager Bill Terry used from 1933 to 1937.
"Navy Jumbo" is a new nickname for the game of baseball.
"Nell, you're doing it wrong," I said. I knew he was not.
"Nellie, I'm going to hit one out and you're going to hit one out.
"Nellie," he said, "I never thought I'd see you play baseball.
"Nellie," said Falstaff, "I'm going to give you a big kick in the ass.
"Never Let Me Go" (1958) was the last great picture of how Cy Young felt when he was in winning mode.
"Never again" was the refrain of many opposing managers as they considered moving their team to Los Angeles.
"Newcombe's Career Begins in Miracle," October 4, 1952, New York Times.
"Nice," he said. "Nice is the most important thing.
"Nick," said the sheriff, "these are the rules of baseball. If you break them, you're gone.
"No Man Knows," the 1951 season ended on a disappointing note for the New York Giants.
"No Man Left Behind" was the motto of the United States Army during World War II.
"No doubt, he's the best left-handed pitcher in the big leagues.
"No one ever did it to me," he said, "but I will tell you one thing.
"No one ever plays the game for 10 years and then says, 'I want to get outta here.
"No one ever wanted to play for a manager like Durocher," said Ernie Banks.
"No one here can win," expressed George Kissell," but I think we all know that he meant it.
"No one is going to argue that the Giants are the best baseball team ever," he said.
"No one is going to take you out," he said of his approach to his playing career.
"No one on the baseball team had ever seen anything like it. You couldn't believe the roar. Everybody started to run.
"No way," he told the author, "I'm not gonna let the Dodgers put me in the big leagues.
"No, I don't like it," said the president. "'Not at all.
"No, I don't — not yet. . .But I'll tell you one thing for sure.
"No, I'm not going to play baseball for the Dodgers," said Joe.
"No, I'm not going to say anything," said Kubek. "I've thought about it.
"No, I'm not. I liked the Dodgers from the start," he said.
"No, Mr. Mack isn't," declared the incredulous New York Times.
"No, Mr. Rogers, the Braves aren't about to sell you to the Yankees.
"No, he didn't get the call, but he couldn't help it.
"No, he isn't." Stewart was right in his assessment of the rookie's potential.
"No, he wasn't my best pitcher. I had him on the Giants for a while.
"No, it's not," Taylor said. "I'll tell you what it is.
"No, not me," he said when he finally got to the ballpark. "I've been traded.
"No, not my favorite player. But I like the way he's playing.
"No, really, I didn't go to the moon," he said. "They gave me the moon.
"No, really, it's not. There's a story that they went to Mexico and that story was never told.
"No, sir, no. I'm not trying to make a pun," the manager responded.
"No, that's not the reason," said Boudreau. "I will tell you why.
"No," said Gray, "that's not a yes. That's not an error.
"Nobody can stop him." In the second game of the September 8 doubleheader, the Giants faced the St.
"Nobody should have to go through what I did," he responded.
"Nobody was ever afraid to say, 'Hey, Hey, Mike,' "" recalled Trump.
"Not a big dog," said the reporter, "but he has a good temperament for a big dog.
"Not a single player from the Negro Leagues ever played in the big leagues. Not even once.
"Not bad at all," the New York Times wrote. "Now he has to show that he is worth the money.
"Not taking care of him is just as bad," said Dodger teammate Pete Reiser.
"Nothing has changed. I'm the same old pitcher. I throw the same old pitch.
"Now I should be the greatest," said the president.
"Now I think I know what I want to do with my life," he told a reporter.
"Now that he's only 30, he is going to be a superstar.
"Now that they know what I can do, they're going to like me.
"Now, I've seen it. I've seen the big crowds. I've seen the things.
"Nowadays, I like to pitch to a curve ball, but in those days, it wasn't a good pitch to hit.
"O's," he says, "are the best." He has no idea where they might be.
"OK, so I'm a little late," said Chicago Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.
"Odd-Eyes" was the nickname the Phillies chose for the player, a moniker that stuck for more than 50 years.
"Of all the players I played for," he recalled, "I was the most selfish, most cowardly, most insecure.
"Oh, I'll take a hit for you," said Mel. "I'll fry you.
"Oh, that was a wild one," he told interviewer Bill Ray.
"Oh, yeah!" He famously remarked during the 1965 season, "I'm the dumbest pitcher in baseball.
"Okay, I'm the bad guy," said Tajfel. "And you're the hero.
"Okey, okey, okey," the voice of the millenia-old announcer would bellow from the speakers.
"Old Grape Leaves Yank Pitching to Old Ground," read one version, but it was a lie.
"Old Man B's" are the players who are right, but the pitchers who are wrong.
"Old enough to go to a minor league." It was a statement that would endure forever.
"Old man" and his son, Billy, went to a series of "baseball schools" in the area.
"Old man" was a common nickname for the veteran outfielder.
"Old man," Grantland Rice, was a legend on the baseball diamond at Columbia University.
"Old man," he called me, "and he's been dead for fifty years." He was right.
"Old man," said the crowed, "and all, but you're still a young man.
"Ole Miss is a great place to play college ball," said former Cardinal great Dolf Luque.
"Ole Miss" became a fan base favorite because of the number of fans who came to the ballpark to see their favorite athletes perform.
"Ole Miss" fans remember fondly the glory days of the College World Series, the region's first professional tournament.
"Ole Miss" was a small-town college town, and the college football team did not have a lot of fans.
"Ole Miss" was rocked badly by the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 1962 playoffs.
"Ole Miss"" (and "Mississippi") is the state's first professional baseball league.
"On Christmas Day, 1964, I went to the batting cage in the rear section of the Yankee Stadium.
"On a bad ankle, and with help from trainers, I can play ball.
"On the field he was perfect. He knew the game and he'd have a great game.
"On the very day that he signed his contract," he said, "I had a letter from Mr.
"Once I knew that I was going to be pitching, I was in love with the game," he recalled.
"Once he gets over the shock," said Chapman, "he sees the world as a much more interesting place.
"Once he put on his uniform, he went to work." Davey remembered his first day on the job.
"Once you get past the makeup and hair, you're looking at a real baseball player.
"Once you get past the superstitions, it's a beautiful game," he said.
"Once you've been to the big leagues, staying there for a long time, you're used to the routine.
"One Flew Over the Rainbow" is an oft-repeated refrain from baseball fans.
"One day I was batting and heard the roar of a truck coming in from behind me.
"One hit and I'll be done," said the confident youngster.
"One more thing," said Headley, "I don't think the Yankees will allow me to pitch.
"One of my best friends was a pitcher named Bobo Newsom, and he was a great one," Nixon said.
"One of my favorite hittings," said Boudreau, "was when he was pitching for St. Paul.
"One of my pitchers was a black man," he said. "One of my pitchers was a Negro.
"One of the beauts of the games," said Cleveland skipper Al Lopez, "is the individual who plays every day.
"One of the best pitchers in the game," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"One of the best pitchers in the league," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"One of the best things to happen to my career was the birth of my first child," Brissie said.
"One of the biggest thrills of my career was getting away with a hit in front of my hometown fans.
"One of the finest professional athletes I ever saw," said Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Dan Daniel.
"One of the great things about the Dodgers," said Boudreau, "is that they have a great pitching staff.
"One of the greatest ball players ever," said a writer who covered the Yankees during Busch's tenure.
"One of the greatest minds in baseball," said George Case, "has written a book on me.
"One of the greatest players I ever saw play," said Stengel.
"One of the greatest players I ever saw," he recalled. "He was a great competitor and a great team player.
"One of the greatest players I ever saw," said Hall of Famer Bucky Harris.
"One of the greatest players ever," Miller said. "He was a great competitor. He was a fun, colorful guy.
"One of the greatest relief pitchers that I ever saw," says Ray Scarborough.
"One of the greatest things about being on the baseball field is seeing other people play.
"One of the greatest things that ever happened in baseball was the integration of the game," said Mets broadcaster Vin Scully.
"One of the greatest things that ever happened in baseball was the integration of the game.
"One of the greatest things that ever happened in my life came when I was able to play professional baseball for the New York Giants.
"One of the most exciting games of the season was played at Sportsman's Park in St.
"One of the most notable things about [Trout] is that he was a great teammate and person who understood baseball.
"One of the most spectacular games I ever saw came from Brooklyn," he said.
"One of the most wonderful things about playing baseball is that you get to play in front of people you admire.
"One of the ugliest players in baseball," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen in tribute to the Pirates' Al Todd.
"One thing I learned from my father," said Shotton, "was that you shouldn't take things personally.
"One-eyed Chad" was the nickname for a player who could see, but could not hit.
"Only a loser," was the refrain heard whenever a player was traded.
"Only in New York can you really feel the heat and smoke coming from the Yankee Stadium.
"Only in New York," he told the press, "do you get to see the Giants play in the World Series.
"Only in this way can a man inherit a wife and the whole family have a home," he was quoted as saying.
"Orioles fans have been terribly disappointed in the choice of Kirk Cousins as their starting pitcher for the 1948 season.
"Otis," a name he never disliked, was the Yankees' regular catcher.
"Our job was to make him learn. In the beginning, he didn't like to learn.
"Over the years, when I was on the mound, I would take a couple of days off and go back to the Yankees.
"Over the years," he said, "I have come across several pitchers who have had bad luck in their life.
"Owen was a great passer, a good run-batted-in guy and he made a lot of plays around second base.
"Owen, an old catcher," he began, "had a heart attack in New York today.
"Oysters and Oysters," the New York Times, March 31, 1971, 40.
"Paddy would have been proud. He was a big, strong lad, and he knew how to handle himself.
"Part-Time President" was the greeting at every spring training in the early 1960s.
"Peanuts," the black star of the Detroit Tigers, was a movie icon.
"People are always surprised when I tell them I've been a big-league player for eight years," he said.
"People have been asking me how I do it," said Meyer.
"People now call me Red, and I'm afraid I'll hurt myself.
"People said I was nuts," said Smith, "but I wasn't.
"People used to tell me I was too small," Dickey said.
"People were afraid to go out because of the rioting," recalled Maury Wills.
"People were afraid to go to the movies because of the war.
"People were driving by and thinking, 'Where the hell is that drink?' " said Pate.
"Pep is a great guy, a great competitor, and he deserves the gold medal he's going to get in Sochi.
"Pep is not the answer," said his teammate, "he's not even the half-way answer.
"Pep want to do this," said Harold Haak of the Yankees.
"Pep was a great guy," recalled teammate Bob Fothergill. "He was a quiet fellow.
"Pep was a great team player, but he was also a very difficult manager to play for.
"Pep was like a big, fat dog. He was tough. He was mean. He was a real good-shooter.
"Pep was my rock," recalled his son, Ken Jr. "If he was playing, he was super.
"Pep was the best" — teammate and major-league teammate Mel Almada.
"Pep" (as they were known in the Negro leagues) was a tough competitor, a fiery competitor.
"Petey" Miller, who made the most errors in the majors in 1948, was the instigator.
"Piecy Berry, the great middle-inning hitter," was an outfielder to many.
"Piersall moved to second base when he got the chance to play first," said former teammate Mays.
"Piersall was a confounded hitter who often drew the ball. He could go into a slump, and he was sensitive to criticism.
"Piersall was a great teammate and one of the great clubhouse guys. He was a good-hearted guy.
"Piersall was insane. He was like a kid playing with a ball bat. He was wild, man.
"Piersall was the best catcher in the big leagues in my time," said teammate Rico Petrocelli.
"Pitcher to the Triple Crown: How the Dodgers Lost to the Yankees," Los Angeles Times, August 21, 1972.
"Pitcher" is likely to be the pejorative term when referring to Gray, who was affectionately known as the Pitcher.
"Plainly this is the case because he loves baseball," said the Red Sox "on the day he leaves school.
"Plainly, I never thought of myself as the big game hunter. I always considered myself a bird hunter.
"Pleased to be able to announce that we are able to offer our players better compensation than last year," said Stengel.
"Police were in perfect position to say I was mentally ill and in a deep depression," he recalled.
"Pomm will go down as one of the great pitchers of all time," said Knorr.
"Pop" was a nickname that had a long history in Boston Braves fandom.
"Poppa Pops" was a cartoonish, perpetually grinning clown who would never stoop to petty theft.
"Poppa," he called it. "I like that word. A lot of people like that word.
"Porterfield was a fine pitcher, but he was a better hitter. He was a good hitter and a good base runner.
"Porterfield was the best all-around first baseman of the great Depression," teammate Chuck Stevens later observed.
"Powderpuff Boys," Baseball Magazine, January 1950, 158.
"Powderpuff Boys," Boston Herald, March 5, 1925: 23.
"Powderpuff Games" were the United States military clashes with Great Britain during World War II.
"Powderpuff," the Baltimore Orioles, was born when the Orioles and Yankees met for the last time in the 1962 World Series.
"Power to the People!" proclaimed the Chicago Tribune.
"Pretend not to care as long as he has a chance to play," said a friendly New York Yankees voice.
"Problems with the hitters," he declared, "don't change. The hitters won't change.
"Professional wrestler and baseball legend," and a noted and respected former catcher and manager.
"Puddin' Head" is the most common nickname for the Mets' leading second baseman.
"Put it this way, I didn't go into the knuckleball business to try to make a living.
"Put that on the back of you, you're a good player," manager Mayo Smith said.
"Ralph Kiner was an innocent man, just a normal guy. He was innocent of anything.
"Ralph Kiner, a small-town Baptist preacher, was the Episcopal Church's minister of the gospel.
"Ray" Warner was born on October 2, 1907. He was the fifth of six children born to Robert Warner and Laura Warner.
"Really, he was my best outfielder back in the day," said former teammate and Pirates great Granny Hamner.
"Red was the best pitcher in the league," said Lou Brissie. "He could do everything.
"Reed, you're a fine pitcher, but you're not ready for big-league pitching.
"Relief games are a dime a dozen in baseball," he told writer Joe Williams.
"Remember when I was on the Yankees? Well, I was on the Yankees.
"Ribs" was the nickname first used by the Cubs when they lost to the Cardinals in St. Louis.
"Rickey Just Makes Me Laugh Hard," New York Times, July 29, 1954.
"Rickey had a great curve, but the ball was disorganized as a ball.
"Rickey had the blazer to do it. He was one of the finest hustlers in the game. He gave me everything he had.
"Rickey is a fine manager," said Cubs owner Philip K. K.
"Rickey is a great mind," said Dodger great Bill Terry. "He knows all the hitters.
"Rickey missed a good opportunity to do the right thing. He should have waited until they were free and then won the pennant.
"Rickey never goes back," Yankee catcher Mickey Mantle said, "and he never stops trying to help people.
"Rickey was a good manager, but he didn't know how to play. He tried to put everything in the box.
"Rickey was a great hitter, and his batting average was outstanding," recalled Don Gutteridge.
"Rickey was a great infielder, a great leadoff man.
"Rickey was the most overlooked player in the history of the game.
"Rickey was the perfect manager for a major-league team. He had the guts to get players on the team without asking any questions.
"Rickey, a great hitter, was a great pitcher," says former New York Yankees outfielder Jimmy Piersall.
"Righetti was dead," said Donald Honig, "but he wasn't out for long.
"Right-handed pitchers have a higher rate of error," he said.
"Ring or no ring, it's a ratchet," said Wayne Fontaine, a teammate at the time.
"Rip will do anything for a good fastball," said Cooney.
"Rise Above the Rest," The Sporting News, January 27, 1959.
"Robin Roberts was a great baseball player," said Minnesota Twins manager Ralph Houk.
"Robinson made a good pitch to first," recalled teammate Old Man K.
"Rookie Phil Cairns" was the name of the most notable Negro Leaguer of the 1920s and 1930s.
"Rookie" was a word often used in reference to youngsters on the major leagues.
"Roosevelt, the Great Experiment," by Norman Macht.
"Rowe, who is the leader of the new generation," said the New York Times.
"Rube" Greenberg was the young, up-and-coming Yankees shortstop prospect who made the big-league switch in 1941.
"Ruth and I got along great," he said. "He let me borrow his car and he took my name.
"Ruth was a great teacher," said teammate Tommy Gorman.
"Ruth was the greatest judge of man I ever met," Dreyfuss recalled.
"Ruth, it's a shame you've got to leave now," he told me.
"Ryne was the best utility infielder I ever saw," said former teammate and Yankee Dick Groat.
"Ryne's numbers in spring training in 1949 were modest.
"Ryne's story is no longer quite true," wrote Harry Holahan in Washington Post, September 2, 1974.
"Ryne's story is one of the greatest and most romantic of the great American myths.
"Sally" Phillips, the woman who served as president of the NAACP, for one, was a fan of the Tigers.
"Sally," the Secret Service said, "the president of the United States is coming.
"Salvatore" was a name that had a very Italian sound.
"Sam," he recalled, "was a tough, scrawny kid. He was like a big kid.
"Sandy is the most underrated and most underappreciated player in the history of the game.
"Save for the 'One Minute,' " he displayed his versatility and ability to keep hitters off-balance.
"Schneiderman, I'll give you five, but you better watch out.
"Schnozz," the local nickname for the famous White Sox owner, was a popular name at the time.
"Schnozz." Lestrange was the name of a player from the St.
"Schoolboy" Wilberforce was a staple in the Yankee lineup for nearly a decade.
"Scooter left on him," recalled Cubs teammate Goose Goslin. "He was like a little kid.
"See, Scooter," said the Scarecrow. "You're the best manager in baseball.
"Shade," "Shade, the big right-handed pitcher," said a voice behind the plate.
"Shawnee," he told a reporter from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, "I never liked the place.
"She's a lotta chic." She is not going to be intimidated by the scrutiny of the press.
"She's a very beautiful girl and a marvelous dancer," said Lou Gehrig.
"She's like a mother to me," he told the Associated Press's Dave Kindred in 1970.
"She's like a switchblade that only needs to be touched.
"She's more like a coach," a former big-league hitter tells me.
"She's my daughter," he told the Associated Press later that year.
"She's the sweetest, nicest girl in the whole business," said Joe Cronin.
"Sheep had been my man," he said. "He was always good for a laugh.
"Sheldon was just a solid ball player," said Dick Schaap of the Cubs.
"Shirley Povich of the Washington Post writes that Bob Johnson is a 'sympathizer.
"Shirley Povich, editor of the Washington Post, called me into his office with the headline, 'There Goes the Man.
"Shirley," the video says, "is an American girl who has been kidnapped by aliens from another planet.
"Shorty" still had plenty of catching ability, hitting .
"Shouldn't we just hire people who can do the job?" said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"Shrug it off," he would say to the players. "I'll take care of it.
"Shut the door on him … and I'll shut the door on him," said McClendon.
"Shut up and take a seat." was the refrain heard most often from the 60-year-old Yankees catcher.
"Sid and Mickey Mantle," Sports Illustrated, May 10, 1946: 7.15 Ibid. Ibid.
"Sid was a magnificent all-around player," said former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.
"Simone" was a name that had a very specific meaning.
"Since my inauguration, there have been rumors that I'm going to play in the big leagues.
"Since the beginning of the season, he's been my favorite player on the team.
"Sixty years from now, I'll be the only one who owns the ballclub," he said.
"Sixty-five years ago I was good enough to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers," he said.
"Sixty-five years ago, I was on my way to the majors.
"Size of the game would have been a secondary consideration if it had been a regular season game," said Kiner.
"Skeeter's got a great arm," said George Susce, the Cubs' catcher.
"Slow Cooker" — The Art of Dishesy [Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 1996], pp.
"Sluggy, the swingman from right field, was pitching instead of pitching.
"Smoky" Hayes was a solid, if a bit wild, backstop in the big leagues for most of the 1940s.
"So I was always afraid I'd be gone," he said. "I was very comfortable in the bullpen.
"So I was in the hospital for three weeks and this was the week that the New York Yankees dropped in New York.
"So I went back to the dugout and asked him, 'What for?' He said, 'To play catch.
"So I'll be playing in Pittsburgh next year," he told the Pirates' official website.
"So I'm a right-handed pitcher," said Baroni. "I was born that way.
"So I'm going to make an exception," the Giants' favorite said.
"So Papa Cerv learned about me from Papa Dumas, who was a big star in the Memphis Chicks.
"So the first pitch hit me in the forehead. I was so surprised that it hit me like a ton of bricks.
"So we were playing for the Yankees, who were playing against a team I had a tremendous deal of respect for, the New York Giants.
"So what did you do last night, Jack?" Berry asked. "Nothing," he replied.
"So you're the big guy that's making all this noise," Jack said.
"So you're the manager of the club. You're the head of the players' management.
"So you're the old school teacher who got fired," the manager said.
"So you're trying to get into a trade. I wouldn't mind.
"So, I'm the third baseman, and there goes Johnny Mize," said Kelly.
"So, he went from a very good hitter to a very bad hitter in one season," Marazzi continued.
"So, we get in a pennant race. … We're playing against the New York Yankees.
"So, you're the old lefthander," [Southerner Joe] Cronin said.
"Some balls were just SO, SO big, they looked like microchips. I saw a ball weigh 40 pounds.
"Some guys are born with the capacity to dream, and I have something like that," he said.
"Some may consider it a miracle, but I have never seen anything like it in my life. … I was speechless.
"Some of the best [I]chs and all," he said. "Won't do.
"Some of the guys, they don't like to talk about it. They're afraid of it.
"Some of the juveniles, who were about 16 or 17, told me they had seen me play," he said.
"Some of the kids would say, 'What happens when you win? You're the manager.
"Some of the young guys in the majors today, they're just not ready for the big leagues.
"Some of them were rugged and crazy like the wild ones.
"Some people say I like it," said Collins, "but I like it because I like it.
"Some people think that because he was a very good ballplayer, he was overlooked as a very good ballplayer. I disagree.
"Some players go to an organization, for reasons beyond their control, and it's a tough life," Rush said.
"Some things are just," the late Senor Raines said, "and they're worth fighting for.
"Somebody had to step up and take the job," said Moore. "I had to do it.
"Someday, I'll tell you what it's like to be a big leaguer.
"Someday," Kennedy wrote, "I'll take my chances with a .
"Someday," he said, "I'll be remembered as a great player and coach.
"Sometimes I'll go out there alone and play ball all day," he recalled in 1992.
"Sometimes I'm in the dugout before the game, and sometimes I'm on the bench before the game.
"Sometimes I'm so mad at something that I can't even put it out of my mind," he said.
"Sometimes the old saying," said Dale Tallmadge, "will do.
"Sorry, but the Yankees are the only ones who can beat me.
"Spahn and Sain and Hubbell were the big guns," he recalled.
"Spahn and Sain and I were brothers, but we were never close. We weren't even friends.
"Spahn and Sain and Ray know how to win," said Lefty, "but I don't.
"Spahn begins to crave money," stated The Sporting News of September 2, 1965.
"Spahn came up with the idea behind the plate that the left-handed hitter should hit his outside pitch to the opposite field.
"St. Louis Blues" was the buzzword in St. Louis during the off-season in the early 1950s.
"St. Louis has the best catcher in the National League.
"St. Louis is the place for baseball," Donie Bush said.
"Star-Crossed Twins," Baltimore Sun, September 24, 1968. .75. Ibid.
"Star-crossed lovers," as they were called back then, were notoriously hard to strike up.
"Stinky" Orange is the only rising star on the Nationals staff.
"Stop whining about it," Durocher told the New York Giants' manager, Whitey Lockman.
"Strike-out years! That's why I'm here," he told the crowd.
"Such impudent articles are published with contempt, just as they are without foundation.
"Suit or no suit, I'll go to war," proclaimed President Harry Truman.
"Superman!" That was the popular refrain during the post-World War II golden years of 1950 and 1951.
"Sure, he's a good pitcher, but he's also a good guy and that's what we need.
"Sweet Smoky," "the fireman," was a nickname that accorded him both honor and contempt.
"Take Care of Business," was the mantra of Joe DiMaggio as he remembered his first major league game.
"Take a good hard look at yourself," said the president.
"Take our money," said Maris. "We'll kick your ass.
"Teddy Roosevelt called me the greatest. I was the greatest all-around athlete in the history of the game. He was my idol.
"Tell me about your bat," said the manager. "I think I know all your talents.
"Thank you for making a great contribution to the success of the game," he said.
"That guy's a great competitor," Terry said of George.
"That guy's going to be a great one," said Newhouser.
"That is all for now," said Hatton. "I'll see you in Montreal in May.
"That kid is going to be a great one," Expos manager Tom Greenwade said.
"That was a good one," said San Francisco Giants manager Leo Durocher.
"That was a great pitch to hit to right field." As he recalled, "That was some hard-luck luck.
"That was a tough sell," recalled Ball, "I had a pretty good year.
"That was an amazing year," said Weiss. "I was able to play the best I ever saw in the big leagues.
"That was my best performance in any of my outings I've been on.
"That was my biggest thrill, being on the mound and seeing the crowd, the excitement, the passion, the anticipation.
"That was my first big-league home run," he recalled.
"That was one of the best nights I ever had in baseball," he recalled.
"That was really the turning point in my career," he recalled. "I was winning, and I could feel it.
"That was the greatest thrill of my life, sitting on the sidelines with those fans. I was excited.
"That was the saddest, the most painful day in my life," said former teammate and Dodgers great Eddie Waitkus.
"That was the single greatest thrill I ever had in baseball," he said.
"That's Peter Cehl," team owner Jack Dunn said firmly.
"That's a long-ball pitch. I throw it high and away. I throw it outside of the strike zone.
"That's about all I can say," he sighed. "I only hope I can play another 10 years.
"That's all I'm going to say," he said. "I was good.
"That's all for me," he said, "and that's all for the Yankees.
"That's all he did," said his mother, who had seen the trial.
"That's all right," said Lou. "I don't know what the fuss is about.
"That's all right. I'll take care of it." He told his son Charles.
"That's enough," McClure said. "I told them I was a better hitter than Detroit.
"That's how I learned to be a manager," said Joe McCarthy.
"That's how I spent my formative years," said Doby.
"That's it," he shouted, "I'll never play another game.
"That's one of the great things about it," said the Yankees manager.
"That's one of the reasons I got into baseball," he said.
"That's the advantage of having a strong arm," Grissom said.
"That's the best thing I ever did in baseball," Tom said. "I was a better hitter then.
"That's the best thing I ever learned," Lopata said.
"That's the best thing you can do, for a pitcher," he told his former teammate Bob Grim.
"That's the great thing about baseball," said Pat Scantlebury.
"That's the hard part about baseball, isn't it?… You're always thinking of the next one.
"That's the most important thing," he said. "That's the pride of my people.
"That's the real DiMaggio," said the Mets announcer.
"That's the reason I don't like being a part of that rumor mill," he said.
"That's the way I like it," he said. "I enjoy the fans.
"That's the way I wanted to play," the right-handed-hitting Pinsky said after his rookie year.
"That's the way it is in baseball," said Chicago Cubs pitcher Carl Erskine during a 1993 interview.
"That's the way it is in the big leagues. If you're not good, you're out.
"That's the way it is," he said. "All I want is to play baseball for the American League.
"That's what I've been meaning to you all these years," he declared.
"That's what he's always been known for," said his son, Bob.
"That's why I was so upset," he said many years later.
"That's…a shame," said Burdette. "I was lucky to work with a fine pitching staff.
"The 'Abby,' was my little brother. He was like a big sister to me.
"The (baseball) drills are so intense, they really get you. … I'm just a little kid.
"The Airborne Man," the cover story in Time magazine, described the war as "the greatest mistake in peacetime history.
"The All-Star" was a first-of-many surprises for the Giants.
"The All-Time Home Run Leader" was a phrase often heard in reference to Babe Ruth.
"The Amazing Race" is over. Hank Sauer won the title, and the Tigers were the first American League champions in 20 years.
"The American League's no slouch. But why, I think they'll go the hell away.
"The Angels had a wonderful atmosphere and if you were a fan, you really liked it.
"The Army sent a truck to my house. I went to the door and there was a major.
"The Arrow Is Gone." The Phillies were making a monumental shift in the middle of the season.
"The Australian Outlawed Only Gets Better," The Independent, July 8, 1955, 6.
"The Automated Duck Hunt," New York Times, December 7, 1925, 27.
"The Babe Did It, We All Did It," New York Times, June 12, 1997.
"The Babe Ruth Show" and "Lou Gehrig: The Heroes" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H.
"The Babe was always in the clubhouse, always helping out his pals, always encouraging them, always encouraging them.
"The Babe was my hero, and I just wanted to be remembered as such," said Maddux.
"The Babe was my idol, the hero of my people, and I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be like the Babe.
"The Babe" was the ultimate leader, the ultimate player who was like a father to all of us.
"The Babe's All-Time Team," New York Times, September 20, 1966: 30.
"The Babe's Burden," New York Times, October 7, 1926, 1.
"The Babe's Comin'," The Sporting News, September 1, 1932, 4.
"The Babe's Hot-Blooded Army," Saturday Evening Post, May 3, 1941.
"The Babe's a great guy," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins. "But he also made a mistake.
"The Babe's a nice guy," said Cleveland general manager Gabe Paul after the 1948 season.
"The Babe's a smart kid, but he was a smart kid before he went to America and learned how to play baseball.
"The Babe's a swell guy. I don't know why they let him win so many games.
"The Babe's a tough competitor," said Boston manager Joe McCarthy after the first game.
"The Babe's a wonderful guy," said third baseman Pee Wee Reese.
"The Babe's got a great delivery, but he doesn't know the right way to pitch a ball.
"The Babe's got this thing. He runs with it. He hits with it. He throws with it.
"The Babe's in my head," said Chet Laabs, a rookie catcher in his second season with the Pirates.
"The Babe's line drive hit me in the foot," recalled Sain in disgust.
"The Bad Boys of the Negro Leagues," ESPN, March 25, 1991: 20.4 Roger C.
"The Ballpark in Corrales," Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1976.
"The Ballplayer I Know" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Ballplayer Nobody Wanted," The Saturday Evening Post, May 23, 1948, 10.
"The Ballplayer Nobody Wanted," Weekly Standard, September 19, 1947, page 4.
"The Ballplayer Who Made Baseball Weird," New York Times, March 30, 1974: 49.28 Ibid.
"The Ballplayer Who Made Cleveland Fans Never Stop Pitching" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
"The Ballplayer Who Made Me a Yankee," is the story of how Bobby Robinson changed Bobby Brown's life.
"The Ballplayer in the Dress," Pete Rose, Boston Herald, June 6, 1950. MS.
"The Ballplayer of the Year," the Associated Press, December 10, 1965.1 Ibid.
"The Balls" were the new record set by the Yankees.
"The Bartender," Sports Illustrated, March 2, 1950, 8.11 Ibid. Ibid.
"The Baseball Hall of Fame shall be a place for all time," said Hall of Fame pitcher Denny Galehouse.
"The Baseball Necrology" by Bill Bozman, in The Autobiography of Yogi Berra, Jr.
"The Basque Country," by Tom Sturdivant, October 1942.
"The Batmobile," New York Times, February 21, 1957, 20.15 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Batmobile," September 2, 1964, Sports Illustrated, 57.
"The Battle of Candlestick," September 7, 1954, Sports Illustrated, online archive, http://www.si.
"The Battle of Midway is Over," The Saturday Evening Post, August 30, 1945: 371.
"The Battle of New Orleans," The Sporting News, December 27, 1954, 3.
"The Bear," the biographical dictionary defines the word, to mean a rugged, strong-willed animal.
"The Beautiful Game" was the official name of the burgeoning professional baseball league.
"The Best Defender in the World" has been a perennial favorite of baseball writers for 60 years.
"The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Bill's Belly," - The Sporting News, August 18, 1948.
"The Best Way to End a Relationship" was the way to end it.
"The Best of the Rest," Baseball Digest, December 1952, 65.3 Ibid.
"The Best of the Rest," New York Times, August 7, 1939, page 4.
"The Best of the Rest," Roger Bresnahan, New York Times, August 31, 1965: 24.
"The Best of the Week" lists were published in newspapers across the country on Sunday, April 15.
"The Best of the Week," Baseball Digest, March 6, 1937, 64.
"The Bible tells us to be on our guard against enemies who will take advantage of our weakness.
"The Big Bang Theory" began broadcasting on television in 1955 and would be a hit with kids of the era.
"The Big Bang," 1996, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY, p. 273.
"The Big Bang," The Saturday Evening Post, May 29, 1955: 47.
"The Big Bear in the Sky," The Sporting News, May 25, 1960: 20.
"The Big Bear," the front-running horse of the season, had a great year at the plate.
"The Big Bet" is a word that describes the tremendous amount of money at stake in this presidential election.
"The Big Breeder," The Sporting News, March 1, 1933: 12.
"The Big Buck" was a huge influence on my baseball career," he recalls.
"The Big Bull Shop" was a New York cigar wholesaler, owned by John I.
"The Big Bull,"" the New York Times, March 9, 1933, in HOF file.
"The Big Cat" was a name synonymous with the yakuza.
"The Big Cheese" was a general term used to describe both the French-Canadian singer and the American baseball player.
"The Big Curve," The Sporting News, May 20, 1932: 6.
"The Big Curve," Washington Post, July 27, 1965, 16.
"The Big Fighter," the movie in which Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams fight each other.
"The Big Game," Sports Illustrated, May 29, 1947: 45.40 Ibid. Ibid.
"The Big Nail," The Sporting News, May 31, 1955: 28. Holway, Edwin.
"The Big Push," The Sporting News, September 30, 1964, 3.
"The Big Quick" was the name given to the Chicago Cubs' first-base umpire, Calvin Griffith Gray.
"The Big Red Machine," Boston Post, March 5, 1988: 4-5.
"The Big Red Machine," Sports Illustrated, September 22, 1971: 14.11 William E.
"The Big Red Machine," the Detroit Tigers, won the American League East division by 12 games over Brooklyn in 1949.
"The Big Show," the quintessential monologuing autobiography of a tough competitor, is no ditty-jolly trimmer.
"The Big Show," was the refrain that would echo throughout the 1950s.
"The Big Showdown," Sports Illustrated, October 3, 1971: 19.
"The Big Stick," Baseball Magazine, March 1955, p. 80.
"The Big Train Graveyard" (SABR, 2018), edited by Matthew Silverman and Bill Nowlin.
"The Big Train Wrecked Our Ballclub," New York Times, January 3, 1933.
"The Big Train is Back," The Sporting News, August 3, 1945.14 The Sporting News, October 1, 1945.
"The Big Train to Southport," Chicago Tribune, June 12, 1939, 16.19 Freeman.
"The Big Train" was lucky to be at the World Series in Cleveland, where he was reunited with his hero, Babe Ruth.
"The Big Train," Sports Illustrated, August 6, 1937.
"The Bill" was a story that went straight from the newspaper pages to the biggest stage of the World Series.
"The Bird and The Bee," The Sporting News, July 31, 1955, 1.
"The Bird and the Bee!" was the best-selling book of the 1960s, and each time it was about the same length.
"The Birth of a Yankee Hustler" is the story of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
"The Bishop had a great look at me," Boudreau said.
"The Bishop" is a player who is the head of the faithful and the spiritual leader of the faithful.
"The Bizarre Adventures of Frank Malzone, Jr.," New York Times, July 5, 1947: 4.
"The Black Knights of Columbus," a team that would win the 1928 National League pennant but lose the World Series to the St.
"The Blue Jackets were a pain in the ass in spring training," recalled Red Rolfe. "They would freak out.
"The Blues" was the name of a nightclub in Chicago that was open to all races and creeds.
"The Boilermaker Boys," the story of the dramatic comeback of the 1947 Yankees, was earning a great deal of attention.
"The Boogeyman," The Sporting News, July 19, 1957.28 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Book on Sandy Koufax," The Sporting News, July 21, 1968, 8.
"The Boy Who Can Can No Longer Knew His Sport," New York Times, April 11, 1967, 23.
"The Boy Who Can Stop The Giants" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Boy Who Fought Cancer" was the story of how a young boy battles cancer and then saves his own life.
"The Boy Who Lived," New Orleans Times-Picayune, August 27, 1977, 63.
"The Boys of Summer" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Boys of Summer" is the story of the 1940 Negro League in Cairo, Alabama.
"The Boys of Summer," Sports Illustrated, August 1, 1974, 16.
"The Boys of Summer," The Saturday Evening Post, August 18, 1948: 4-5.
"The Boys" (publication of the Chicago: Wilde and Co.
"The Brain" was the nickname under which Jaeger first played baseball.
"The Braves weren't faring any better in the standings.
"The Braves won the pennant and faced the Yankees in the World Series.
"The Braves' four straight wins in the series were the biggest thrill of my life," said Walker.
"The Breaks" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
"The Bronx Bombers" (1952), the picture book of the New York Yankees, was a runaway best-seller.
"The Bronx Bombers" was a term the Yankees used to describe the team that won the World Series in 1929.
"The Brown Bag," the story of how Jackie Robinson first caught the attention of major-league baseball.
"The Browns' last hope was to trade Babe Ruth. The Yankees were making a push to get him.
"The Bulldog of Atlanta" (SABR, 2018), edited by Bill Nowlin and C. Paul Rogers III.
"The Bum Rush" and "Cardinal Vertigo," The Sporting News, July 8, 1944, 1.
"The Bum Rush" was a term reserved for the most egregious Boston sluggers of the late 1940s and 1950s.
"The Bums" are the most underrated Major League team of the last two decades.
"The Call" is a drama-filled, often hilarious, portrait of a baseball life.
"The Cardinals would not give me a break. I would get paid to play. Besides, I'm no good.
"The Cat" is a baseball novel by Charles Einstein Lewis, published in 1948.
"The Cat" was a major league batting champion from 1946 to 1950.
"The Cat" was a nickname that would endure for more than 60 years after the event.
"The Cat's got to go for the Cubs," said Chicago manager Charlie Grimm.
"The Cat's in the Hat has a better story," his manager told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"The Cat's in the Hat," The Sporting News, May 9, 1941.
"The Cleveland Indians are my favorite team," said Cleveland television announcer Vin Scully. "They have everything.
"The Cleveland Indians are the greatest baseball team ever assembled," said Bill Terry.
"The Cleveland Indians don't like big-name players," said a Cleveland sports newspaper.
"The Cleveland Indians have everything," said the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio.
"The Cleveland Indians will be my biggest, best, and most important fans.
"The Cleveland Indians,"wrote Ray, "have been entertaining Indians fans for a quarter-century.
"The Clothes," Baseball Magazine, August, 1954: 61.
"The Club has a great staff, but they know how to win.
"The Colonels" was the first major-league baseball team to play in the new Dixie League.
"The Commodore is the most beloved and admired baseball hero in the United States," Harry T.
"The Coolidge Kid," The Sporting News, November 20, 1934, 1.
"The Country's Most Valuable Player," The Sporting News, August 22, 1993, 20.
"The Crap Off," Baseball Digest, August 1950:1. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Crippling Curse of the New Buffalo," The Sporting News, October 3, 1943.
"The Crowd," The New York Times, March 11, 1967, 31.
"The Cubs are a great team. But I think they are going to break the bank to win.
"The Cubs are a lousy team," said Francona. "But I'll show them some weapons.
"The Cubs finally got rid of him because they're a chain of supply club. He's not a bad guy.
"The Cubs sent me over to San Francisco as a backup catcher. I was going to be the starting catcher.
"The Cubs' A.L. affiliate in Kansas City, continued to play well and hone their skills.
"The Cubs' World Series heroics made me realize that I'm a lucky guy.
"The Cubs' bat stopped moving and the ball started to fall to the ground.
"The Cubs' pitch to me was slow, but the Cubs were a very important team to me," Spahn recalled.
"The Cubs' record books will tell you this: in one season, the Pirates' left-handed slugger hit .
"The Cuyler brothers were the perfect fit for the Dodgers.
"The Daffiness of North Carolina Horse Racing," (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Deadball Era Has Passed Us By" by Michael Lewis.
"The Deadball Era," Sports Illustrated, September 21, 1994, online archive. http://www.si.
"The Deadlift Guy" A good barbell lift, but not a great one.
"The Department of Defense's special-assignment coordinator, William R.
"The Depth Perception Knows It" by Bill McGowan in The Sporting News, May 1, 1970, 1, 17.
"The Devil is in the Details," The Sporting News, February 16, 1942, 3.
"The Devil's Inley," Baseball Digest, August, 1951, 115.
"The Diamond" was a nickname that had a life, as there was a career in the world of baseball.
"The Difference Between Style and Substance," Sports Illustrated, August 1946: 41.
"The Difference Between a Good Scrap and a Great One," New York Times, October 5, 1938.
"The Dodgers didn't help me," said Landis, "but a guy who helped me was Pete Rosar.
"The Dodgers dug in and went crazy," Gutierrez recalled.
"The Dodgers got two great players in me and I'm the only one who can play right field and left field.
"The Dodgers were my favorite team growing up," he said in 2003.
"The Dodgers won it," he recalled, "and I was in the dugout, and they were ecstatic.
"The Dodgers' summer league will be the biggest in history.
"The Dollar Vigilante," The Sporting News, November 20, 1951: 15.
"The Dollop," the nickname given to the run-in with the Cincinnati Reds, was a memorable one.
"The Dramatics" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Dream is Over…But the Fight Is Inside," New York Times, June 4, 1979. Ibid.
"The Elderly Wanderers," Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1950.42 Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1950.
"The End?" The end came on the last day of the 1934 season.
"The Eye of the Tiger," September 24, 1957, by Jack Lestrange, National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"The Face of the Yankees" became a tag-name for Yankees hitters. It was a moniker that had little meaning then.
"The Fall of a City," May 10, 1936, New York Times.
"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," George Will, Jr. (New York: Harper, Inc.
"The Fifties were a great decade for the Negro Leagues," said Al Benton Jr.
"The Fifties," The Sporting News, August 2, 1970, 8.7 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"The First Time I Kissed A Girl, I Kissed A Giant," The Onion, December 6, 1972: 3.
"The Flagbearer for the Flag," United Press, January 5, 1974, 15.
"The Fly Righteous," becomes a favorite of Cubs fans.
"The Fly in the Painted Painted Bowl" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Force is with us," said Reggie Jackson, "and I want you to know it.
"The French Lauded Myer," Baseball Digest, Summer 1948, p. 88.19 Ibid.
"The Fuzzy Nerve" had a reputation as the greatest of the "fuzzy breed.
"The Game of Baseball," Sports Illustrated, July 4, 1954: 30.
"The Game of Life," Photojournalist, New York Times, March 3, 1940.
"The Game of One Hundred Pitches," Sports Illustrated, August 31, 1954: 30.
"The Game of the Pennant," Sports Illustrated, April 19, 1971. Web.
"The Games" were the hottest ticket in town for baseball fans of all ages.
"The Gashouse Gang" (1956): The Complete Guide to American Sports, edited by Don Zminda.
"The Gashouse Gang," The Saturday Evening Post, March 7, 1949, 35.
"The Giant Killer" is a tag that is not particularly flattering to the man.
"The Giants are built to win," he said. "And we're built to win.
"The Giants made history in 1949 by signing Rickey to run the organization. The milestone year was 1949.
"The Giants played in the World Series, and the Dodgers won, but they showed everyone how good they are," he said.
"The Giants played like a second-division club the last two years," said Kauff.
"The Giants were one of the best teams ever in baseball, and they won a World Series.
"The Giants won the pennant and they won the World Series.
"The Giants' Johnny Mize, of all people, is the greatest player ever," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"The Giants' Oakland Oaks," New York Times, March 31, 1954. Ibid.
"The Giants' World Series rematch with the Yankees was no mere nostalgia trip for the former St.
"The Giants' fault," he said, "I think it was Arroyo.
"The Giants' great pitching duo of 1938 and 1939 was truly a team of class," said Senators owner Clark Griffith.
"The Giants' offense was in disarray. We were the worst team in baseball last year," recalled Evers.
"The Giants' pitching staff was loaded with pitching talent. Bob Gibson, Whit Wyatt, and Ernie Broglio.
"The Giants' success in 1962 was due in large part to the presence of Madison Bumholtz at third base.
"The Giants' victory in the World Series was an inspiration to us all," said Ruth.
"The Giants' win over the Dodgers on the last day of the season was the highlight of my year," Al said.
"The Glorious 'Glory of His Life," The Sporting News, March 5, 1936.
"The Godfather," directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is probably the greatest American movie ever made.
"The Godfather," wrote Robert Sullivan in the Christian Science Monitor, "has been a revelation for the Chicago Cubs.
"The Good Lord was good to me. He gave me the ability to play baseball because he knew I had it.
"The Good Lord was on my side," the senior Cooper said.
"The Good Lord was on my side," the son says. "I had a passion for baseball.
"The Good Old Days," The Saturday Evening Post, May 5, 1950: 7.12 Charles C.
"The Good Soldier" was a recurring theme in baseball lore from the late 1930s through the early 1940s.
"The Great American Bash" was the name of the 1954 All-Star game, which was held in Philadelphia's City Park.
"The Great American Batting Charts," New York Times, July 20, 2005, D .
"The Great American Bummer," Baseball Digest, March 1950: 4-5.
"The Great American Burden" Yet he was a respected and admired leader.
"The Great Depression," (New York: Empire, 1947), 167.3 Ibid., 176.4 Ibid., 176.
"The Great Escape" is the story of the escape of the Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff in the opening days of the 1955 season.
"The Great Escape," was the theme of this week's episode of The Ed Sullivan Show.
"The Great Train Robbery" (Doubleday & Co., New York: G.P.
"The Great War Will Never Be Over," New York Times, August 4, 1942, 1.
"The Great Yankee Whistler" (SABR, 2018), edited by Peter C. Roth and Bill Nowlin.
"The Greatest Generation," Baseball Magazine, March 1953, 39-40.
"The Greatest Generation," ESPN Magazine, July 3, 1979.8 Ibid. Harry T.
"The Greatest Generation," ESPN, May 25, 1994, online archive.
"The Greatest Generation," Roger Consuegra interviews Bruce Lindsay, Jr.
"The Greatest Generation," Sport, August, 1972, 15: 2015.
"The Greatest Generation," Sports Illustrated, December 9, 1990: 69.
"The Greatest Generation," Sports Illustrated, May 3, 1975.
"The Greatest Generation," The Sporting News, August 1, 1975, 1.
"The Greatest Show on the Green," pitting the St. Louis Cardinals against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"The H-E-L opened at the corner of Third Street and Independence Avenue.
"The Hall of Fame" will be a special place for him.
"The Hammer" scored more runs (144) than any other Reds' pitcher in the 1950s.
"The Hatton Hatton of Angels," The Sporting News, May 2, 1943.
"The Hatton in the Red Sox," had been the team's official mascot since 1925.
"The Hatton was the greatest all-around athlete I ever saw," said Sam Mele.
"The Heart Of A Nank," Warren Brown, "Sports Illustrated," June 27, 1981: 75.
"The Hero, the Hustler, the Game of Baseball," David L.
"The Hickok Kid," sportswriter Dan Daniel wrote, "is the most talked about and most obscure player in baseball.
"The Hippo" was the name given to the first American to fly in space.
"The Holdout Babe" is a generally accepted nickname for Babe Ruth.
"The Holy Trinity" were the three teams that comprised the Yankees.
"The Hook" was a short-lived television series that ran from 1965 to 1971.
"The House That Time Won't Forget," The Sporting News, August 18, 1970: 21.4 Ronald T.
"The Hunt For A New Bobby Jones," Sporting News, August 10, 1966, 14.
"The Hunt and the Burden," The Saturday Evening Post, August 1, 1970, 50. In the story, editor J.
"The Hustler" became an honor in many families during the years when he was playing professional baseball.
"The Indians are the best minor league team I ever saw," said White Sox pitching coach Harry "Tubby" Meyer.
"The Indians have been our team for a long time," said Dick Groat, the Red Sox' new manager.
"The Indians' Brad Ryes, who had a good eye for talent, made a trade," said Cleveland manager Al Lopez.
"The Inverted U," photo essay, The LIFE Picture Collection.
"The Japanese are coming, the Americans are going, and we have nothing to do but guard our position.
"The Jets are the greatest baseball team ever," said George C. Will, "but they are also the most hated.
"The Joker" was in." — Lou Gehrig, as quoted in The Sporting News, June 2, 1950.
"The Juggernaut" (Navy), "The World of the Juggernaut" (Doubleday & Co.
"The Jughead," the archetype of the hard-throwing right-hander, was becoming more and more popular.
"The Kentucky Derby," Longreads, October 26, 1927, 32.
"The Keys to Victory in the Cold War," Baseball Magazine, January 1950, pp. 75-76.
"The Kid" is a term often used to describe those who were on the scene late to the party.
"The Kid" was a big-league hitter who didn't have enough at-bats to qualify him for the honor.
"The Kid" was a name familiar to millions of fans watching the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training in 1948.
"The Kid" was born to William "Bill" and Frances (Greider) Skate on September 12, 1914.
"The Kid" was the nickname of a Chicago boy who went to a different district school, but graduated in 1946.
"The Kid" was the youngest skipper in major-league history. He was also the oldest.
"The Kid," Jim Murray, "The Voice of the Mets," �All-Star.
"The Kid," a kid with real potential, became a superstar in the biggest league in America.
"The Kids" was a group of unemployed Chicagoans who in the years immediately after the war would be on the lookout for work.
"The King made the mistake of bringing up a third baseman," recalled Del Crandall.
"The King of Fighters" is the story of how Billy Southworth turned the Pittsburgh Pirates around in the late 1940s and 1950s.
"The Kissing of ­Johnny Logan," Sport, June 1941: 29. Despite the language, the story was real.
"The Knights were like a ton of bricks," said Eddie Waitkus, who played in five games.
"The Kukla Kid," Sports Illustrated, May 4, 1965, online archive.
"The Lady in the Green Coat was an inspiration. She was the greatest of all time. She was a great leader.
"The Last Time Chicago Used Its Superstars," January 2, 1932, Chicago Daily Tribune, p. C-1.
"The Last Time We Played The Game," The Sporting News, October 21, 1969: 27.8 Ibid.
"The Last of the Mohicans" (SABR, 2018), edited by Greg Holland and Bill Nowlin.
"The Lefty Grove Show" airs on NBC, October 6, 1983.
"The Legend Continues To Move," New York Times, April 1, 1949: 39.
"The Legend Returns: Marty Marion," Sports Illustrated, August 8, 1974: 85.
"The Legend of the Blue Sky" is the enduring legend of Curt Flood's career.
"The Legend of the Red Dragon," Sport, August 1960, p. 28.
"The Little Prince is a fascinating character. He had a great personality, he had a great frame, and he had a tremendous heart.
"The Little Rascals" (HarperCollins, 2009), edited by David R. Porter and Bill Nowlin.
"The Little Ripper" was one of the most famous baseball players of the twentieth century.
"The Little Rock Traveler" was the prevailing title, but the reality was a little different.
"The Live Fast And The Dead Too," Sunday Tribune, May 26, 1957. Ibid.
"The Loch Ness Monster," New York Times, April 3, 1990, 53.17 Brad.
"The Long Good Morning," was the story of a man losing his fortune in a bad investment.
"The Long Goodbye" was the ultimate farewell, for Bob Johnson was leaving the game of baseball behind him.
"The Longest Hundred in Diamonds and Pearls," The Sporting News, October 13, 1936: 3.
"The Longest Ride," The Saturday Evening Post, September 1, 1931, 18. John C.
"The Lord had given him a great opportunity," said Joe Cronin. "He was great to the team.
"The Lord has blessed me with the ability to pitch and I am determined to make an impact on the big-league ballgame.
"The Lord of the Flies" is a story about a good-year player.
"The Lord's Righteous," New York Times, January 7, 1933.
"The Louisville Courier-Journal" (Louisville, Kentucky), November 4, 1995, 1.
"The Love of Baseball? It's All in the Words," Hearst, June 2, 1941.
"The Major Leaguer," The New York Times, August 30, 1942, 1.
"The Malzone Show" is a fascinating look at the inner thoughts of a baseball player and their role in the game.
"The Man in Black" is a baseball story that should be about baseball, not baseball, and not baseball.
"The Man in the High Castle," Sam Greene, New York Times, May 31, 1938. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Man in the High Castle," Shirley Povich, Washington Post, May 12, 1955: 44.
"The Man in the High Castle," The Sporting News, September 25, 1941: 27.
"The Man in the High Heel," The Sporting News, October 22, 1951: 4.
"The Man with the Blue Eyes," was the story in our newspapers of October 3, 1957.
"The Man with the Ugly Red Shirt," Time, May 3, 1937: 81.
"The Mantle of Twirling," The Sporting News, July, 1965, 1. http://www.sbnation.
"The Mark Twain" was a character who wrote much of his own book.
"The Master's Hand," Sport, September 1951: 75.16 The original source for the story is the William S.
"The Mets lost [Ewell] Bridges to a back injury," said Mets manager Burt Shotton.
"The Miracle Mile" was the United States's victory in the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Chicago. The U.S.
"The Miracle," reflected Roger Bresnahan on the close-run second game played on September 28.
"The Missing Link" was the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.
"The Most Famous Catcher in Baseball" turned 35 on July 31, 1963, and his name was on everyone's mind.
"The Most Famous Yankee" is a great title, but it only scratches the surface.
"The Most Interesting Man in Baseball," The Sporting News, February 18, 1936, 1.
"The Most Interesting Man in Baseball," William Mead wrote, "has been making a remarkable impression on the minds of Chicagoans.
"The Most Likeable Man in Baseball" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Most Onerous Hit I Ever Made," The Sporting News, May 11, 1976: 23.4 Ibid. Ibid.
"The Most Pleased I Ever Was," Anson American News, January 24, 1950: 22.
"The Most Popular Player In The National League" (The Sporting News), June 16, 1933: 17.
"The Most Popular Player in Baseball," The Sporting News, August 10, 1957.
"The Most Suspicious Man in Baseball," New York Times, February 21, 1957.
"The National Heretic," The Christian Science Monitor, August, 1950: 80.3 Ibid.
"The Never-Say-Die" brand of baseball was born in the waning days of World War II in 1946.
"The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract," (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 54-55.
"The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract," New York Times, June 20, 2010.
"The New Kid" was the moniker his friends gave him for himself.
"The New York Yankees would have been a great place for me to play my first big-league game," said Laabs.
"The Night the Mets Wiped Out Brooklyn" [New York: Crown, 2003], edited by Peter C.
"The No. 1 thing that makes me tick is my family," he said.
"The O.R. had no business running the ballpark," said Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck.
"The Old Man and the Sea" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Old Man of the Long Ball," George Case, New York World-Telegram, June 29, 2013.
"The Old Man" was gone, but his popularity in the locker room multiplied.
"The Old Man's War," New York Times, September 11, 1941. Ibid.
"The Old Soldier" [William Finney] was a good-hitting, tough-to-catch outfielder.
"The Old Soldier" was a nickname that would endure for decades.
"The Old Soldier" was our first serious look at how this would work.
"The One I Can't Miss," The Sporting News, September 30, 1991, 29.21 Ibid.
"The One That's On," The Inaugural Ball Players, edited by Bill Nowlin and C.
"The Other Ones," The Sporting News, December 11, 1962, 23.4 Ibid. A.L.
"The Panthers are the American League's best team. But they are also the most misunderstood.
"The Park was an oasis of sorts for pitchers with little experience. It was clean, bright, inviting to the hitter.
"The Pee Wee Show" was a hit, at least in its first week.
"The Pennant," Saturday Evening Post, September 2, 1947.
"The Pennington Innocents," The Sporting News, August 3, 1946:19.
"The Perfect Game," The Sporting News, January 24, 1952.
"The Philadelphia fans are as good as the Cincinnati Reds," said Reds manager Connie Mack.
"The Phils Have to Win for the Streak," The Daily News, May 30, 1962, 1.
"The Pickwick Larceny," New York Times, March 25, 1933: 35.
"The Pied Piper," The Sporting News, October 3, 1950, 7.
"The Pinstripes," A.L. Newsday, October 16, 1938, 14.2 Ibid.
"The Pirates got rid of him because he was old," said Stengel.
"The Pivoting of the Pivotal Period," Sports Illustrated, May 7, 1959, 14.17 Ibid.
"The Play That Time Wore Like a Patchwork Bed and Wore It Twice," New York Times, June 3, 1961.
"The Power Couple" is the story of how Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig overcame their differences to become the best at their craft.
"The Power and Glory of Baseball" was not a hit with the censor.
"The Power of Friendship and the Power of the People," United Press International, January 8, 1945.
"The Power of the Gun," The Sporting News, January 27, 1935. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Power of the Pink Panther," The Sporting News, December 3, 1944: 5.17 Ibid.
"The President's New Fears," Washington Post, March 7, 1957.
"The Presumption of Perfection" was a philosophy that permeated American sports culture throughout the 1930s and early 1940s.
"The Prince of Darkness" is a story many people remember from the 1930s.
"The Puddin' Head," Buffalo News, April 15, 1954, 18.4 Stephen M.
"The Queens of the Yankees," Baseball Magazine, July 1930: 17.
"The Red Sox are going to be a great team next year," he said. "But we have to win.
"The Red Sox are hurting for pitching," said the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bob Whiting on April 5, 1948.
"The Red Sox are the greatest baseball team ever," he told the Boston Herald's Arthur Daley.
"The Red Sox gave me the opportunity to become a professional athlete," Doby recalls.
"The Red Sox have been our team all season, and we'll keep everybody else down if we win.
"The Red Sox have been the envy of the league since the days of Babe Ruth," said Boston sportswriter Jim Murray.
"The Rickey family has been so wonderful to me," he said. "I am truly grateful.
"The River Runs Red," The Sporting News, August 4, 1958, page 4. Ibid.
"The Rock" was an intimidating name for a guy who had just won back-to-back batting titles: .
"The Royals were the most exciting team in baseball," he said. "They won a World Series in their first year.
"The Sarnies were the greatest team I ever played for," he recalled in 1997. "The Yankees were just phenomenal.
"The Scooter" was a unique and singular figure in American sports history. His exploits on the baseball diamond were legendary.
"The Scooter," the story goes, was a tragic figure.
"The Serenade" (1956), directed by Walter Langford, is a classic tale in the making.
"The Series was the greatest thrill of my life," said Giambi.
"The Series's Demons" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
"The Shot Heard 'Round the World," Jackie Robinson and the Negro Baseball Leagues in the 1930s, ed.
"The Show Must Go On" was the refrain that came out of almost every clubhouse door in the 1950s.
"The Show Must Go On," The Sporting News, October 2, 1980.
"The Show" is a funny name, but it really is what it seems.
"The Show" was a weekly sports program on local radio station KYW-FM. Host Ralph S.
"The Show" was an entertaining show, filled with colorful characters and a great deal of controversy.
"The Show's Over," (New York Times), July 7, 1931, page 1.
"The Soldiers of D-Day," The Saturday Evening Post, October 6, 1944, 1.
"The Sopranos" is the story of a duel between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.
"The South Side was the bridge that carried the Yankees' flag.
"The Sox" closed the season with a loss to the Yankees but a victory over the Red Sox.
"The Special Team" was the official team nickname in the United States.
"The Spirit of St. Louis" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Spirit of St. Louis," Sports Illustrated, June, 1959.
"The Sporting News" reported, "Bartell is a smart player who understands the game and how to play it.
"The Sports of Kings and Queens," New York Times, May 1, 1958, 4.
"The Squawk Box" was invented by George White and Harold Munger. It became a smash hit in the New York advertising world.
"The Stingray" was the famous nickname given to the surveillance equipment used by the FBI in the 1950s and 60s.
"The Swinging Sixties…" , Sports Illustrated, July, 1966, 31.3 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
"The Tall Tactician" is a word that describes some of the most brilliant tacticians of the last two centuries.
"The Tall Tactician" was a wonderful description of one of the Indians' best players in the early stages of his career.
"The Taste of Victory," April 10, 1945, New York Times.
"The Tattoo Wasn't That Bad," by Frank Yeutter, July 4, 1959: 219.
"The Teacher's Pals," The Sporting News, August 6, 1954: 5.
"The Third Season," January 1935: 7-8.21 Interview with author.
"The Thirsty Road to the White Table," The Sporting News, October 30, 1936: 13.5 Brown v.
"The Three B's: Baseball's Worst Teams," Sports Illustrated, August 13, 1998.
"The Thrill of Victory" was the story of the thrilling conclusion to Game Seven at Yankee Stadium.
"The Tigers' first baseman was responsible for my first date with a girl.
"The Tribe" is a name that has had a significant impact on the way Indians players and fans perceive the 1950 season.
"The Tug of War," Walter Langford in Sports Illustrated, March 30, 1951: 18.
"The Twist" is the story of how Ted Williams became a slugging big leaguer.
"The Twist" is what happens when a ballplayer reaches a new level of accomplishment beyond his previous accomplishments.
"The Ultimate Fan," Sports Illustrated, August 5, 1988: 46.
"The Veeck boys were the greatest baseball guys I ever knew," recalled Dickson.
"The Veecks sold me to the Browns," he said. "They were the ones who sold me.
"The Very Best of the Giants," Sports Illustrated, October 1962: 28.
"The War of the Coral Sea," The Country Times, July 31, 1944, 3-4.
"The Warriors' star pitcher" was assigned the nickname "The Tall Tactician.
"The Washington Post" story in August, on the "first advent of air travel," reported that "Mr.
"The Way I Was," the memoirs of Jackie Robinson, offers a portrait of the sportswriter as well as the man.
"The Way They Cried, Pops" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
"The Weight of a Horse," Jonathan Swift, June 17, 1931.
"The West Wing," New York Times, September 9, 1954, 44. Harry T.
"The White Sox are a great basketball team," said Grantland Rice, general manager of the Milwaukee Braves.
"The White Sox finally got rid of the Yankees and became a contender.
"The White Sox have had their eye on me for a long time.
"The White Sox often talked about a pitcher as a cannonball.
"The White Sox," a group of major league stars, had assembled to compete for the American League championship.
"The White Sox," one of the most beloved franchises in baseball history, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.
"The Wildcat," which satirized the world of professional baseball, was broadcast on WBC radio in December 1955.
"The Wills," Behind the Wills by Ken Stanley and C. Paul Rogers III, 160-161.
"The Winch and the Wire,"†The Sporting News, April 18, 1957: 8.
"The Wings of Liberty," The Sporting News, May 11, 1945.
"The Wisest Man in Baseball" (SABR, 2018), edited by Maxwell Kates and Bill Nowlin.
"The Wizard of Oz" (quote from author), Charlie Gehringer was as recognizable as any player in the 20th century.
"The Wizard of Oz" — or so the legend has it — runs afoul of the law.
"The Wonder Years," New York Times, March 28, 1951: 15. Ibid.
"The World Series between the Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals is more exciting than the Battle of the Bulge ever was.
"The World Series in Cleveland was like a high school reunion," recalled Whitey. "I was so excited.
"The World Series is a bad way to start a family," Jackie said. He was right about the money part.
"The World Series is a great experience for me," he said.
"The World Series is a great opportunity for baseball," he said.
"The World Series is a great place for a guy like me to play, but it's terrible for business.
"The World Series is a great thing for baseball," he told the New York Times's Shirley Povich.
"The World Series is a great thing for sports," said Shotton. "But I am going to miss the old school.
"The World Series is a joke," Grieve said. "First of all, the Dodgers are really losers in this thing.
"The World Series is a joke. … You never, never know what the hell is going to happen.
"The World Series is a long haul," he said. "We'll be in good shape and ready to go.
"The World Series is a terrible place to start a career," he said.
"The World Series is a test of human endurance," he said. "This is a game of nerves.
"The World Series is about to begin," declared a breathless Richard Goldstein in The Saturday Evening Post.
"The World Series is going to be a great series." That was the prediction of many.
"The World Series is like a soap opera. You're in the lead role in a drama.
"The World Series is over. But here I am, in the clubhouse, just about ready to go home.
"The World Series is the greatest day of people's lives," Crawford said.
"The World Series is the greatest spectator attraction in the history of the United States," said Thomas Jefferson.
"The World Series is the greatest sporting event ever.
"The World Series is the greatest thrill," said Mickey Owen.
"The World Series is the most difficult thing you can have to go through," he said.
"The World Series of 1940," Sports Illustrated, October 1, 1940: 56.
"The World Series was a disaster for the Yankees." Back in New York, however, things were much different.
"The World Series was a fraud," Trump said of the fall classic.
"The World Series was exciting because it was the first time that baseball was allowed to play a World Series.
"The World Series will be a great series," said Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg.
"The World Series will be a great series," said Cleveland general manager Gabe Paul.
"The World Series will be a tough Series to predict.
"The World Series will be like the Grand Slam Final between the New York Yankees and the St.
"The World Series will be like the World Cup," he said. "We will see who can hit the ball and win.
"The World Series will be the most exciting in my career," he said. But he was wrong.
"The World Series — A History," Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2015. 110.
"The World Series's first two games were played in Kansas City.
"The World's First Gay Major League Manager," UPI, May 24, 1994, 14.
"The World's Greatest Catchers Are Back," New York Times, April 13, 2006.
"The World's Greatest Catchers," New York Times, August 3, 1999, A .
"The World's Most Beautiful Ballplayer," New York Times, July 13, 1950.
"The Yankee Clipper" was a common nickname for the New York Yankees.
"The Yankee Clipper" was a term never before or since used by Yankees announcers.
"The Yankees are a great team, but I think they lack zest for life," he admitted.
"The Yankees are a great team, but they can't win without pitching," he said.
"The Yankees are a great team, for sure, but they are playing so well, you've got to give them credit.
"The Yankees are always bringing it back," Giambi said.
"The Yankees are doing everything they can to get me," he lamented. "I've been through a lot.
"The Yankees are doing something I'll never understand: they are winning and winning and winning.
"The Yankees are going places. They're winning them over. They're the real deal.
"The Yankees are going to be a great team," he said.
"The Yankees are going to beat us and be the champion.
"The Yankees are going to have to get rid of me," said DiMaggio.
"The Yankees are like a lot of old men," says Mickey Mantle. "They are wise beyond their years.
"The Yankees are the greatest baseball team ever assembled," said A.L. manager Bucky Harris.
"The Yankees become the defending champs of the American League," Tom Meany of the New York Times wrote.
"The Yankees gave me exactly what I wanted," Orval said.
"The Yankees had a great year," said Mason, "but the World Series was a disappointment.
"The Yankees have a great outfield, but they're not strong on the pitching front," he said.
"The Yankees have been great to me," the veteran first baseman told a reporter.
"The Yankees have been my baseball team," said McDougald.
"The Yankees have been pretty stingy to me this year," said Held. "I'll tell somebody.
"The Yankees have had great hitters in the past, but never a great one like Mickey Mantle.
"The Yankees have the best catching pitchers in baseball," said Yankee manager Bucky Harris.
"The Yankees in the early days, they were known as the Yankees of the East.
"The Yankees made a great effort to make sure that I didn't lose my place in the lineup," recalled Zimmerman.
"The Yankees used to play at Yankee Stadium for free, so I got the $5 bill. Then they let me borrow it.
"The Yankees were my team. My whole life was with them.
"The Yankees will need to replace some of the veterans with younger players.
"The Yankees won the World Series, but that was a fluke," he said.
"The Yankees' World Series history is pretty well forgotten these days," wrote George Will.
"The Yankees' World Series victory was almost a foregone conclusion.
"The Yankees' lone Southpaw, Harry Byrd, may have been the most overlooked player on the team.
"The Yankees' success in the early days of their popularity was due to their outstanding pitching talent.
"The Yankees, and particularly Babe Ruth, are notorious for their bad apples," said the good-hearted Babe.
"The Yanks are gonna bust us,"" said DiMaggio. "We're just too good.
"The Yellow Towel" was the unibrowed, standard-issue male grooming item of the 1950s.
"The aging canines were a big help to him," recalled retired Athletics catcher Mickey Harris.
"The aim of the strike," wrote The New York Times, "has been to make a point that Mrs.
"The airplane I'd landed on was a warplane," recalled Ed Kranepool back in 1945.
"The amount of men who want to play baseball is going to increase dramatically," he predicted.
"The answer to the riddle of Mr. Mack" is a simple, if enigmatic one.
"The art of pitching is developing control," said Pie Traynor. "That's what I mean.
"The audacity of that was the biggest thrill I ever had in baseball," Del Crandall said.
"The ball is in the right place, and the manager made the right call.
"The ball was a good change-up and he could beat you's.
"The ball was a little bit higher for him," said teammate Billy Pierce.
"The ball was flying, and I was so nervous," he recalled. "I'll never forget this.
"The ball was going out the other end," recalled David Hooper. "We were pretty sure we were going to lose.
"The ball was gone. The batter was out. I was the lucky guy.
"The ball was in my hand, and I didn't have a choice," he said.
"The ball was in my hand," he recalled. "I hit it to left.
"The ball was in my hand," he said. He had a little trouble releasing it.
"The ball was in my hand," he told reporters after the series.
"The ball was in my hand," recalled Mazehl, "and I knew it was going to be a homer.
"The ball was inside." The next morning the Marlins' bench was nearly all crowded out by the fans.
"The ball was just a bit too big to handle," recalled Bill Werle. "We had to pick something.
"The ball was my friend, and I'd hit it to the left and right.
"The ball was pitched in a way that I had never seen before and I was speechless," said Green.
"The ball was right in his face,' and he was ready to erupt.
"The ball was the same size as a quarter," recalled Baker.
"The ball was the same size as his bat and he had a pretty good bat," recalled Braves teammate Eddie Stanky.
"The ball went out a little bit to left," he recalls.
"The ball went out to my left," he remembered. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
"The ball's going to be in my court," he said. The next day, he was gone.
"The ballplayer who came to the plate was the story," said Joe Cronin. "He was the hero.
"The ballplayer, in his own way, has a civic responsibility to keep the peace.
"The baseball fans in my neighborhood liked me," said Smith.
"The baseball gods have spoken, and there are two ways to die," said Rivera.
"The baseball gods have spoken," famously said Babe Ruth, "and they have spoken very clearly.
"The baseball gods smiled upon me when I took the mound that first spring with the Reds.
"The baseball gods were in our corner," said Bob Turley, a Blackfellow High School star and baseball coach.
"The baseball gods were with us today," Grissom remembered.
"The baseball people tell me they want him to be a big leaguer.
"The baseball season was like a summer wedding," said Sam.
"The basics are out. The big players are in. The movie is over.
"The bat came to me, and I was just a kid. … It was so flimsy.
"The bat is a symbol of the man, and he who flies it represents the ideal of the man.
"The bat tells the story. The bat tells the whole story.
"The bat was a great help. When they went to have a look at it, they couldn't believe what they saw.
"The bat was big," recalled Hallahan. "The bat got to be the big one.
"The batboy, or catcher, was all that I had," Hegan said. "I had to work hard.
"The batboys were wonderful," said Grover Cleveland Alexander. "They were like a drum set.
"The battle for the soul of the game continued in the 1920s," Andrews wrote in a recent biography of his baseball hero.
"The battle of the drums began on August 31, 1940, in the county of Worcester, Massachusetts, where I'm from.
"The beautiful part about it," he recalled, "is that we won. We won because of good pitching.
"The beautiful thing about baseball is that you never stop learning," said McQuinn.
"The beauty of it all was that it didn't get any easier," he said.
"The beauty of it is we got everybody on the same page.
"The beauty of it is you don't have to worry about anything," he said.
"The beauty of it, Mr. [Piersall], is that you've got to put it into practice.
"The beauty of the trick is that you don't have to run very fast," he said.
"The benefit of playing in the big leagues is, of course, the money.
"The best compliment I can give is to live in the midst of great competition.
"The best compliment I can pay someone is to be honest with you," he said.
"The best first baseman that ever played the game," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"The best moment of my life was from the wedding of my wife to this wonderful fellow," he said.
"The best outfielder in baseball has been having a bad year," Watson Groh.
"The best part about being with the Giants is you've been around the league a long time," said Durocher.
"The best part of it is that they gave me a chance to play in the majors," Greider said.
"The best player in baseball was Warren Spahn," said Gary Kelly. "Spahnie was a great clutch hitter.
"The best player in the game," said Yankees manager Casey Stengel.
"The best thing I can do is get away from the game.
"The best thing I learned in baseball is to be patient.
"The best thing I've learned about baseball is that you're always one step ahead of anybody else.
"The best thing about baseball is that you learn to love it," says Doby about baseball.
"The best thing for a AA player is to play regularly.
"The best thing for a ball player is to be comfortable," said Lee. "And I was comfortable being comfortable.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is a chance to do what you enjoy doing, and I'm glad to say that Mr.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is a good luck charm," said Joe Cronin, his agent.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is to be a leader. I'm no leader.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is to get a little older," says Detroit Tigers general manager Billy Evans.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is to keep on hitting," said Don Johnson.
"The best thing for a ballplayer is to work with the right manager for the right team. Period.
"The best thing for a big-league team is a good manager.
"The best thing for a catcher is a good pitching staff," said Yost.
"The best thing for a catcher is to have a good arm," said Bagby.
"The best thing for a club to do is to get rid of a bad player and let somebody else fill in.
"The best thing for a first baseman is to start thinking of the other hitters," he said.
"The best thing for a manager is a good pitching staff," said Yogi Berra.
"The best thing for a manager is a good player," the Braves manager said.
"The best thing for a manager is to have an experienced player who can take a big hit and come back.
"The best thing for a pitcher in this business is to keep his arm in good condition," said Stengel.
"The best thing for a pitcher is a good hitters," Dickey said.
"The best thing for a pitcher is a good luck charm," Calvin Griffith said.
"The best thing for a pitcher is a good luck charm," he said.
"The best thing for a pitcher is for him to learn to hit," Rizzuto said.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to get a hit," he told the Chicago Tribune.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to get hit in the eye," said West.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to get used to the ball and learn to apply it," said Charlie Root.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to have a good fastball, and especially a good curveball.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to keep his temper under control.
"The best thing for a pitcher is to throw as seldom as possible," he had said.
"The best thing for a pitcher to do is to get rid of the ball quickly, so I had to be patient.
"The best thing for a pitching team is for the opposing team to hit you," said Cleveland catcher Bob Kiss.
"The best thing for a player is to stick around for a long time," said pitcher Ewell Blackwell.
"The best thing for a team is to make another run at the pennant.
"The best thing for a team is to play .500 or better," said Vander Meer.
"The best thing that ever happened to me was getting out of baseball," he said years later.
"The best thing that ever happened to me was that I got to play in the majors," he remembered.
"The best thing that ever happened to me was when the Giants won the pennant," he said.
"The best thing to do is to get out of the way and look for a better opportunity," said Jackson.
"The best thing to do is to get out of the way of the accelerator.
"The best thing to do is to get out of the way," he said.
"The best thing to do is to get rid of him," said one source close to the White Sox front office.
"The best thing to do is to get rid of the catcher, because he's a nuisance.
"The best thing to do is to let the opponent hit for power," he said.
"The best thing to do is to let them chase you," he said. "Let's put it that way.
"The best thing to do was to relax and play golf," he said. "But I was always playing golf.
"The best thing to do," he said, "is to get rid of him.
"The best thing you can do for a kid is to make him like baseball."— President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"The best thing you can do for a pitcher is to get him out of there.
"The best thing you can do for a pitcher is to let him pitch," said Cleveland manager Johnny Neun.
"The best thing you can do in baseball is to be a good parent," said DiMaggio.
"The best thing you can do in baseball is to get out of baseball.
"The best thing you can do in baseball is to try and be a teacher. You want the kids to like it.
"The best thing you can do in baseball is to wait until you're old.
"The best thing you can do, Mr. Hoover, is to work with your people," he told the president.
"The best thing you can do, if you can play baseball, is to get a degree.
"The best things in life are free," Stan Musial said. He was talking about baseball.
"The best way to beat a good team is to play them over .500," said Kiner.
"The best way to beat a pitcher is to beat him for five innings.
"The best way to beat a pitcher like Darling is to beat him every day.
"The best way to beat a team that wants to win is to win when they are on their heels," said White.
"The best way to beat the Yankees is to beat them on the road.
"The best way to dispose of a dog is to buy a new one.
"The best way to win a ballgame is to win it in the rain," he said.
"The best you can hope for is a promotion," he said.
"The best-looking kid in the whole park," said [Jackie] Robinson.
"The best-looking player in the minors," said Dick Bartell of the St.
"The best-looking player on the team," said the New York Yankees. That was Don Mueller.
"The big Yankee hitter … is a guy who gives you a real fight," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"The big batsman was out there. And he was a good hitter. You just couldn't hit him.
"The big blow came in the second game in Detroit. When he got out of the box, he was greeted by eight white policemen.
"The big catch is that you're a good hitter," said Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Vernon.
"The big chance was him hitting the ball hard," recalled his friend and teammate, Red Ruffing.
"The big decision," he said, "was whether or not to play on the Sunday afternoon games.
"The big difference between a good and a great hitter…is the consistency.
"The big disappointment was that the Cardinals didn't win it," he recalled.
"The big draw for the Pittsburgh Pirates was Al Todd, the hitting star.
"The big draw in the early days of the game was the ball.
"The big game is the baseball game," he said. "You've got to have the big game.
"The big hitters in this game are the guys who can do things you don't think a pitcher could do.
"The big interest in the whole thing was the Dodgers," he said.
"The big night," wrote Cleveland Plain Dealer sports editor Roy Mahr, "is the great night for baseball.
"The big one," he said, "is that I've got a chance to win the World Series.
"The big one," he said, "will be the National League.
"The big payoff was the big, big salary," he told the author. "But it was also a big responsibility.
"The big problem is that we're losing guys because of lack of speed," said DiMaggio.
"The big thing I learned from Joe Cronin was to never give up," said George Caster in 1979.
"The big thing I learned from him was that you can't take a kid 6 years old and expect him to pitch.
"The big thing I learned from my dad is that you're not obligated to sit in the front row.
"The big thing I learned from my father was that you have to be a disciplined hitter.
"The big thing I learned in the big leagues is to be a better teammate.
"The big thing I learned was that you've got to take every pitch.
"The big thing I would say," said Harry Walker, "is that I learned how to pitch.
"The big thing about baseball is that you've got to win, or you don't.
"The big thing about baseball," he said, "is that you've got to have everything.
"The big thing about coaching in the minor leagues is that you learn something new every day.
"The big thing about him is that he's not just a pitcher, he has potential to be a great hitter too.
"The big thing about it is, they've got a great bullpen.
"The big thing about it, Charlie, is that you've got to learn how to pitch.
"The big thing about pitching," he said, "is that you've got to have some control.
"The big thing for me," he said, "is that I have a wife and a daughter.
"The big thing he always taught me was that you have to fight for your job. … He taught me discipline.
"The big thing he is," said his uncle, "is intelligent. He can see the big picture.
"The big thing in baseball," he said, "is the fans.
"The big thing that I learned during my career," he recalled, "was to never give up and to always stay positive.
"The big thing that I learned from that experience," he said, "was that failure is a key.
"The big thing that I learned from that trip was to be patient.
"The big thing that I learned in baseball was to be patient and make good pitches," Arroyo said.
"The big thing that he taught me was that you can't take somebody out of a ballgame you are leading.
"The big thing that worked for me was to stay in top shape," said Vincent.
"The big thing that worries me most about the Yankees is the Whitey Ford thing.
"The big thing we got out of it was to realize that we can't take anybody's job.
"The big thing with the Mets is that the fans are so passionate," said Al Lopez, the team's general manager.
"The big thing with the Yankees is that they kept you in the lineup.
"The biggest and most important thing I learned from my father was that you've got to play hard.
"The biggest compliment I ever got was the same thing people give to the greatest player: 'You can do it better.
"The biggest game of my life was going to be the one that my family went to, which was the World Series.
"The biggest thing I learned from my dad was that you're not alone.
"The biggest thing I learned was to be patient," he said. "I was patient in the Cardinals pennant fight.
"The biggest thing I need to work on is control," he said.
"The biggest thrill I had in baseball was getting to play in front of as many people as I did in Brooklyn," he remembered.
"The biggest thrill I had in baseball was when I came to the Hall of Fame," he said.
"The biggest thrill I had in professional baseball was to play for Billy Southworth. He was a great educator, a great motivator.
"The biggest thrill I've had in baseball was winning that ballgame.
"The biggest thrill had been when I realized that the White Sox had a Negro League team.
"The biggest thrill in business is the thrill of competition.
"The biggest thrill is being able to step on the field and look around," Gino Cimoli said.
"The biggest thrill of my career was going to the World Series.
"The biggest thrill of my career was to be a part of a World Series," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill of my career was when I was up there in the majors," said Don Lavagetto.
"The biggest thrill of my career was winning the ballgame. I was a big hitter. I knew what to do with the bat.
"The biggest thrill of my life was when I learned to play professional baseball," says Gus.
"The biggest thrill of my life was when I was playing baseball," he said.
"The biggest thrill of my life was when I was playing in the World Series," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill of my life was when I went to Japan in 1941," he said.
"The biggest thrill of my professional career," he said, "was when I was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"The biggest thrill was being able to compete in the majors and the big leagues against all the stars," he said.
"The biggest thrill was being able to play in the World Series. After 1950 there was not a better-fielding outfield in the game.
"The biggest thrill was being able to play in the big leagues," said Mickey Mantle.
"The biggest thrill was being able to put on the uniform," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was being able to step on the field," Hernandez said.
"The biggest thrill was being able to step on the field.
"The biggest thrill was being part of a World Series," he recalled years later.
"The biggest thrill was coming into the clubhouse and seeing the players," he said.
"The biggest thrill was getting to play in the World Series," said Evers.
"The biggest thrill was getting to see the Giants win. We were in the thick of the pennant race.
"The biggest thrill was making friends and being able to help people," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was missing that ball. Every time I went out to bat, the infield was a crowd of people.
"The biggest thrill was riding that bike and going up the hill," recalled Jablonski.
"The biggest thrill was that I was in the big leagues for the first time," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was the return of Hoot," said an Associated Press writer. "He was able to play.
"The biggest thrill was the thrill of playing," he said. "That's the only thing I can think of.
"The biggest thrill was to play in front of crowds of people who were just coming out to see baseball," said Mize.
"The biggest thrill was to play in the World Series," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when I came back to the States and started my first season in the majors," he said.
"The biggest thrill was when I finally got a chance to play in a real World Series," Stanky recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when I got on the field and started playing," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when I got to bat," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when I opened the gate and started to hit home runs," he said.
"The biggest thrill was when I played in the Polo Grounds," he recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when I started to play professional ball," Johnson said.
"The biggest thrill was when I started," said Dickey.
"The biggest thrill was when I was a part of that game," Rizzuto said.
"The biggest thrill was when I was on the mound and I was able to sit in that same spot and watch that kind of excitement.
"The biggest thrill was when a homer went off the scoreboard," said Pete.
"The biggest thrill was when he went out on the mound and started winning," recalled his father.
"The biggest thrill was when the Braves won their second World Series in five years," Sain said. Sain was wrong.
"The biggest thrill was when the Dodgers won the pennant.
"The biggest thrill was when the White Sox won the World Series," said former teammate and major-league outfielder Eddie Robinson.
"The biggest thrill was when the White Sox won," said his third wife, Jean, in great detail.
"The biggest thrill was when the Yankees beat us." A few years later when the Yankees were in St.
"The biggest thrill was when the [Baseball] Writers Association of America gave me a chance to be a manager," he said.
"The biggest thrill was when the ball came down," Burdette said.
"The biggest thrill was when the ball came to me," recalled Wertz.
"The biggest thrill was when the coach or the manager would take me aside and talk to me.
"The biggest thrill was when the first ball was hit and the catcher was there to receive it.
"The biggest thrill was when the first real ballplayer got up on the field and saw us all on the stage.
"The biggest thrill was when the kid was big enough to play on the field," Elizabeth recalled.
"The biggest thrill was when the players started to react," he said.
"The biggest thrill was when they took the ball away from me," he said. "I was nervous and scared.
"The biggest thrill was when we beat the Yankees in New York," said New York manager Casey Stengel.
"The biggest thrill was when you started to believe it.
"The blue-eyed Pee Wee is the silent type," states Jack Dunn.
"The bombing of Dresden was not the first time the Nazis had used chemical weapons, but it was the first time that Americans had been seriously hurt.
"The bottom line is, Joe, you're a great ballplayer.
"The bottom of my heart says I'm not going to do it.
"The boy had to do something to make a living. He had to work," recalled his father.
"The boy was a real fine performer. … I don't think he ever stopped smiling," recalled teammate Paul Waner.
"The boy was fifteen or sixteen, and he was a natural athlete. He would make his own balls.
"The boy was just a kid," said Carl Erskine, who coached with him in high school.
"The boy was just a natural," said Bagby. "He had no brains. He was just a natural.
"The boy was just about to be killed," recalled his mother.
"The boys and girls were all great football players, and I think it was the men just getting out of school.
"The boys were 14 and 15 years old, and all of them were full of energy. But I got them together in about four weeks.
"The boys were great, but the game was boring to them," Durocher said.
"The brief was typical of the ineptitude of the Yankees," he said.
"The brilliant defense of Casey Stengel turned out to be his downfall this year," wrote Shirley Povich of the Washington Post.
"The brouhaha in Cleveland is one of the great ironies of this great city," said the Rev.
"The brown-haired kid was our inspiration," Wilson recalled. "He was a quiet, mild-mannered guy.
"The bureau said that if I went to work for the bureau, I would not talk to anybody about the war.
"The business I wanted to start was insurance," he said. "I wanted to be a banker.
"The car had to be changed for its safety," said Ramsey. "The tire was gone.
"The care packages were fantastic. The nurses were wonderful. They knew my problems. They treated me. And the food was wonderful.
"The career of Harry Walker was a great showcase of his abilities.
"The case of the Chinese factory worker," The Sporting News, October 14, 1965, 22.
"The cat's got to come home," Giambi said. "I'm the cat.
"The cause of the war," he wrote in his memoirs, "was the war itself.
"The chain of custody was so strong, I think he could have been a big leaguer.
"The chances of us winning the pennant were slim to none," Stanky said.
"The city of Baltimore has always been a wonderful home for colored kids," he said.
"The clapping is what I like to do in my home," said Meyer.
"The clearest example of the size of the labor movement is the tremendous growth in the ranks of women in the United States.
"The cocker spaniel is a prince of the infield," Mays said of his ball-playing brothers.
"The coffee struck his face. The words were out of my mouth.
"The comeback of Billy Hooton was a great relief to me," Hooton said.
"The complicated, unpredictable life of a minor leaguer is a lonely one," he said.
"The concept of the three-hole hitter is dead," wrote Harry Edwards of the New York Times.
"The coolest thing about baseball," he said, "is that you've got to play it every day.
"The coolest thing about the World Series is the fans," he said.
"The coolest thing about the trade was that it was a win for the Yankees," Guerrero said.
"The coolest thing in my life," he said, "is to be able to play in the World Series.
"The crowd was great, the atmosphere was great, and we won the game in the ninth inning.
"The dark side of baseball is the fact that there is no such thing as a sure thing in baseball," said Giamatti.
"The day I came into the Yankees organization, I was told that the job was vacant," he recalled.
"The day I came to the Giants, I was 9 years old, and without a word, I was sold to the Yankees.
"The day I came to the Giants, they had me pitch in the semipro league," recalled Lee.
"The day I joined the Giants, I was the lucky guy who got to play in the World Series," Burt said.
"The day I retired I went out for a walk, I went out to the ballpark, and I hit a home run.
"The day I started I was confident and felt I could do something to make him look bad," Jim said.
"The day I took the mound for the first time, I had a sore shoulder.
"The day I walked into the Dodgers' spring training camp, I had no idea I was going to be a Dodger.
"The day I was born, I was drawing cartoons for the Detroit Tigers," he recalled.
"The day I was born," Jablonski told the author, "I was in the hospital bed.
"The day I was born," he recalled, "that's how many moons I had left.
"The day I was born," he said, "the first thing I knew was to put on a suit and tie.
"The day I was drafted into the Army, a sergeant came up to me and said, 'Major, you have three choices.
"The day I went back to the United States for the first time in my adult life, I was very nervous.
"The day I won the archery championship, the first man I hit, was Norman," said Sgt. Billy Jurges.
"The day got off to a bad start and I was hoping to get out of there," he said.
"The day he arrived in Washington, he was as strong as a mule deer," said Boudreau.
"The day he married his girlfriend, it was a big shock to me," Stengel recalled.
"The day he played for us," recalled his friend Cramer, "he was the best pitcher I ever saw.
"The day that I was born, I was a big, strong kid," he recalled.
"The decision was a great disappointment to me," said Baker.
"The deepest, darkest recesses of the back of my mind," he told The Sporting News's Jack Cuddy.
"The devil is in the details," said Bobby Thomson, "and I like to play the part very carefully.
"The devil is in the details," said the famous 19th-century novelist Samuel Johnson. "Never forget the big picture.
"The diagnosis was severe," said Buddy Lewis, "but I had to take my chances.
"The difference between 1941 and 1942," wrote the Associated Press, "was a pitching staff that went to war.
"The difference between a great pitcher and a great pitcher is a ballplayer learning what he should be doing.
"The difference between great ballplayers and average ballplayers," wrote Harry T. Paxton in Baseball Digest, "was proportion.
"The early players, the guys who came along later, they saw how he played, they started to get jealous.
"The easiest way to beat a guy who is making trouble is to let him do his job.
"The electric chair is over in Orlando," he said. 'They've made death penaltys too easy.
"The enemy within is always the same thing: fear." — Dwight Eisenhower, on the nature of fear.
"The entire team is a group of smart, talented players, and the veterans all want to play for him.
"The everyday life of a professional athlete is hard," he said, "and yet it also offers opportunities for growth and development.
"The ex-major leaguer" was the first man to turn his back on his former team.
"The extra-base hit was one of the big thrills of my career," he said.
"The fabled numbers are on us," Lee once said. "We've been paying the price ever since.
"The fact is he was a good hitter and a good fielder, and I think he was the best all-around player in the league.
"The fact is that he is only a shadow of his former self," said Richardson.
"The fact is, he was a pretty good hitter," said Nuxhall of former teammate Red Ruffing.
"The fact is, the organization that I was in, the Chicago Cubs, is now the Cleveland Indians.
"The fact that he was willing to take a chance on me, I never doubted it," said Smoky.
"The fair play finished," he said, "and I was able to get to second base without being tagged out.
"The fans are crazy," said Durocher. "And my people are the craziest.
"The fans voted me in in the first place," said Mooney. "But they voted for me anyway.
"The fans voted me in," he said. "I said it was fantastic. … It was pretty amazing.
"The fans who came for the games were really great," said Cerv.
"The feeling was mutual," recalled former teammate Red Embree. "Embree had the feeling he was going to be traded.
"The feeling was mutual," recalled the Phillies' broadcaster Bob Savarese.
"The few who have been there have made it very clear that they feel the game is being stolen from them.
"The fight is real," he told a reporter after his victory. "We have real intention to win.
"The fight was so intense, you could hear boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! But it was a short-term thing.
"The first I ever saw the moon was when I was on the first troop to go in after Pearl Harbor.
"The first day I came to the ball park, I sat in line to get my ticket and somebody told me the price was $5.
"The first meal I ever had in Washington was a roast chicken. That was a pretty good start.
"The first person you see when you open the door to play is the ballplayer," says White.
"The first thing I decided upon when I arrived in New York was to get a job.
"The first thing I did after I came to the Yankees was I went to work.
"The first thing I did upon coming back was I took care of my bat. I tried to look like I was going to use it.
"The first thing I did was I let the ball pass me," he remembered.
"The first thing I did was I threw the ball to him," recalled Dick Sisler.
"The first thing I did was I told Dad that I was going to miss him," Peterson said.
"The first thing I did was I told the Yankees I was available," he recalled.
"The first thing I knew when I came to the United States was we had a problem with baseball.
"The first thing I learned from Hickman was that the Phillies need pitchers.
"The first thing I learned in baseball was that there were guys out there that were better than me," he said.
"The first thing I learned was that you have to have courage for the first time in your life. And in it I mean courage.
"The first thing I learned was that you're not supposed to put a lot of pressure on yourself in spring training.
"The first thing I learned was to make sure you don't make a mistake.
"The first thing I noticed about the place was that the concerts were canceled.
"The first thing I tell my younger players is that I'm not going to be a cheerleader for Mr. Mack.
"The first thing I wanted to do growing up was to go to a baseball game.
"The first thing he did was the best thing he could have done," recalled his teammate Eddie Robinson.
"The first thing he said was, 'I'm going to play in the big leagues.
"The first thing he told me was, 'You're too old. You're a baby.
"The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Travis Jackson is the greatest pitcher of the twentieth century, Roy Campanella.
"The first thing that happened was that they sent me to the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League," he recalled.
"The first thing they told me upon my arrival in Cleveland was, 'We're going to take care of you.
"The first thing you do when you start to feel bad, is you try to get your old self in there," said Orange.
"The first thing you've to learn about baseball is that it's a scam," Bobby Thomson said.
"The first time I came to New York, there were three clubs in the Big Apple.
"The first time I came to the Dodgers' spring training I was told I was too short," he said.
"The first time I came to the Giants, I was a 20-year-old kid, and I was a nervous kid.
"The first time I came to the States," he said, "I was so inspired by what I saw in New York.
"The first time I came to the United States, I was a nobody.
"The first time I came to the Yankees, I didn't have a car and no money," he said.
"The first time I came to the Yankees, I was a nervous wreck," he recalled.
"The first time I ever played baseball in my life, I was on a farm, getting ready to farm.
"The first time I played baseball, I was about 13 years old. I didn't play with anybody else in our neighborhood.
"The first time I played baseball, I was so scared," he said.
"The first time I saw Jack, he was like a big kid. He was a big kid.
"The first time I saw Jackie Robinson, he was playing shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was holding the bat.
"The first time I saw Walt Moryn was at Shibe Park, in New York. I was there to see Ted Williams play.
"The first time I saw him hit one, I thought, 'God,' I was in the hospital. He was just unbelievable.
"The first time I saw him play, he hit two home runs off me," recalled Lopata.
"The first time I saw him play, he was the catcher, and then he was the pitcher.
"The first time I saw him, he was pitching like Frankie Frisch.
"The first time I saw him, he was riding on top of a taxi.
"The first time I stepped in the clubhouse, I was amazed by the size of the crowd," he recalled.
"The first time I stepped on the field, I was speechless. I had never seen anything like it.
"The first time I stepped on the field, I was struck by the size of the stadium, the sheer force of it.
"The first time I was out there, I was scared to death," he recalled.
"The first time I went out on the field, I was scared to death.
"The first time I went to play for the Yankees, I was scared to death," he recalled.
"The first time I went to the ball park, I was amazed at how many people were rooting for me," said Rivera.
"The first time he [Benson] came to Chicago, he was only 18 years old and he was very excited and scared about flying.
"The first time he came to the game he was a really tiny player, like a little kid. He warmed up on the bench.
"The first time they came to the show, the [19-year-old] [Roy] Campanella was playing.
"The first time we played, it was in New York, and we won in ten innings.
"The first time we took the field, I was afraid I would faint, but I felt so good, so full of confidence.
"The first time we were on the road, they started playing 'mush' and we started to run.
"The first two weeks of the season were great," recalled Byrd. "But the last two weeks were heartbreaking.
"The first two years, I can't believe it. I've been dreaming of it ever since.
"The fox guarding the hen house must have been right.
"The funk of spring training was almost oppressive," Joe Dobson admitted in 1951.
"The funny thing is, I've had guys come up in the big leagues before with the intention of working out at the top.
"The future Hall of Famer would make a great first baseman," said Dickey.
"The game I liked was the one the Reds played," he said in 2011.
"The game I loved was the eighth inning one-run victory," said Groat, "I liked that.
"The game I'm most proud of is the one I don't even know how to name.
"The game is 10-1, and I'm the loser," Zimmerman said.
"The game is fixed," said a young Chicago Cubs outfielder, "and we can change it.
"The game is more exciting when you've got a chance to win.
"The game is only 60% of the job," said former Indians great Hank Greenberg.
"The game of baseball is a love affair," he said. "The fans are the catalysts for what happens in the game.
"The game of baseball is a matter of time," said President Franklin D.
"The game of baseball is art, and the best way to teach people how to play is through the art of baseball.
"The game of baseball is as old as the earth," said one of the great hitters of the 20th century.
"The game of baseball is played on the field." "Baseball is played on the field," Madonna said.
"The game of baseball is playing on another level," said Walker Cooper, owner of the Chicago Cubs.
"The game of baseball is the art of distracting the batter by making the batter think he is a baseball player," wrote Harry T.
"The game of baseball is the art of making noise," he said. "In baseball there are no rules.
"The game of baseball is the battle of ideas," said Yogi Berra.
"The game of baseball is the old fashioned four-man rush. The hitters are the pitchers. The bases are the play.
"The game of baseball is the same game as the theater.
"The game of baseball was evolving and maturing and I think it reflected in the manner in which we played the game.
"The game of baseball," Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1955, 16.
"The game seems to be going to his head," said Detroit pitcher Cecil Cooper. "He keeps them off balance.
"The game that I really loved came from the Boston Braves.
"The game that I was born for," he said, "it was baseball.
"The game that broke my heart last year was this season", he said.
"The game that broke my heart was the St. Louis Cardinals' first World Series appearance. I was 25 years old.
"The game that changed my life," said Johnny Pesky.
"The game was being played in my head," Cramer said.
"The game was played at the Polo Grounds, in New York City.
"The game was played in 1895's," James said, "and it was played in Acapulco.
"The game went to a score," he said. "I was thinking we'd just lose it.
"The girls were in love with him. He was a great player and an amazing guy. He could have been a god.
"The glory days of the New York Yankees, not to be repeated, are the glory days of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
"The golden years," he said, "were the years when I was the best.
"The good news is we have the best outfield in baseball," said Ahear.
"The good thing about baseball," he once said, "is that you get to play every day.
"The good thing about baseball," he said, "is that you've got good pitchers and bad pitchers.
"The good thing about it is, when you're in the minor leagues, the manager values you.
"The good thing about the strike zone," he said, "is that any infielder can go in and get it.
"The great depression left a bad taste in my mouth," Larry Doby said.
"The great joy of the season is the triumph of baseball over the national pastime.
"The great thing about baseball is that you don't have to stick your head in the dirt to win.
"The great thing about baseball is that you learn how to handle pitchers one way or another," said DiMaggio.
"The great thing about baseball is that you learn how to win and you learn how to lose.
"The great thing about baseball is that you've got freedom. I'm not saying that for fun.
"The great thing about baseball is that you've got to learn about everything. You're always learning something new.
"The great thing about baseball is that you've got to work every day.
"The great thing about being a major league manager is that you get to see a lot of baseball.
"The great thing about being in the minor leagues is that you learn to play the pitchers.
"The great thing about being on a winning team, especially in the big leagues, is watching the other teams.
"The great thing about it, is that you don't have to worry about it anymore," said Biello.
"The greatest and most important game of my life was playball," he said.
"The greatest comfort has been knowing that my children will one day know where I came from," said Hillis.
"The greatest competitive thing you can have is a good plan.
"The greatest danger I had was the unpredictability of the batters.
"The greatest disappointment of the season was the dismissal of the [banning] Negro Players Association," said Stanky.
"The greatest moment in my career was when I was with the Yankees," he told the author. "That was 1964.
"The greatest pitcher in my career," he exclaimed in amazement.
"The greatest player I ever saw, for the most part, was Yogi Berra.
"The greatest player in my era was Joe DiMaggio," said Mets manager Dan Howley.
"The greatest player we ever had," recalled his father, "was Johnny Mize.
"The greatest thing I came out of baseball was the war," recalled Wartime, "and I learned to play baseball.
"The greatest thing I ever did in baseball was to play in the old Negro Leagues," he said.
"The greatest thing I ever learned from baseball is to get out of the way.
"The greatest thing I learned was that you have to be able to pitch to every pitch.
"The greatest thing I learned was to let go of the fear of flying," he said.
"The greatest thing a hitter can do for a ball club is to watch the other hitters," said McGrath.
"The greatest thing for a manager is a ballplayer like Meade," said Cramer.
"The greatest thing in baseball is to be a hitter," Woods said. "Hitters get paid to hit.
"The greatest thing in life, Charles, is to get old and play again," Ted Williams said. He was right.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in baseball was that Pat Monahan became a big-league manager," he told a writer.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in baseball was the integration of the game.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in baseball was to get rid of the pitcher.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in baseball was to put a guy like Hank Bauer in the mix.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in my career was when I was able to play professional baseball," he said.
"The greatest thing that ever happened in my life," he told reporters. "I matured from a young boy.
"The greatest thing that ever happened to me in baseball was getting to play for the Giants," he said.
"The greatest thing to happen to a man in this business is to be able to be a man," said Parnell.
"The greatest thing you can ever hope for in life is to play in the World Series," he said.
"The greatest thing you can ever hope for in life," he said. "You hope to play in the big leagues.
"The greatest thing you can have as a baseball player is a conviction that other people will admire you.
"The greatest thing you can have as a player is a good relationship with your manager.
"The greatest thing you can have in baseball is confidence.
"The greatest thing you can have in life is a good job," Demaree told The Sporting News.
"The greatest thing you can have is a good manager," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins years before the team was named.
"The greatest thing you can have, you have to understand, is a good manager.
"The greatest thing you can learn about baseball is to watch the great players perform.
"The greatest thing you can learn in life … is to never give up," he said.
"The greatest thing you can teach a man is to work in a barn.
"The greatest three-sport athlete I ever saw was Wayne Gretzky.
"The greatest thrill I had in baseball was when it started to stink.
"The greatest thrill I had in baseball was when the Yankees beat us," Rodriguez said.
"The greatest thrill of all was the thrill of winning.
"The greatest thrill of my life was playing baseball," he said.
"The greatest thrill of my life was walking on that field and seeing the players and fans.
"The greatest thrill of my life was when I became a big-league ballplayer," said Frankie Frisch.
"The greatest thrill was the moment when the ball cleared the outfield fence and landed where it did.
"The greatest thrill was the shot heard 'round the world," said Mike Shannon.
"The greatest thrill was winning the pennant," said Cleveland catcher Yogi Berra.
"The guns, I mean the guns, they do the shooting. They don't want nothing to do with the baseball.
"The guy is a freak," said Cleveland manager Al Lopez. "He'll do anything to beat you.
"The guy is a genius," said former Yankees teammate and Cleveland Indians scout Tom Yawkey.
"The guy is a great competitor," said teammate Virgil Trucks. "He never shuts us down.
"The guy is an absolute joker, and he has blown his chance at the position," said principal owner Durocher.
"The guy is just a wild, crazy guy. I would never let him go. He's too much for me.
"The guy that I looked up to was Ralph Kiner, I've always felt that he was the finest human being I ever knew.
"The guy that used to run the ball club was this fellow. He was a nice, gentle, soft-spoken guy.
"The guy was a sweetheart," recalled his teammate Walt Dropo.
"The guy was saying, 'Don, you're not going to make this stuff up.
"The guy who broke my back," said Bob Lemon, "he's the only one who can do it.
"The guy who was the best in the American League in the 1940s was Joe DiMaggio," says Martin.
"The guy who went home and got the ball, he was a good hitter. He had a good stroke. He was young.
"The guy you seek is ballplayers, and I haven't got any.
"The guy's gonna be a big leaguer," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"The guys in the Dodgers organization were terrific," he said.
"The guys who made the great play were always the ones who made the mistake.
"The happiest and clearest day of my life was when I was a manager in the big-league organization.
"The happiest place on the planet is a zoo," sang Rollie Rediker.
"The hard thing about Ellsworth is that he reminds me of my brother.
"The hard thing about the long ball is that you can't predict it. You can't see it coming.
"The hardest thing I had to learn was to control my temper.
"The hardest thing I had to learn was to win. I learned that winning is the most important thing.
"The hardest thing I had to learn," he recalled. "I had to learn how to control my temper.
"The hardest thing about it was, that's what everybody was saying," van der Walt said.
"The hardest thing in baseball is to get out," he told writer Tom Meany.
"The hardest thing you can ever learn in baseball is, is that you're a loser," he said.
"The hardest thing you had to learn was to win," he said. "That's what I learned.
"The heathy, the sad, the irreconcilable, is the essence of the foreign policy problem.
"The hero was the underdog." As a result, Sikor, like many other rookies, was eager to impress the veterans.
"The high point of my career came when I was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies," he said.
"The highlight of my summer was going to Nellie Fox" "was watching Fox's nubber in action.
"The hit and run was a bit of a relief to the offense.
"The hits were so frequent, they were like a tsunami.
"The home run was the first and I was the only one who hit it," he recalled.
"The hunch was that this was going to be a disaster. The weather was going to be terrible.
"The idea of retiring is taking the wind out of the ball park," Chapman said.
"The idea was to help the kids. Kids today are too afraid to speak up.
"The impact of the war on baseball was tremendous," said Hall of Fame pitcher and World Series opponent Allie Reynolds.
"The important thing is that he can play the game and not try to be a star," said Rams manager Eddie Stanky.
"The important thing is that the United States remains a great power in the world," Nixon said in his retirement speech.
"The important thing was the game," he said. "We were in good shape. But we didn't win.
"The job I have is a financial job," Burdette said.
"The job is fun," said Jablonski. "I enjoy it. I enjoy talking baseball.
"The job of parent club president is surely onerous," said a mid-season umpire.
"The key to success is patience and character," Mitchell said.
"The keys to winning are numbers, hustle and spirit."—Billy Pierce, The New York Times, June 8, 1953.
"The kid at the park was a great ballplayer and he was so cool," said Spray.
"The kid has a wonderful swing. He's got the best arm in baseball, and his throwing power is outstanding.
"The kid in school has to take a course in the classics," Forester said.
"The kid is going to be a star. He's going to go to the Hall of Fame.
"The kid is just so damn good," Grissom said. "I mean, look at him.
"The kid that I convinced to come out to the bullpen was Steve McKeon," Kiner recalled.
"The kid was a natural — the big kid, really. He was my best pitcher.
"The kid was a natural," manager Charlie Dressen said. "He had a great arm. He could run.
"The kid who plays in the big leagues, he's never going to make it," he told reporters.
"The kid" is a memorable word in baseball, and one that stays with players for a long time.
"The kid" was Don Mueller. He was a raw talent, with no major-league experience.
"The kid" was a bright young man in his early 20s. "The kid" is a troubled person.
"The lanky blonde looked like a model in a hot dog ad," said Knickerbocker.
"The largest Army ever assembled in the history of the United States was dedicated to the defense of the West Coast.
"The last game of the season I'll be pitching," he said.
"The last game we played in the World Series," he reminisced, "I was driving to the ballpark in my truck.
"The last place Astros of the 1940s," wrote The Sporting News, "never had a chance.
"The last place ballclub, they just didn't have it.
"The last place team of the year," he said. "I went to Mexico, and I had a great year.
"The last place team, they've got an awful lot of players who are not really capable of playing at the big league level.
"The last time I called," he said, "I was very upset because I felt I had been treated like a criminal.
"The last time I checked, that's what the votes were," he said.
"The last time I looked at that bat, I was the catcher," he said.
"The last time I looked, the answer was no," he said.
"The last time I made a pitch like that," said Wilbur Wood, "I was the pitcher.
"The last time I saw Donald Trump was in a line at the country club," said Grissom.
"The last time I saw Little Rock, I was playing for the Reds, and they had a lot of Negroes on the team.
"The last time I saw Ted Williams play, he was in the seventh inning and he was carrying the ball.
"The last time I saw him, he was in the hospital bed," recalled Mays. "They told me he was really sick.
"The last time I saw him, he was with the Chicago White Sox," said teammate Yogi Berra.
"The last time I saw him," recalled his wife, Charlene, "he was making all the movies at the Paramount.
"The last time I saw that picture," said Gussie, "I went to see the ballplayer get shot.
"The last time I walked into the clubhouse before a game I was so happy I was out there," he recalled.
"The last time I was batting against him, he put a bad pitch in play.
"The last time I was in the majors," Kiner recalled, "I was in the bullpen in St.
"The last time he was up here, he was a leader, not a follower," White told the Sporting News.
"The last two years I've been thinking about retiring," said the 35-year-old.
"The late Allen Iverson, who had been the greatest player I ever saw, was ever the same after he died.
"The latest armada of Japanese troops is gathering pace." On April 16, the Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor.
"The left side of the bat always moves up," says Wild Bill, "except when it doesn't.
"The life of a major league baseball player is a long time," Chapman said.
"The life of a major league player can be a very lonely one," said Joe DiMaggio.
"The life of a minor league player is a sad and pitiful existence," said Rogers Hornsby.
"The lightweight, quick-witting Crawford's versatility is an asset," wrote The Sporting News.
"The line was out, the fence was down, the stadium was packed, and the fans were roaring.
"The little National League town suddenly has everything, and it just keeps getting better.
"The little fellow – he was really a folk hero, if you talked about him. He was a real good outfielder.
"The little guy with the big smile always had a purpose in his life," said Ray.
"The little island of Guam is in trouble." The USS John C.
"The little ones were just so adorable," he remembered.
"The little red skipper" was the first baseball coach I ever had, and I still have a number of them around.
"The loser's share of the ball," he said, "I intend to fight for the pennant with you.
"The lure of baseball is the thrill of competition," said Allie Reynolds, "and I've had enough.
"The main thing I did after I was traded from the Dodgers was, I went to work.
"The main thing I have learned is to stay in shape.
"The main thing I learned from all those years of playing ball was to never give up," he said.
"The main thing I learned from being a rookie is to be patient," he said.
"The main thing I learned from him was that you've got to be a disciplined hitter.
"The man was such a good and so friendly person that I just wanted to be a friend to him.
"The man who can take you out better than you can hit — that's me," said Gehrig.
"The man who is leading the guys" is the most important factor in team success, MacPhail added.
"The maverick Texan … is a natural. He is a man with guts.
"The maximum punishment that a schoolboy could expect was suspension from school," wrote the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"The mega-church is going to be a disaster," he predicted.
"The mixture of Negro and white players was a continuing problem," he recalled in a 1999 interview.
"The moment I got into the lineup, I was surprised by how many people wanted to come out to the park to see me play.
"The money is gone," he said. "That's the beauty of it.
"The monster was the pitching staff. I'm not going to say how they won the game, but they won it.
"The most amazing thing about this," he told Sports Illustrated, "is that everybody has it now.
"The most amazing thing is that he can still play," recalled teammate Luis Aparicio.
"The most amazing thing was that [Phelps] probably felt he was a big leaguer," the former Giants outfielder recalled.
"The most amazing thing," he said, "is that so many people have come out to see me play.
"The most astonishing thing about the deal [for Nellie] is that they got him from the Yankees.
"The most beautiful thing was to get out of the city and play a game in the country," said Meyer.
"The most brilliant idea I ever had," he recalled. "I had a plan to work with kids.
"The most dangerous position in baseball is the bullpen," said Joe DiMaggio.
"The most dangerous thing in the world is being wrong-footed.
"The most difficult thing about losing is knowing that you gave up something good for nothing," said Kelly.
"The most exciting part of the war," wrote Jack Lang, "was the battle of the ballplayers.
"The most exciting thing about the World Series is the pitching. Every season, I turn 18 and I see a lot of excitement.
"The most exciting thing for me was the scholarship that was offered to me. I was really excited," he said.
"The most exciting thing in baseball is the World Series," said Boston Red Sox broadcaster Bob Elliott.
"The most extraordinary thing about his performance was that it was so consistent. In the minor leagues, it's the same thing.
"The most important event in my career was that I was able to play in the major leagues," he said in his autobiography.
"The most important event in my life … was the day I was on the ball field for my first game.
"The most important game of my career," said Mooney." It was a crucial game.
"The most important game of my life was when I was on the verge of becoming a great ballplayer," he said.
"The most important thing I learned as a hitter was to be prepared to throw the ball.
"The most important thing I learned from all my years in baseball was to never give up on a pitcher," he said.
"The most important thing I learned from baseball is that you're never too old for the game.
"The most important thing I learned from baseball," he told the author, "is to never give up.
"The most important thing I learned from him was nothing.
"The most important thing I learned from my father and my mother was to treat women equally," Vogel recalled.
"The most important thing I learned from that experience was that you cannot be a jerk to anybody on the ball field.
"The most important thing I learned from that experience was to be patient and never give up," he said.
"The most important thing I learned in baseball was to be patient," says Jimmy Dykes.
"The most important thing I learned was to be a better judge of people. You have to be a little more careful in how you pitch.
"The most important thing I've learned in baseball is that you've got to be a disciplined hitter.
"The most important thing for me is to make good," he said.
"The most important thing for me now is to retire from baseball," he said.
"The most important thing for me was to get my degree," O'Farrell said years later.
"The most important thing he learned was to be patient," said Griffith.
"The most important thing in baseball is the nervous system," said Cleveland pitcher Bob Fothergill.
"The most important thing in baseball is the youth," said Stengel.
"The most important thing in baseball," he said, "is education.
"The most important thing in baseball," he said, "is the fans.
"The most important thing in life is to come back stronger," he said.
"The most important thing in life is to make friends," he said.
"The most important thing in life is to make friends," he said. "I have had many good friends.
"The most important thing in life is to make your family happy," Bobby said.
"The most important thing in life, Pat, is to make friends.
"The most important thing is that the ball stays in the ballpark," he said.
"The most important thing is that the players behave themselves," he said. "The players should be chummy.
"The most important thing is to get on with your job," he said.
"The most important thing is to have a uniform," said Tommy Henrich.
"The most important thing is to win, and that's what I'm determined to do," said Johnson.
"The most important thing that happened in my career was the injury. I was never the same after that," he said.
"The most important thing to do in getting rid of the pain is to get rid of the obsession with numbers," he said.
"The most important thing to me was to play in the big leagues," the son said.
"The most important thing to me was to win," he said.
"The most important thing to me," he said, "is to finish high school.
"The most important thing to realize is that the Dodgers, as a team, no longer was a reserve.
"The most important thing to understand, George, is that this isn't a black or a white thing.
"The most important thing was to break his bad habit of jumping for joy," Williams recalled.
"The most important thing you can have for a ballplayer is an attitude," he advised his Louisiana teammate.
"The most important thing you can have," said Stengel, "is a sense of humor.
"The most important thing," he said, "is to keep your concentration on winning.
"The most incredible thing I have learned in baseball is to be patient," Garcia said.
"The most interesting thing in baseball is the players," said Newhouser.
"The most memorable event of my life," he recalled, "was the day my father died.
"The most natural person for the job…was Joe DiMaggio," said Murphy.
"The most pathetic thing you can call an officer of the law is to sit on the bench.
"The most popular governor in Massachusetts," wrote The New York Times, "has been forced to resign.
"The most popular player in my career," he said. "I like having that peace of mind.
"The most remarkable thing about him is that he never loses," said Joe Cronin, who saw him do it.
"The most remarkable thing about the war is that so few people lost their lives.
"The most satisfying thing for a manager is the thrill of leading his players," said Del Crandall.
"The most spectacular game of my life was this game, playing for Cleveland," Terry Moore told a reporter in 1947.
"The most wonderful thing about the Cubs is that they have no quarrels.
"The music is good, the games are interesting, and the excitement of the crowd is high.
"The mystery man was the greatest thing that ever happened in American sports," said his friend and former teammate, Walt Dropo.
"The name of the ballplayer was a mystery to everyone. The better team you went to, the more mystified they became.
"The name of the park was Redland," Redwelder recalled.
"The name of the player has no bearing on the greatness of the game. The name of the game is the uniform.
"The name of the town is pretty iconic," he said. "You can see the names on the buildings.
"The name was chosen to stand for classic and classicism, and I think it represents the way we talk in this country today.
"The new kid is a lot smarter than he is," said Simon.
"The next time I come to the Tour, I'll take the ball.
"The next time I look at the scoreboard, it's Jean, taking a 3-0 lead," he said.
"The next time I'm with the Yankees, I'm going to shake those hands," he said.
"The next year, he was the big loser," said DeWitt.
"The nicest thing you can do is to give up on your dreams," said Hal Newhouser after his rookie year.
"The night was a blur," Jack Dunn recalled about the day of his 20th birthday.
"The number of times I was up there was an awful lot.
"The odds were stacked against us," Wills recalled.
"The old dog, the new man," Jack Sanford was an especially apt description of the American League.
"The old gentleman," said the mayor, "is the new kid.
"The old lady is a very astute judge of character. She is always looking out for the best interests of the children.
"The old man in the gray robe," the man in the gray robe, was "Mr.
"The old man in the white coat was going to be a big help," said Jindal.
"The old man was a bottom-of-the-ninth type," recalled Bailey.
"The old man was always on the fringes, always out of the public gaze," recalled his grandson.
"The old man was right," Dickey said. "And I'm the old man.
"The old man was right. I have never worn a tie since I was a little kid," said MacPhail.
"The old man, who had been a hitter, was now the manager, and the kid was in the big leagues.
"The old me was no good," he told the author. "I was old, sick, and tired.
"The one man I have been fortunate enough to work with over the years is Bill Lillis.
"The one thing I learned from my dad was that success is a fluke," said Harris. "Success happens to everybody.
"The one thing I learned from my father is patience," said Williams.
"The one thing I learned from the game," he said, "is that you never win pennants with a sub-.
"The one thing I'm proudest of is that I was able to put my baseball career behind me," he said.
"The only difference between the Dodgers and the other clubs was that I played for them.
"The only game I ever loved was the one I'm remembered for," Terry Moore said.
"The only good news for the Yankees is that the Yankees cannot win the World Series.
"The only good news for the organization this season is that Bob O'Farrell is back.
"The only guy who knows what he signed up for," wrote Eagles beat reporter Bob Broeg, "is Bob Johnson.
"The only man I have to thank," he said, "was Babe Ruth.
"The only man I've had a crush on since I was in high school was Tom Cruise.
"The only person I know who played with the Yankees was Joe DiMaggio," said Crowe.
"The only person I've ever known who looked like Ted Williams was Uncle Sam," said Gutteridge.
"The only question I have is, who won the big one," he said in an interview.
"The only reason I was let go was because I didn't like being treated like a kid," said Brown.
"The only reason he's here is because he's going to play.
"The only reason they came to play for me was that I was the manager. I was the godfather.
"The only reason we had to pay for them is because I don't take a cut of the players.
"The only reason why they left is that he was a good hitter," said Wills.
"The only reason you're in the big leagues is that you play for a winning team.
"The only thing I can do is get out of baseball," he said.
"The only thing I can do is leave him to me," said Fernley.
"The only thing I can do is stay in shape," said the Big Red Machine.
"The only thing I can do is stay to sleep at night and never let up on the little guy," he said.
"The only thing I can do is to wait until they get me back," Johnson said.
"The only thing I can do is wait it out," Stanky said.
"The only thing I can do is work hard and hope I can get back to the majors in a few years.
"The only thing I can do to beat him is to make him pay more attention to my pitches," said Pascual.
"The only thing I can do to help him is to get rid of the contract.
"The only thing I can do to protect my family is to play baseball," the president said.
"The only thing I can say about USA Hockey is that it's the greatest.
"The only thing I can say about baseball is that you get paid to beat the other team.
"The only thing I can say about baseball," said Jackie Robinson, "is that it's a beautiful game.
"The only thing I can say about it is that I'm a sucker for a good story," he said.
"The only thing I can say about the deal is that it's a great thing for the Yankees," McNally said.
"The only thing I can say is that I was very satisfied with the way things turned out," he recalled years later.
"The only thing I can say is that I would not have done it," said Spahn.
"The only thing I can say is that I'm exceedingly pleased.
"The only thing I can say is that I've been very, very happy," he said.
"The only thing I can say is that it was a great honor and I'll take it with forever," he said.
"The only thing I can say is that it was a great thing when the Giants won," he said.
"The only thing I can say is that the Yankees won. They won the World Series. I was there watching from the bench.
"The only thing I can think is that I hit the ball hard, and then I waited for the people to call me out.
"The only thing I can think is that he didn't want to play with me," said his father.
"The only thing I can think of is that George was very sensitive about his work," said Mays.
"The only thing I can think of is that he was a little too strong for his own good," said Smith.
"The only thing I can think of is that he's a little too polite about it.
"The only thing I can think of is that they didn't want me to go to the big leagues," he said.
"The only thing I can think of is that they took one of my parents away and I have no regrets.
"The only thing I can think of is, Mr. Mack, that you were the one who called me up.
"The only thing I can think of to do is to get out of baseball," Twitchell said.
"The only thing I can think of," he said, "is that I was never the last out.
"The only thing I could come up with was a pinch-hit home run. I hit one off Ralph Terry in his first game.
"The only thing I could do was go to work and play golf," he said.
"The only thing I could do was wait for him to come back. He was a good catcher, but he was not a good hitter.
"The only thing I could think was that I'd get to the big leagues," Duren said.
"The only thing I could think was, I'm getting married.
"The only thing I ever wanted was a chance to play in the World Series," he said.
"The only thing I ever wanted," he told reporters in Detroit, "was for the Yankees to win the World Series.
"The only thing I had to learn was to be a better hitter," he said.
"The only thing I have going for me is my bad knees.
"The only thing I have left to learn is to hit the big middle pitch.
"The only thing I have to learn," he said, "is about pitching.
"The only thing I know is that I haven't been paid, and I'm not going to be paid either.
"The only thing I learned in playing baseball was that you never let a bad ball get in front of you," he said.
"The only thing I learned was to control my temper," recalled Jones in a 1991 interview.
"The only thing I lost was that I had him," the catcher said. "After the season, the Phillies released him.
"The only thing I want to do in this world is win," he told a reporter shortly after he signed his first contract.
"The only thing I was good for was that I was tough," he said.
"The only thing that makes baseball so great is you, the fans, the people," Joe DiMaggio said.
"The only thing that makes baseball so hard is luck," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"The only thing that stops a juggernaut," pleaded Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich in February 1935.
"The only thing worse than being a total loser, being a total winner.
"The only thing worse than being a winner, is being a loser.
"The only thing you can do in life," Gene Mauch said, "is learn to wait.
"The only thing you can do when they call you a fag is to blow them away," said Mickey Mantle.
"The only thing you can't take out is your fear of flying.
"The only way I can describe it is that I'm running on fumes," McNair said.
"The only way to a happy life is to be a good father and husband," he said.
"The only way to a happy life is to be happy and I think I will always be happy," said Dickey.
"The only way to a happy life," the manager told him, "is to make a baseball player out of you.
"The only way to a happy, successful marriage is for you to be a good neighbor," he told a reporter.
"The only way to a man is to take his chances," said Westlake.
"The only way to beat the Yankees is to beat their top pitchers, which is what we did this afternoon.
"The only way to beat the Yankees is to get out of Yankee Stadium in the second inning," said Ted Williams.
"The only way to beating the Yankees is to beat them on the road.
"The only way to get ahead is to go steadily," he observed.
"The only way to heaven is to take care of your body," he told a reporter after the Series.
"The only way to make a man miserable, is to make him miserable enough," said Mickey Mantle.
"The only way to make a player happy is to make him a teammate," said manager Joe McCarthy, as he selected the St.
"The only way to stop him is to let him pitch," said Boudreau.
"The only way to victory is a combination of guts and frugality," he reportedly told a reporter.
"The only way to victory is to beat the other team," said March of 1964. It was that simple.
"The only way to victory is to beat the other team," the Chicago Cubs' manager Charlie Grimm said.
"The only way to winning is to win big and fast," he said.
"The only woman I knew who was afraid of me was Mary Jo.
"The orange is coming," he said, "and it's going to be a very dark day for this town.
"The other day I was driving down the street and there were three guys sitting in a car behind this restaurant.
"The other day, as I was driving down the street, I saw two guys arguing, and I decided to get a bat.
"The other guy that I now think was a good manager was Bill Rigney.
"The other thing I learned is that a pitcher has to pitch every pitch.
"The other thing that they had to do was to make me look bad.
"The other thing," said Jablonski, "was that I'd always remember the warmup games.
"The part of the game I enjoy is winning," said Moore.
"The party will be over in three days," he said, "and I'm going to the World Series.
"The past is the present," said the great French playwright, Herbert Metzenbaum.
"The people in these parts are not as kind to each other as they were in the past.
"The people of Mississippi were not your friends," said Duren.
"The people of Ohio voted for a man who gave them a clear choice between a bank and a bank-owned bank.
"The perfect storm is upon us." That was Ralph Kiner's prophetic comment in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"The perfect storm," wrote The New York Times, "is over the West Coast and the storm is unraveling.
"The phone rang and I was asked to answer it. It was the catcher.
"The picture is all wrong. I never took care of that picture. I didn't even look at it.
"The pitch looked like a fastball, but Marty Marion was just that, a fastball. He could go all day with his speed.
"The pitcher has to reach the big leagues for two or three years, and then he can't come back.
"The players have to be happy with the way things are," Durocher maintained.
"The pleasure of playing in the big leagues," he said, "is to play for good people, to win for them.
"The point is that I'm not going to take any chances with my fastball," he said.
"The point is, he's a professional," said Yankees catcher Mickey Harris.
"The point of war is to win," he told the Associated Press's Jack Cuddy.
"The positioning of the bat was correct," the manager said. "I had a pretty good day.
"The power of suggestion, the power of suggestion that the reader finds so intoxicating, the reader seems to love it.
"The power of the bat brought more excitement to the proceedings than the potential of the slugger.
"The power of the bat came into play earlier in the game," recalled Ankenman.
"The power of the bat is more than enough to win games," said starter Red Ruffing.
"The preparation was absolutely perfect and the game was played at the perfect tempo.
"The president said it was a great team that we had.
"The president was a great guy," Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto told writer Tom Meany.
"The prize is a young man like you're never seen before or you'll never seen again.
"The problem is that he can't hit the ball in center field.
"The problem is that they got used to it," he said.
"The problem is that you can't help but notice how short his hair is.
"The problem is, he is an entertainer, not an analyst. He can say what he wants. He brings the game to people.
"The problem is, he knows more than I do. We live in a society where too many people know the truth.
"The problem with baseball is that you can't help but look over your shoulder.
"The question is what kind of manager will hire the player who can do the job for two years and then move on to the next one.
"The real me was the one who was afraid to take a swing at a pitch in the dirt.
"The real reason I quit baseball was because I was married," he recalled years later.
"The real reason he got fired was he was new to the organization.
"The reason I got back to baseball was when I was playing for my high school team.
"The reason I was a second baseman when I was growing up is that my father took me away from the bench.
"The reason I'm here is because I'm the oldest," he told the writer Ray Madden.
"The reason they got out of it was because they were afraid the Yankees would come back," he said.
"The reason we won is that I was the best shortstop in baseball in 1948," he recalled.
"The reason why I was out there was because I was an armorer," Rizzuto said.
"The relief pitcher was in the game," said Cramer. "I had to step in.
"The result was a shocking one," he said. "We lost 112 games. That was a big shocker.
"The rich and famous," he said, "will enjoy the privilege of seeing me. And I'm the exception.
"The right foot is for left foot," Gino Marchetti said.
"The right hander is a really tough-minded hitter. He can go out there with a vengeance and he'll find you.
"The right-hander was a good-field hitter, but he could never hit .
"The right-hander" was the name of a five-star recruit from Ohio.
"The road to the Hall of Fame is long and winding, but the journey is worth it," said Glick.
"The sad thing is, that I was a great pitcher, but I wasn't a great hitter.
"The saddest thing is, I'm bitter about how I was treated," he said.
"The second time I came to Brooklyn, I was a kid, and I was the big kid.
"The second time he came to the plate, I told him to go to first base," recalled former teammate Lee Walls.
"The secret of his success is his timing," wrote the Boston Globe's Jim Murray.
"The secret of his success is his timing. … The right pitcher waits for a fastball and a curve and he can throw both of them.
"The secret of his success is simple," said Harry Heilmann. "Durocher never talks about his successes.
"The secret of success is taking it to the plate," Bill Veeck said.
"The secret of success is to put the opposite on the other guy.
"The secret of success is to start with the opposite of everybody else.
"The short, stocky player was the left-handed batter and the center fielder drove the ball.
"The show was great," he recalled. "The fans were great, Super Fans.
"The slip-shod pitching job is what I've been looking for," says Hallahan.
"The smile vanished when he hit .313," recalled his friend, former teammate Red Ruffing.
"The spirit of the game is to be commended, not undermined," said Stengel.
"The spirit of the game," the New York Times wrote, "will not die quickly.
"The sport was dying, the industry was dying, and the people were just not following suit. That's what I learned.
"The story about the Native American hero," wrote John C. Stember, "is a bit of a riddle.
"The story has it that the Yankees paid $100,000 for every Yankee who went to bat for the 1936 and '37 seasons.
"The story is, of course, that Jones was really Marty Marion, who was on the mound when Jones made his famous error.
"The story of my life is that I never stopped trying to make baseball great again," Warren Spahn said.
"The story of the suicide of Bob Fothergill is a sad one," said Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky.
"The story that I've been paying off is that I get more money out of the Yankees than I do from the Dodgers.
"The story was so ridiculous, the whole town paid a visit to the police station and demanded to see the film.
"The strike zone is the spot of the strikeout," said Joe McCarthy.
"The students in my class are wonderful," Trump said. "I've been very lucky.
"The stupidest thing you can do," he said, "is to try to rush to judgment.
"The summers were hot, the winters cold, and I had to deal with them all.
"The sun never sets in San Francisco," he would recall.
"The sun was setting, and I was afraid I was going to faint," he said.
"The sweet smell of victory, the taste of victory, the thought of victory.
"The tall lefty from Concord was a turning point in my career," said Ray.
"The team that wins the World Series must have the confidence and drive to win big," he said.
"The thing I have learned," said Slapnicka, "is that you can't make baseball players hit.
"The thing I learn from my kids is that failure is the greatest thing. Failure inspires people.
"The thing I learned from George Sisler, who ran the St.
"The thing I learned from my father is that you have to let go and concentrate on what you do," he said.
"The thing I learned growing up was that you can't judge a book by covering all the bases.
"The thing I remember about that year was that I had a part-time manager for the year.
"The thing I remember most from that year was my first game in the major leagues.
"The thing about it, I don't even know what to call it. I just know it.
"The thing about it, you know what I mean, that was the only time I ever played professional ball.
"The thing about pitching is timing and getting the timing right," he said.
"The thing about pitching is, you've got to learn how to perform.
"The thing about the strike zone, though, is that you don't know where it is going to end. You just move along.
"The thing that I learned from that is, man, you're supposed to hustle.
"The thing that I learned in baseball is you have to depend on a good curveball," said Mantle.
"The thing that makes this a great season for us," said Watson, "is that the Yankees are playing a great team.
"The things you learn in this business are the big lessons," he said.
"The thought of being able to sit in the stands and watch my performance in baseball was not appealing," he said.
"The thrill of a comeback is knowing you have a chance to win.
"The trade that got me," he said, "wasn't the trade I had wanted.
"The trade was a tremendous win for us," recalled Pierce.
"The tree that men call courage is dead," said Charlie Root. "The tree that we call honor is alive.
"The trick was to get him off balance," said Charlie Gehringer, who was the All-Star second baseman.
"The trouble is, you're too nice to the opposition.
"The truth is that I've never been able to make a pitch for the Yankees.
"The truth is that I've never been in a war," said Robert Kennedy.
"The truth is that he was a good fielder, but he wasn't a great one.
"The truth is that the Cubs have a better pitching staff than any other team in the National League.
"The truth is that you've got to get it to work," remarked Runnels.
"The truth is we had a roster that was good enough for the pennant," said Cleveland manager Gabby Street.
"The truth is, I didn't have any children, and all of a sudden there were all these applications for adoptions.
"The truth is, I didn't have the desire to play for the Dodgers," said Boudreau.
"The truth is, I was a good hitter, but I was incompetent at pitching.
"The truth is, I was a good hitter," Parsons said. "But I was also a good team player.
"The truth is, I was a good hitter," he said. "But I couldn't run.
"The truth is, I was going to retire," recalled former teammate Al Kozar in an interview in the 1990s.
"The truth is, I've never really been successful," Schoendienst said.
"The two are friends and I'm sure he's going to be a great player for us.
"The two boys looked at each other and said, 'What's the matter, Mr.
"The two years in Cleveland, they were just crushed," Blake said. "I was a relief pitcher.
"The two-strike warning was a joke," recalled a retired pitcher named George Kell.
"The two-time All-Star" was the most dominant player in the American League during the 1920s.
"The umpire was a Nazi," Harry Danning said. "The Nazi was the umpire.
"The umpire was a nice guy, but he was the guy who put me over in the lineup.
"The unassuming, all-American demeanor he embodied was as American as apple pie and Tim Horton's.
"The veteran right-hander was a great addition to the club," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"The war certainly was a distraction. It was affected us.
"The war over," the Yankees' winning streak finally ended, and the hapless Yankees lost their last four games.
"The war was over and I was in the Army," said Henry Aaron in a 2002 interview.
"The war was over, and I was no longer wanted in New York.
"The war was over," he told an interviewer years later. "I saw the clouds come over.
"The war will be over soon," he said. "We have plenty of time.
"The war will be over soon," said the famous words of Winston Churchill.
"The way Barry calls the pitches, you're thinking you're pitching in a batting cage.
"The way I look at it is that he's a kid from a big city who comes to Cleveland and plays baseball for us.
"The way I look at it is, I didn't have anything to lose.
"The way I look at it, I was a hopeless gambler. Nothing I could do would pan out.
"The way I look at it, he was my grandfather. I was a big kid growing up, and my dad was my hero.
"The way I see it, I was born to be a pitcher, and I wanted to be one," Duren said.
"The way I see it, I was born with a bad heart," said Coleman.
"The way I see it, you're not the problem. The problem is the way you play baseball.
"The way the game used to be played, every day, you'd hear the buzz of somebody else getting on base.
"The whole idea of it was, 'Let's get him off the hook.
"The whole thing about the injured knee was that it was the ligaments that held it together.
"The whole thing was a good old lesson in how not to mess with a good-hitting pitcher," Yost says.
"The wooden stool is the most important thing," said the old Cuban.
"The word around the league is that I'll be the favorite to win the job," he said.
"The word is he tried," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"The word is that we were able to beat them," said Pascual, "but we had to beat them.
"The word on the street is that I'm going to be a good pitcher," he said.
"The work that went into that season was an absolute credit to me," he said.
"The world is going to hell," said George Crowe. "We are going to hell because we are not winning.
"The world of baseball is a scary place," he said. "We used to be a pretty innocent bunch.
"The world of baseball is a tough place," Durocher said to the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"The world's greatest catcher," wrote the New York Times, "has been dead for almost 50 years.
"The worst thing you can do in baseball is to get old," Johnny Pesky said.
"The worst thing you can do in baseball is to get too excited.
"The worst thing you can do in baseball is to let the other team down," said Dickey.
"The worst thing you can do is take a chance on a kid from the Philippines," Burdette said.
"The year 1955, I was brought up to the big leagues in a hurry," he recalled.
"The year is 1937," said Blue Jays manager Rogers Hornsby.
"The year is 1956 and I'm Joe DiMaggio," the Red Sox slugger said.
"The year that I was born, I was a real hot potato," Feller said.
"The year was 1926, and I was on the mound for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"The year was 1933 and I was in my second year in professional baseball.
"The year was 1947, and I was the third-string catcher in the American League.
"The year was 1954, and I had my first real opportunity to play professional baseball.
"The young man was a big fan of the Yankees and wanted to come to New York," said Al Rosen, recalling the incident.
"The young man was a fine ballplayer, but he just didn't have it yet.
"The young man, who was my age, showed me the ropes, and he was very polite.
"Then I got up to the plate and threw the ball. He hit it pretty good, over the pitcher's mound.
"Then he was swinging at the ball, looking for the other pitcher," said former teammate Peavy.
"Theodore's most striking characteristic was his absolute refusal to take a stand against the macho, violent image of baseball.
"There are a lot of guys who can play baseball and say they can hit a baseball.
"There are few managers who can say they had a great team in 1940," said Whitey Ford.
"There are many reasons why he was fired," said a source close to the Babe.
"There are no excuses for abandoning the winning team," he said.
"There are no excuses," he said. "I made a mistake." On the heels of his stellar 2.
"There are no excuses," said Dickey. "I've been through enough.
"There are no middlemen, only winners and losers." In a time before the modern player, Henry B.
"There are no rules in baseball," said Don Newcombe.
"There are only a handful of guys in the game who can do it.
"There are only four things I can do," the rookie outfielder said after his big-league debut.
"There are only two places I can go to for a vacation: Hawaii or someplace else," he said.
"There are plenty of other good players in the league," said Boston manager Joe McCarthy.
"There are so many great players in the game, but there are only so many ways to hit," said Parnell.
"There are some guys in baseball who would rather jump out of airplanes than play baseball," he said.
"There are some things in baseball that you just can't ever put your finger on," said Joe Cronin.
"There are three kinds of ballplayers," he said. "A. People who hustle. B.
"There are three major reasons for this push for Sharpe.
"There are three things I learned from my father. One was that a man's honor is more valuable than his integrity.
"There are three things I want to say about this game," he said.
"There are three things I'll tell you," he told a reporter shortly after he assumed the position.
"There are three things I've learned since I've been in the league: pitching, hitting, and fielding.
"There are too many first basemen in baseball," he said. "I'll have to make them more.
"There are two great stories about me," said Vander Meer.
"There are two kinds of people in baseball. There are the loyal fans and the haters.
"There are two things I learned from him. One, Don Larsen was a good hitter, but he was also a good person.
"There are two things I learned in high school," he said.
"There are two things wrong with me. One, I haven't pitched in two years.
"There are two things you can't allow. One is the baseball, and the other is bureaucracy.
"There comes a day when a manager must make a tough call. I'll put all of my chips on the table.
"There is a truth that is too often ignored: Jack Kramer never did win the pennant, and the Dodgers never would.
"There is no doubt in my mind that [Jackie] Robinson is the greatest player ever.
"There is no doubt that I was an excellent hitter in high school.
"There is no doubt that he was one of the most popular players in the history of the game," said Mariners pitcher Al Burris.
"There is no doubt that we will be competitive for the number one spot in 1956," he said.
"There is no such thing as a bad skin disease," said Dr.
"There is no such thing as a good poker player," said Bill Murray.
"There is no such thing as an ace in the storm," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"There is no way I'll ever play shortstop for the Yankees," he said.
"There is no way you can ever know what it will be like when you're ready for the big leagues.
"There is nothing like a good fight," said Ed Barrow of the Cardinals.
"There is nothing like a good laugh," said Phillies clubhouse manager Bucky Harris.
"There is nothing like a good story," he said. "A good story should make a man feel good.
"There is nothing like a win," said Isaac, "and I think the fans will be very pleased.
"There is nothing like a woman making you feel like a big man. She gives you strength. She makes you see things.
"There is nothing like it," the White Sox catcher explained to the subject who asked him if he could swing a bat.
"There was a Yankees fan who was watching the game.
"There was a fine gentleman named Gus Frisch who was the manager of the St.
"There was a period in my life when I was pretty much a bawdy, hard-drinking, hard-drug person.
"There was a wonderful atmosphere that spring," Bloom recalled. "We were in the midst of a pennant race.
"There was absolutely nothing I could do," he said. "I was just a victim.
"There was never a day when I wasn't in the habit of giving a man a hard time," he said.
"There was never a doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," said Dyer.
"There was never a more difficult assignment for a manager.
"There was never a more exciting time to play baseball than the late 1940s," he said.
"There was never a more humiliating way to spend a summer than in a gymnasium," said GEORGE T.
"There was never a night that I was in the theaters," he said.
"There was never a night that we didn't think about winning the big game.
"There was never a stronger competitor in baseball. He was a tough competitor. He was a competitor to play against.
"There was never a time in baseball when I didn't think of Joe DiMaggio," he said.
"There was never a time in my life when I didn't think about winning," he told author Bill Ballew.
"There was never a time when I didn't think about my performance," said Jones.
"There was never a time, in my mind, when I didn't think about playing baseball," he recalled.
"There was never any doubt I would play professional baseball," Garcia said. "I was always a shortstop.
"There was never any doubt in his mind that he was gonna be a major league manager," recalled Greenwade.
"There was never any doubt in my mind as to what would happen if I was drafted," he recalled.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play baseball," said Gutierrez.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play baseball," said O'Doul.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball again.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," Cruz recalled of his teenage years.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," Davis remembered.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," Duren said.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," Steffens said in a 2010 interview.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," he recalled.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," he said.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Cooper.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Galan.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Jackson.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Shotton.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Spahn.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would be a big-league manager someday," he said.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," Bacon said.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," he recalled in 1997.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," he said.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," said Borowy.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball," said Spahn.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would play professional baseball.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that Wilbur was going to be an impact pitcher.
"There was never any doubt that I would make it to the majors," Fordham explained.
"There was never any doubt that football would be his career," said Dahlgren.
"There was never any doubt that he was going to be a great ballplayer," said Dodger teammate Sal Taormina.
"There was never any doubt that he'd get in trouble," said New York Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"There was never any doubt the Cubs would win the World Series," said Boudreau.
"There was never anything like the death of Freddie Gray," said Whitey Ford.
"There was never anything like the war," Sain said.
"There was never much doubt in my mind that I was going to play professional baseball," said Dickey.
"There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be a big-league manager someday," Mathews said.
"There was no doubt that the front office was piling on," Wilber said.
"There was no other way to make a career of baseball," he said.
"There was no sense hiding it. The Yankees are a big club. … They wanted to show you how big they are.
"There was no sense in my playing him," he said later.
"There was no sense threatening to quit," said West.
"There was no sense worrying. I was just coming to the ballpark, and the crowd was very enthusiastic. They were really into it.
"There was no such thing as a miscellaneous, nonbiological, or non-hazardous term," he said.
"There was no way I was going to let him get away with that kind of fraud," Kiner said.
"There was no way I was going to let them shoot at me like that," Miller said.
"There was no way I was going to play that game," he said. "There was just no way.
"There was nothing I could do but wait it out," he said.
"There was nothing I could do," said the childishly handsome athlete.
"There was nothing he could do but hope that something would go wrong," recalled his friend and teammate Bill Werle.
"There was nothing in my contract that said I was a fly in the sky," said the third baseman.
"There was nothing like a good beating," said Wilbert Robinson, the Yankees' second baseman.
"There was nothing like a good storm," he recalled. "I got hit in the mitt and I was flooded.
"There was something about it," recalled Price, "that was electric.
"There wasn't a night that went by that I didn't think about what was going to happen to me.
"There wasn't that much money in attendance for the presser," he recalled.
"There were a lot of 'how the hell were you able to do that,' type stuff," recalled Lee.
"There were a lot of games I'd played in high school that I never took off for college," he recalled.
"There were a lot of good Dominican ballplayers," said former teammate and fellow Cy Young Award winner Bernie Terwilliger.
"There were a lot of good players on the Giants, but for some reason they never got the chance to play together in a regular lineup.
"There were a lot of rumors swirling around Ban Johnson, the perennial All-Star outfielder.
"There were many times when I thought I was going to pass out, but I just kept trying to catch it and it just flew past.
"There were more surprises in store for him in 1938," wrote The Sporting News's Jack Cuddy.
"There were no better players around than he's got.
"There were no cheap peanuts in that book," he recalled.
"There were no dead balls in the crowd, just players who wanted it.
"There were no doubts that he would be a great one," said Manager Bucky Harris.
"There were no fancy uniforms, just ordinary uniforms with no pockets. We wore them because they were cheap.
"There were no gifts, no nothing. I was kind of lonely.
"There were no good players in the Detroit Tigers organization. It was a garbage organization. The players were just not that good.
"There were no names on the cards," Stengel said. "There was only work.
"There were no other better left-handers in the league.
"There were no other games that were as exciting for me as World Series baseball.
"There were no premium players in those days," Grant recalled. "We had to do everything by hand.
"There were no shortcuts to baseball," said Newcombe. "I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Flatbush.
"There were no stars on Johnny Boyer" – the refrain that goes along with any good tribute to the great center fielder.
"There were no wars; I was just a lucky guy who got caught in a bad situation.
"There were no winners in this thing," Trump said. "All of us lost.
"There were only four left-hander in the majors," said Shotton.
"There were other clubs that were interested in me, but I was never prepared to go anywhere.
"There were plenty of other guys who had a chance to do it, but I was the only one who wanted to do it.
"There were so many good players on the team, it was a joke," he said. "I was terrible.
"There were so many great players on those teams, but there were just no good enough ballplayers.
"There were some who said that Leo Durocher was the greatest. I was the least.
"There were three things I learned from that experience. One was that you didn't take the piss out of everyone you played against.
"There were too many pitchers. We had to keep them on the bench.
"There were too many talented players on the roster," he said.
"There were two batters I watched closely in my early years on the mound.
"There were two courses I wanted to take," he recalled.
"There were two guys in the league who were just tremendous competitors," recalled Don Mueller, "and they were the best.
"There were two guys who stood out for me," recalled Hanlon.
"There were two things I learned from working in the ball park during my career: 1.
"There were two things I learned in baseball," Romney said.
"There were two things I wanted to do when I came back to the Giants.
"There were two things John did well…he was a good hitter and a good fielder.
"There were two things [war] prevented," said Joe DiMaggio, "and we had them both.
"There were two things that really concerned me about the war. One was the war in Europe. The other was the war in the Pacific.
"There were two things that we talked about as far as baseball was concerned," said Barrow.
"There were two things wrong with him," Longoria recalled. "One, he couldn't throw the ball.
"There were two times I didn't like it," he recalled.
"There's a fine line between politics and science," said Baldock.
"There's an old saying in baseball, 'A win for the fans is a win for the fans.
"There's an old saying that goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
"There's just no way that you can play baseball for somebody like that," said Groat.
"There's no doubt about it – I've been in that situation countless times.
"There's no doubt in my mind that I could beat the Yankees' lineup," she said.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the Yankees are going to win the pennant," he said.
"There's no such thing as a bad-hop pitcher," he said.
"There's no telling where we'll be in three years," said Mets manager Casey Stengel.
"There's no way I'll allow him to do it," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"There's no way I'll ever win that job. I'll never get it.
"There's no way I'll play baseball again," said the younger Feller.
"There's no way I'll play for them again," said the hot-tempered veteran.
"There's no way he's going to play big-league baseball for us.
"There's no way in hell I'll ever play shortstop again," said DiMaggio.
"There's no way you can ever break in the big leagues," he said.
"There's nothing like a good fastball," said Cleveland Indians third baseman Jimmie Foxx.
"There's nothing like a good gambling day," he told The Sporting News.
"There's nothing like a good laugh," he said. "This is a great one.
"There's nothing like a good laugh," he told a reporter.
"There's nothing like a good laugh. It makes a thing look like a failure.
"There's nothing like a good story," he said. "Your wife will be home in a minute.
"There's nothing like a little rain game," said Lefty.
"There's only one Babe Ruth," said Al Rosen. "I'll take him over any of you.
"There's only one Barney," said Edgar Munzel, "and that's Bob Lemon.
"There's only one Thad," he said, "and that's Ted Williams.
"There's the guy who can put a hit through the middle of the order.
"These are the greatest players in baseball history," Bill James said. "They've been around for fifty years.
"These are the greatest players in baseball," said Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen. "They are the future.
"These boys were all in a position to be in the big leagues, and they did it.
"Thesis: No blacklisted players in the major leagues during the era of integration.
"They call me a hot dog, but I'll tell you I am a dog.
"They called me a pussycat. I was a little chick. I was scared to death.
"They came in from the hotel and sat down and had a big banquet that was a big dinner," Mays recalled.
"They don't like the fact that I play baseball," he said.
"They gave me a full-body shot," he recalled. "I was standing on the bench in the batting cage.
"They had a great year, but I don't think they'll win a pennant.
"They had me hit a couple of home runs in the playoffs, and I felt fine," he said.
"They have always been known as the big cats," said Giants broadcaster Mel Ott.
"They have been in the American League since 1993," said Yankees GM Roy Mahaffey.
"They just missed the playoffs," Kreider said. "We had a great team and we just missed the playoffs.
"They just seem to come up with new moves every week," he said.
"They played hard for us, and that paid off. They kept us in good spirits. We didn't want to leave.
"They said the bat would come alive with power. They were the first people in baseball who believed that bats would go crazy with power.
"They should have stayed with the Indians," said Cleveland pitcher Bob Fournier.
"They told me I was the best, the best-looking pitcher in the league.
"They told us that we might have a lower win total than the Yankees," he recalled.
"They tried to get rid of me, but I told them no and they kept on.
"They used to take us to all the ball games," he recalled.
"They wanted to send me out to play in the minors," Stone said.
"They were all good," said Spoelstra. "Paul and Pierce were both great players.
"They were always putting me in the back of the cage," he recalled.
"They were both great players and great teammates," said Durocher.
"They were good," he said. "They were real good players.
"They were just big, strong guys, and they're just not good enough for this sport.
"They were my people, the people that I was proud to be.
"They were one of the best teams we played in the American League," said Boudreau.
"They were the greatest baseball players ever," Don Mueller said decades later.
"They were the greatest fans in the history of the game," said former Giants teammate Al Bright .
"They were the greatest." —U.S. Representative Joe Wilson, D-S.C.
"They were the happiest of the happiest and most confident Indians," recalled longtime teammate Al Rosen.
"They were the most intelligent players I ever played with," he recalls.
"They were the most prolific and best-conditioned of the American Leagers.
"They were two of the most outstanding pitching coaches I have ever seen in baseball," remembered former Cubs catcher Joe Garagiola.
"They were wonderful. They were great parents. I was so proud to be a Yankee. I was proud to be around those parents.
"They weren't just bad kids," he recalled. "They were vain. … They wanted to be famous.
"They won't harm us," said Head Coach Del Baker. "We have everything we need.
"They won't let me get rid of him," the Tigers manager said.
"They'd be hard to beat," said Groat. "Bosses would get frustrated.
"They'll be back," he warned his players. "We have enough young men in this league.
"They'll do anything to win," the manager advised his players. "I'll take care of them.
"They'll give me a promotion," he said. "But I can't wait around for it.
"They'll go and find a way to stop him," said Whitey Ford.
"They'll have to do something to get me out. I like going to my games, but I'm getting older.
"They'll take a chance on me," said Kell to the outfielder.
"They'll take it," Diering said. "I'll take it, too.
"They're a bunch of daffy-minded kids out there," Holmes said.
"They're a great group of guys. They've been through a lot. They're real tough.
"They're a great team," he said. "The guys on the team are real hungry to win.
"They're all just toys," he said. "I have a right to instruct them.
"They're always giving me trouble, even in games where they don't count to the score.
"They're black and white," — Ruth — that is, in baseball terms.
"They're both great players and they're both fine guys. But I'm just a golfer.
"They're bringing back the old system, the old baseball, the old way of playing baseball.
"They're getting rid of the old players," said Casey Stengel.
"They're giving me a bad break," he said. "I've got a good feeling.
"They're going to be great," he said. "We'll have a great competition.
"They're going to be leaders in the major leagues. They're going to be the leaders.
"They're going to be our breadwinners," said Bundy.
"They're going to build a baseball stadium in El Centro.
"They're going to build a great ball club," he predicted.
"They're going to build a great ballclub," he said.
"They're going to get rich," White Sox manager Jimmie Wilson said after the 1934 season.
"They're going to have to be careful," he warned his players.
"They're going to have to be the best power hitters in baseball," he predicted.
"They're going to have to do something to keep me from hitting," he said.
"They're going to have to do something," Durocher said after the 1984 season.
"They're going to have to do something," admitted Twitchell.
"They're going to have to do something. And I'm the guy to do it.
"They're going to have to learn to change pitchers," he said.
"They're going to have to pay more for the best talent around," he predicted.
"They're going to have to take him off the roster," manager Joe Altobelli said.
"They're going to have to take me inside," said Bagby, "and shove it.
"They're going to keep us out of the bottom of the order," Gus said.
"They're going to make him pay for what he did," said captain Lou Boudreau.
"They're going to make some noise," he bragged to Bob Considine of the New York Daily News.
"They're going to make the Yankees pay big for the next three years," Yankees manager Miller Huggins declared.
"They're going to need a catcher from the top of the order," Bob Friend said.
"They're going to put me in," he said. "I'll be the main event.
"They're gonna get us." Wills was on to something.
"They're gonna have to be careful," said Mays. "Piersall was the best.
"They're gonna make a rule that no pitcher can talk about a dead ball," said Burdette.
"They're gonna take care of me." He had a very different recollection of what transpired the next day.
"They're in love," Mr. Lovejoy said. The Giants' fans would have none of it.
"They're just a couple of ballplayers," he said. "They're not even worth mentioning.
"They're just a couple of guys that used to play ball in Brooklyn.
"They're just big," said Yankees catcher Mickey Mantle.
"They're just happy to see you. They don't know what to do with you," Dr.
"They're just like a couple of brothers," Mays said of the Marlins.
"They're just like a father and son," his older brother, Al, said.
"They're just like a lot of old people," he told the Washington Post's Shirley Povich.
"They're just like a mother and daughter," said former Red Sox teammate and manager Eddie Lopat.
"They're just like the Yankees," Don Larsen said. "They have all the fancy equipment.
"They're just like the Yankees," Gin recalled of the Yankees in his later years.
"They're just like the old-time players," said former teammate Johnny Sain.
"They're just like, the closest thing to a brother in baseball," said Mets coach Roger Stone.
"They're just the last vestiges of a former big-league player.
"They're just there to help me," said Vanos, "but they're very nice.
"They're just two more wins and they're still ahead," said Cleveland center fielder Joe Gordon.
"They're just two of the guys that are always out there," he said.
"They're making a mistake. I'm the least of their problems.
"They're making me a jerk," Rizzuto told an interviewer.
"They're no good for me," he said. "I've had enough of baseball, I suppose.
"They're not all bad," said Williams, "but they don't play well together.
"They're not calling me a bust," he said. "Somebody has been on me for a long time.
"They're not coming back," said Frisch. "We're winning.
"They're not doing me any favors," he lamented years later.
"They're not going to beat us," copped by manager Pinky Higgins.
"They're not going to get rid of me. I'm not even about to retire.
"They're not going to help me," said the pitcher, "and I'll find another job.
"They're not going to make a big-league ballplayer out of me," he said.
"They're not going to punch my right in the nose again," he said.
"They're not good enough," said Schoendienst, "but they're not bad either.
"They're not that far from making the majors," said McClain. "They just need work.
"They're only human," he told the author, "but I'm not going to kid them.
"They're playing catch with me," he said. "They're not just going after a ball.
"They're playing me," he said. "They're playing the best baseball I've seen.
"They're playing me," the Yankees' third baseman said.
"They're real tough. I've been on bad teams in my day and they're real tough.
"They're still boys. You're still a boy. Dad didn't give them the names of the girls.
"They're the best part of my job," Gail told The Sporting News.
"They're the best people I've ever known," Ed said. "They want to win for you.
"They're the best" in the American League, said New York Times columnist Arthur Daley.
"They're the best," said Casey Stengel. "They're going to beat you.
"They're the devil," President Calvin Coolidge said of the Negro Leagues' first black players.
"They're the greatest, the finest people you'll ever want to meet," said Joe DiMaggio.
"They're the most exciting players in the game today," he said.
"They're the ones that get you to play like you're a pro.
"They're the ones we've got to keep a look out for," he said.
"They're the ones you've got to have," Durocher said.
"They're the only ones who can tell what is good for the ballclub.
"They're the real real McCoy. They're the real McCoy.
"They're the scariest guys. They never stop laughing.
"They're tougher," said Roscoe McGowen, the last of the great Boston Braves catchers.
"They're two of the best baseball players in the world," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"They're worse than ever." "They're not as good as they used to be.
"They've , since the war, been trying to get rid of me.
"They've been called the Lost Boys," said Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg in 1959.
"They've been calling me Billy, but I'm just Billy Cox. I'm just Cox.
"They've been good to me," said Eisenberg. "They always gave me encouragement. They always reassured me.
"They've been good to me. And they'll be even more to you.
"They've been great for us," Dickey said. "We've had a lot of help.
"They've been great to me," he said. "And I'm grateful.
"They've been great to me," he said. "They taught me to take everything day by day.
"They've been great," said Boudreau. "They're going places.
"They've been great," said Cimoli. "The guys have been great.
"They've been known to give you a new contract every year, or until you're 30," he said.
"They've been loving me," said Feller, "they've been rooting for me.
"They've been nothing but great to me," he said. "I've been so lucky.
"They've been through enough. You're not going to make fun of them.
"They've given me a tremendous amount of confidence," said the big right-hander.
"They've given me plenty of chances," he said. "I'll take them.
"They've got a great ballclub," he said. "They've got cream of the hitters.
"They've got me on the hook for more money than I've ever seen," Smith said.
"They've got to be careful. If the guy is good enough, he'll play for us.
"They've got to be great," Groat said of the Giants.
"They've got to be kidding me," Bob Feller said of the White Sox.
"They've got to do something," he said of the club's unexpected success.
"They've got to earn the right to win," said Del Crandall.
"They've got to get him out better," Burdette said.
"They've got to get him out," Mays said after the season.
"They've got to get him," said Giants manager Leo Durocher.
"They've got to get rid of him," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"They've got to get used to the fact that we're winning," he said.
"They've got to give me a chance. I'll take the money.
"They've got to go back to the West Coast," he said.
"They've got to have that big bat right now," said Schoendienst of the Reds.
"They've got to have what I have. I have to play the game.
"They've got to learn how to work it," Stan Musial said years later.
"They've got to learn to play together," he said. "We have a lot of tough competition.
"They've got to pay me back," he said. "I wasn't the star.
"They've got to put something together," said Cuyler.
"They've got to stop this violence. They're making people mad.
"They've got to turn the ball over to the other teams," he said.
"They've got to work together," he said. "I've got to work with him.
"They've got to work with him now," said Van Brock, Durocher's assistant.
"They've got to work with me as a leader," he said.
"They've had the best minor-league system in the history of the game.
"They've made a commitment to get me out of there," he told Ella.
"They've made me a voting member of the Communist Party," he said.
"They've never stopped trying to get me to come back. They're worried about another Al Smith.
"They've seen everybody," he said. "They know every trick in the book.
"They've started the season on fire-water pitchers.
"Things got heated," recalled Larry MacPhail, "and I got into it.
"Things went wrong. I was too quick to start over. I was too naive," he recalled.
"Things were going so well for them in the Polo Grounds, I took the matter right to Nokom.
"Things were going so well for us, we felt like we were on top of the world.
"Think of the school imitators. They could make a lot of money doing what they were doing.
"Think you can handle me?" asked a particularly earnest-seeming Lou Boudreau.
"Thirteen years ago, my dad was working as a security guard.
"Thirty-five years ago, I had a good fastball. I threw it good. It was my best pitch.
"This fellow is going to be a great one," said Rogers Hornsby.
"This fellow is making my job as a coach much easier," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"This guy is going to be a great one," said his manager, Joe Cronin.
"This guy is the opposite of the previous game. He is the kind of guy who likes to fight. He likes to get wild.
"This is a beautiful day," said McCarthy. "I've got a great club.
"This is a big blow for Detroit," said Giants' owner Horace Stoneham.
"This is a great baseball city," Gibson said. "I've been to New York many times.
"This is a great day," The Sporting News announced.
"This is a great night for the Giants," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"This is a great opportunity for me to get some innings under my belt," the 32-year-old said.
"This is a great opportunity for me to show my versatility by playing in front of a real baseball team for which I have some experience.
"This is a great opportunity for the young player to be in the big leagues.
"This is a great team, and I'm proud to be a part of it.
"This is a great team, and the way they play, they can win any game they want," said Killefer.
"This is a great team, but you don't know how good it's going to be until you play.
"This is a great team, the best in baseball." Report of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Sporting News.
"This is a great team," DeWitt said. "This is a great group of people.
"This is a great team," Kerr said. "The pitching is going to be outstanding.
"This is a great team," Rickey's boast, insouciant. He was right.
"This is a guy who could make a great pitcher out of an average hitter.
"This is a sad day for all of us in the Giants organization," said Giants co-owner Horace Stoneham.
"This is a sad day for all of us," said Union County Commissioner Ed Fenske.
"This is a sad day for all of us. I have had the privilege of playing for the Orioles for 17 years.
"This is a sad day for the Athletics and for the city." The club was in transition and needed stability.
"This is a sad day for the Yankees as well as for the game of baseball," said Yankees general manager George Weiss.
"This is a terrible blow," said Mets manager Bill Killefer. "I have only one hope.
"This is a very, very sad day," said the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio.
"This is a wise man's club," proclaimed the New York Times.
"This is a wonderful team. We'll have to do our best to win it, but we'll do our best.
"This is going to be a good year," said Joe DiMaggio.
"This is in the best tradition of the game," he said.
"This is my first year in the big leagues and I have all the confidence in the world in my pitching skills," he said.
"This is my life and I will live it to the fullest," he said. "I have no regrets.
"This is my war. I'm not going to sit back and do nothing." He didn't.
"This is one of the sweetest memories of my career," he said.
"This is probably the saddest day in my career," said Galan.
"This is the United States of America and we have a beautiful country," Trump said.
"This is the best day of my life," he said, "This is the greatest day of my life.
"This is the best kind of publicity," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"This is the best possible way to end the season," he declared.
"This is the best team I ever saw in my life," O'Doul said.
"This is the best team they ever put together," said Gordon.
"This is the best way for me to repay my debt to Mr. Mack," he said.
"This is the first time I've been in a World Series," Schoendienst said.
"This is the first time I've been in a car accident," said Little Peter.
"This is the greatest city in the world," he said, "but it's also the saddest.
"This is the greatest city in the world," said DeWitt.
"This is the greatest city on the planet," he said.
"This is the greatest day of my life," said Barrow.
"This is the greatest day — the day the United States of America gives its blessing to independence," said President Rutherford B.
"This is the greatest feeling in the world," said Dodger third baseman Tommy Henrich.
"This is the greatest feeling in the world," said Yogi Berra.
"This is the greatest game I ever played," said Sain.
"This is the greatest opportunity I've ever had in baseball," Stanky said.
"This is the greatest relief I've ever had in my life," he said.
"This is the greatest team I've ever seen," said Harris.
"This is the greatest team I've ever seen," said Verban.
"This is the greatest thing that can happen to a loser," Bucky Harris said.
"This is the greatest thing that can happen to a pitcher in his career," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"This is the greatest thing that ever happened to a baseball player," Durocher said.
"This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me," Mickey Vernon said.
"This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me," he said.
"This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me," he said. "I can't believe it.
"This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me," said the 40-year-old.
"This is the greatest thrill I've ever had in baseball," said Duren.
"This is the greatest thrill of my life," he said. "My wife and I were taking in the sights.
"This is the greatest weekend of my life, but it will be remembered for something more important.
"This is the kind of guy I've always wanted to trade," said Burdette.
"This is the kind of stuff you'd expect to come out of a no-hitter. And it does.
"This is the last time I'll ever play professional baseball," said Roderick.
"This is the most astonishing thing I have ever seen," wrote the New York Times.
"This is the most challenging position I have played yet," he said.
"This is the most exciting thing I ever played on the baseball field," he said.
"This is the most exciting time in my life," Hoeft said.
"This is the most important game of the season, and I hope we can win it, too.
"This is the most important game of the season," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"This is the most important game of the season," said manager Bucky Harris.
"This is the most memorable night in my career," he said.
"This is the most outrageous thing I have ever seen," he said.
"This is the place for me to go home and play," he said.
"This is the saddest moment of my life," said Blanchett.
"This is the work of a madman," Cranston said about the strike.
"This is the year of the great American experiment," said Washington manager Bucky Harris.
"This is what I've been waiting for," he said. He was just kidding himself.
"This kid is going to be a great one … he's going to wow people.
"This kid is going to be a great one," Chicago manager Charlie Grimm told Grimm.
"This kid is great," Jack Kramer said. "All the kids in the neighborhood are huge Red Sox fans.
"This kid just impresses me. What a guy. What a hitter.
"This little fellow is going to be a great one," said Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky.
"This may well be the greatest risk I have taken in my career," he said.
"This reminds me of the days when I played in the Negro Leagues," he said.
"This was a fantastic experience," Berra said. "The manager was great.
"This was the best-kept secret in baseball," said Joe Cronin.
"Those black-clad fans were just as intimidating to the opposition as the players.
"Those kinds of guys, they should be in the Hall of Fame.
"Those were the great years of my career," DeMaestri said.
"Thus, I am no longer angry and bitter," Mellencamp later said.
"Tiger Woods is a fine fellow," Bill Dickey said of the former all-star.
"Time for peace," the refrain was heard out in the streets of New York.
"Tinker and I'll take care of each other," said Bucky Harris, batting leadoff.
"Tinker and Tailor was the great baseball game — and it was truly a game of its time.
"Tinker to the Tink," The Sporting News, August 9, 1955, 9.
"Tinker" Taormina had a big bat in his hands, which made him a popular pitcher for the Tigers.
"Tite" Burrell, a good-hitting outfielder who batted .
"Tite" Frazier was born in Greenville, Missouri, on October 14, 1910.
"To be a big-league manager, you have to be able to talk your way out," he said.
"To be a good player, you have to have good timing and be able to adjust to the hitter's bat.
"To be a kid again, you're supposed to be like the old man. You're supposed to be strong.
"To be a part of the Yankees in any capacity is a thrill," he said.
"To be able to play every day . and to have your family, it was a great thrill," he said.
"To be honest, I didn't take it seriously. I didn't think anyone did.
"To be honest, they were doing me a favor, and I refused to do it.
"To be the best player in the game, you have to be the best competitor," he said.
"To hell with it," he yelled. He aimed the ball at the center fielder, who ran free.
"To me, he was the best pitcher I ever played for," said former teammate Ken Chase. "He could do everything.
"To me, the most amazing thing in baseball is that there is so much talent in the game.
"To my recollection, he was an excellent fielder, and he was intelligent too. He had a good stick.
"To play bad, you have to hit the fastball," McGrath said.
"To put it into words, I'm just a kid. I never had any aspirations of anything like that.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not even passionate about baseball anymore. I'm not even passionate about anything.
"To the best of my recollection, I never had a bad feeling about it," Oliva said.
"To the extent that he has a chance to play, he'll take it.
"Tobacco [has] the greatest potential for mass adoption," he observed.
"Tohono: Old Man of the Hill," The Sporting News of February 17, 1972, 7.22 Edmund.
"Tommy, this is Joe Garagiola, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, and I would like to speak to you.
"Tommy, you're the best outfielder in baseball," Coach Ditmars said.
"Tommy," Casey Stengel called, "You're the best second baseman in the major leagues.
"Too Old to be a Pitcher?" is a question that would leave many an older Pitcher in the dust.
"Too many kids are overweight," Stengel said. "I'll tell you something.
"Toothpick Fever" was a real pandemic in the 1930s.
"Top Gun" is the storybook ending to a major-league baseball tragedy.
"Top-of-the-Ninth," The Sporting News, April 3, 1927, 1.
"Tough" is a word often used to describe the physical and mental strain endured by major-league ballplayers during the war.
"Tough, but Fair," read a headline in the Washington Post.
"Toward the end of the season, we were in a tight pennant race," Rickey said.
"Tracy, you're a great guy, but you're also a little contradictory.
"Trader" Joe McCarthy, the manager of the Cubs, was an avid baseball fan. He was also a master craftsman.
"Trader" Leo Durocher was the manager of the New York Giants from 1927 to 1931.
"Trailblazer," the Associated Press, March 4, 1945, 3. The editor, J.G.
"Travis & The Bums" is the story of the Boston Braves organization from its inception in 1934 through the 1944 season.
"Travis Brown was a tough guy," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"Travis Jackson is a fine young ballplayer. He's a good-hearted guy.
"Travis Jackson, son of Travis and Ledy Mae Jackson, was born on October 7, 1912, in Madison.
"Travis Worried That He'd Be Able To Play Regular Now," The Sporting News, June 4, 1941.
"Travis is a great guy and a great competitor," said the 49-year-old Hall of Famer Silver Slugger.
"Travis was one of the best pitchers in the big leagues.
"Travis was the most misunderstood player in baseball last year," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"Trout would have been the best player in the league. He was just an outstanding hitter.
"Trucking is a Business." -N.C. State University Press.
"Truly, this is the greatest job in the world for any manager," said Joe Cronin.
"Tubbs was the best," recalled former Cincinnati Reds teammate Al Rosen.
"Tubby" was a big-name celebrity in his own right and had a huge following.
"Tuck the bat," the tune of this day, into the pinches of the dugout.
"Tug McGraw was a great father and a great manager. Of all the great players in baseball, he was the best.
"Tug McGraw was the greatest mentor I ever had," said Andrews.
"Tug McGraw, the great catcher, was a gentleman like all of us," Bucky Harris said.
"Tugboat Mound-E," The Sporting News, May 21, 1938: 16.
"Turner changed my life," recalled Turner, "and I can't do it again.
"Twisted" by the Senators, the Blue Sox were set to play the Indians in a midweek doubleheader in Washington.
"Tyrone Wheatley was a great disappointment to the Yankees.
"Uh-oh. I guess we'll have to send him back to the minors.
"Uncle Sam was right; he was right about the war," recalled his son, Tom, in a 1993 interview.
"Uncle Sam" had given him a very important job, and his primary responsibility was to keep the Yankees in order.
"Uncle Sam" was a term that referred to the man who was in charge of all the troops on the frontier.
"Verbose and Carefree," sports pages, and the Yankton Evening Times, both New York newspapers.
"Vernon, I think I know what he's going to say," said Meyer.
"Vic never had the chance to get that chance," recalled Gannon.
"Video games had been outlawed in Germany since 1933," he said.
"Vince was a great guy, a wonderful father, a terrific husband, and a terrific golfer.
"Wade was like a big, fat dog," said his son, Lance.
"Wally Mays, the Man, The Man, The Man," Showtime, 2007, edited by Joseph M.
"Wally Moses was a little bit like a basketball hoop pulled back by a string. But he could do it better than just any basketball hoop.
"Wally Moses, the great center fielder, was my favorite center fielder. He was the best I ever saw.
"Wally Moses, the great shortstop of the Philadelphia Athletics, is dead," The New York Times reported in a headline that morning.
"Wally Moses, the great shortstop," remarked New York Times columnist Arthur Daley.
"Wally Moses, who was an infielder for the Cleveland Indians, played second base for the Cleveland Indians.
"Wally Moses," The Sporting News, January 25, 1950, 1.
"Wally Moses," the Swish did not have much in his first big-league season.
"Wally used to point to his belly and say, 'Great, I got a bat.
"Wants to be a catcher," he said. "I have a lot of experience. I know how to pitch.
"Was he a great player? No. But he was a good-hearted person, and he was in great shape.
"Wasn't that a good deal?" The question came from a reporter who had seen the contract.
"We [the Phillies] had a lot of new guys in camp, and they were going to get their adjustment.
"We are a big, strong team, but we have to play to win.
"We are always looking for opportunities to prove ourselves," Durocher said. "We are a big, strong team.
"We are at last at the place where we can measure up to the great teams of the old world.
"We are delighted to bring back Ralph Kiner as our representative at the national level," said Indiana Governor Steve Beshear.
"We are going to take every advantage we can," he told his players.
"We are not going to raise a stink about the play of the Red Sox. We're not going to make a big fuss.
"We are on the cusp of being a great baseball nation," declared a national audience in the spring of 1947.
"We are still in the early stages of the process of developing the new team," said Mantle.
"We are terribly disappointed," said Cleveland Chief Operating Officer Kenesaw Mountain Landis in a statement.
"We believe that the District of Columbia has the best park in the majors."D.C.
"We didn't have to fight," he said. "We've been through it together.
"We don't care what color you are. We don't care what your background is.
"We don't have the guys to win big league ball. We've got to win it in the minors.
"We don't pay much attention to his batting average or fielding average.
"We got him out of the slump," said general manager Frank Lane. "We'll take a chance on him.
"We got rid of him," said Batts. "You know we've got a new manager.
"We had a good enough team that we went to the World Series the next year," Greenburg remembered.
"We had a good team and we were good for a long time," said Bickford.
"We had a good, fine team," Washington manager Bucky Harris said in 1992.
"We had a great team that went to the World Series," Walsh recalled of the Cardinals.
"We had a great team," Pollock recalled. "But we didn't win the pennant.
"We had a great team. We won Division Two the other day.
"We had a lot of good ball players, but we didn't have enough pitching," Crosetti said.
"We had a lot of shortstops, but Jack was a big, strong guy.
"We had a pretty decent pitching staff," Coleman said.
"We had a pretty good spring training, but weren't ready to go to Cleveland.
"We had a terrific lineup, but we didn't have the pitching to get us there.
"We had a tremendous young catcher, Johnny Murphy. He was a big, strong kid. He was a helluva centerfielder.
"We had a voice that was in our heads, and we believed it could be heard.
"We had all the pieces and we just couldn't put them together," he recalled.
"We had good ballplayers. We had good pitchers and good hitters. … We didn't have enough good-hitters.
"We had no other choice but to accept the contract," said the manager, former Tigers great Johnny Pesky.
"We had the best outfield in the American League," said manager Bucky Harris.
"We had the best pitching staff in baseball," said manager Mayo Smith. "We had guys like that we could trust.
"We had to rely on him," said Yankees catcher Joe Astroth.
"We have a chance to win it and we'll take it," he said.
"We have a great pitching staff, an outstanding minor-league staff.
"We have a lot of smart, hard-working men in this room," said the president.
"We have a lot of young pitchers," manager Mayo Smith said. "We'll give each of them a trial.
"We have a low-rent minor league for the veterans," said Billy Goodman, the manager of the Rochester Red Wings.
"We have been blessed with extraordinary facilities," said Raoul Seybold, manager of the Athletics.
"We have had a great team," he said. "We finished behind the Yankees and ahead of the Indians.
"We have the perfect guy for the job," Stengel declared. "He can run, throw, and field.
"We have to develop young players from scratch," said Mack.
"We have to stay on top of our game and concentrate on our pitching," said Lehnhardt.
"We just had to do something to get him out of there," said Crandall.
"We just want to make sure we get our job back," he said.
"We just wanted to make sure we were there for a long time.
"We knew he'd get injured, and the kid was big, so we just put him on the bench.
"We knew it would be tough," he said, but "We knew we could get over it.
"We knew we were going to be a good team," Mays said.
"We lost the West," he said in his dry, gravelly voice. "We'll never win it.
"We must keep him in the majors," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris. "He is a fine young man.
"We need him to help us," said Whitey Ford, who had spent the previous two seasons in the Army.
"We started out as a seventh-place team and went up in the standings the next year," said Frederic.
"We started the season with the intention of winning the division," said Jimmie Foxx.
"We thought we had a winner," said Joe Cronin, the Cardinals' skipper in '49.
"We wanted him to be an everyday player," Chief Wahoo said.
"We were a good college team, and we had a good attack," he recalled.
"We were a good power team, but we had to play good defense to win.
"We were a pretty good power club," recalled Cruise.
"We were committed to winning, not just winning the pennant, but to winning the World Series.
"We were honored to be the first major-league team to play in Honolulu, and we had a great time.
"We were in a tough pennant race and we kept getting beat.
"We were in the middle of a pennant race, and we were in the meat-packing yard," he said.
"We were just playing good baseball," Mays recalled. "We were in the middle of a pennant race.
"We were just too good," said Durocher. "We'd play the way we were taught to play.
"We were not in a hurry to win the pennant. It was the war, after all, and we needed to win it quickly.
"We were on our way to a pennant, and I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I was starring on Sports Illustrated.
"We were on the cusp of a great national game, and we thought we'd win it.
"We were talking about a possibility that he'd be traded," Jennings said years later.
"We were the best ballclub in the league," he said. "We were so confident, we just had to win.
"We were unlucky to lose him in 1938. He was the big bang in our lineup, a key ingredient in our championship triumph in 1939.
"We will be in the race for the flag," he said. "We have been in the race all season.
"We will miss him," said Lou Brissie. "He was a great competitor.
"We won the pennant, we won the World Series, and we won it again," he said.
"We won't allow the Chinese to win again," Trump said of the World Series clashes between teams from the two nations.
"We won't be able to wait for a big payoff," he said.
"We would have to look at a guy like him and play him," said Wilson.
"We" are the kids who grew up playing on Dad's farm.
"We'd like to see him back in the first division," said New York Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"We'd like to see young players, and we're glad to see Durocher," he said.
"We'd like to thank the doctors at the Mayo Clinic for making us feel so much better.
"We'll be sitting on top of the world," he promised.
"We'll be tough," the manager promised, "but we'll come back in the next game.
"We'll get him to come back," said Ellis, "but he'll had enough.
"We'll get rid of him," said Dodger manager Billy Herman. "He's a troublemaker.
"We'll give it another year," said Morton, "and then we'll play in the American League.
"We'll go out there and play for you," said Durocher.
"We'll need four or five guys who'll be able to play every day," he said.
"We'll need him for three things," the manager said.
"We'll see how far he goes." Blake and Lee began their courtship on the baseball diamond.
"We'll see how he performs," said manager Bucky Harris.
"We'll see how long he can hold out. When the season is over, we'll take him back.
"We'll see if he's able to stick," said manager Mayo Smith.
"We'll see what happens," said the Cardinals manager, Dizzy Dean.
"We'll see what he can do," said New York manager Casey Stengel.
"We'll see what we can do about it. It's a good ball.
"We'll see what we can do to help him," said Frank Lane, the Yankees' skipper.
"We'll see. We're not going to go out and play that way," he said.
"We'll show him how to pitch," the manager told his star pitcher.
"We'll start the season as equals," he said. "We'll start with a clean slate.
"We'll start with him," said his father. "He is the key to success in the league.
"We'll take a chance on him," said manager Bucky Harris.
"We'll take a day off today and go all the way for a game tomorrow," said Chapman.
"We'll take a while to get the job done, but we're in position to win it.
"We'll take care of them … until they get us out of here," the manager said.
"We'll take him out," said Burdette. Manager Billy Southworth was more definitive.
"We'll take it from the back," George Steinbrenner told the New York Yankees.
"We'll take it no more," he announced, "because we can't play baseball any more.
"We'll take it" — that was the refrain that came from the Stadium seats at the turn of the century.
"We'll take three out of four, if we can hold them.
"We'll win it on the last day and I'll win it on the seventh," Rodriguez said.
"We'll win the pennant, I think, by five to seven games.
"We'll win this thing," he said. "I'll be the number one centre.
"We'm going to win this thing," Brown announced to the Detroit crowd.
"We're about to play a tough schedule," he announced to the team.
"We're all competitors. We're all real competitors. That's the way we play golf.
"We're all glad to hear that he's back," said Detroit Tigers catcher Nick Sparks.
"We're all going to be happy," he said. "We're all going to be surprised.
"We're all going to miss him," said Cleveland pitcher Bob Fothergill.
"We're building a ball club, but we're not gonna compete in the minor leagues for your attention.
"We're close," he said, "but we're not close enough.
"We're doing a good job," Ford said. "We're winning.
"We're going to bring the big league ball club to New York," he said.
"We're going to do something special," he promised the crowd. The team did, and it did it spectacularly.
"We're going to fight for every ballgame," he declared.
"We're going to have a great baseball season," Flaherty said. "That's the plan.
"We're going to have difficulty in getting players to come out," said Thompson.
"We're going to have to create a little bit of a distraction.
"We're going to have to do something to help him," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"We're going to have to make a change," said Francona.
"We're going to have to win that ballgame," he said.
"We're going to hit this guy," he yelled at the backstop.
"We're going to hold onto this thing," he said, and the Giants responded with another loss.
"We're going to lose," he said, "and you're going to blame everybody.
"We're going to make him a hero," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"We're going to make him pay." That would be, ironically, his final and greatest moment in baseball.
"We're going to pass it on to our children," he said.
"We're going to play an exhibition game in New York City.
"We're going to play hard and we're going to win," Durocher declared.
"We're going to spend the winter in the tropics," said Jimmy Dykes.
"We're going to take a long hard look at our pitching," Branca said.
"We're going to take our chances," said Durham manager Bill Killefer.
"We're going to the World Series," said Coach Sanchez.
"We're going to win and we're going to win big," Elliott said.
"We're going to win and we're going to win big," he said.
"We're going to win the pennant and the world championship in 1954.
"We're going to win the pennant," Ford said after the Series. He was correct.
"We're going to win the pennant," said Cubs broadcaster Mel Ott.
"We're going to win this ballgame," he announced to the Giants.
"We're going to win this game," he announced to the crowd in the fifth inning.
"We're going to win this thing," he announced to the Giants' delight.
"We're going to win this thing," he told his players.
"We're going to win this thing," he vowed, "and I'm going to make good.
"We're going to win!" The Giants rallied to tie the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth.
"We're going to win," he announced to the stunned Giants.
"We're going to win," he told the Tigers. "I'm the catcher.
"We're gonna go out there and play a little better," Washington manager Bucky Harris declared in September of 1946.
"We're gonna win the pennant and take all the way back to the World Series.
"We're in a great position to play for the World Series," he said.
"We're in a great position to start the season," he declared. "Our pitching staff is loaded with talent.
"We're in a pennant race, but we have a lot of good ballplayers," said manager Mayo Smith.
"We're in a tough spot," Gonzalez said. "We're not going to take anything.
"We're in a tough spot," he said. 2 "We have to win.
"We're in a tough spot," the manager said. "I've got to get the kids.
"We're in a weak position," he told his wife, who was glad to hear that.
"We're in an exciting period of adjustment. We're trying to make the adjustments.
"We're in good shape and ready to play."[fn]The Sporting News, May 28, 1927, 1.
"We're in trouble," Crandall said. "We'll be in good shape.
"We're in trouble. We're in the thick of the pennant race.
"We're in trouble. We're not going to win that game," he said.
"We're just a couple of years away from being a big-league club again," he said.
"We're just a long way from the World Series," said Sievers.
"We're just getting started," said Pascual. "We'll get there.
"We're just getting started. We're just getting warmed up. We're just getting warmed up.
"We're just getting started." The next day, as the Yankees were preparing to face St.
"We're just sitting on the bench," he said. "We're not.
"We're not averse to losing," said manager Eddie Stanky.
"We're not going to be bullied," he told his players. "We're going to win.
"We're not going to get carried away. … We're not going to take anything for granted.
"We're not going to get caught up in a ruse," he said.
"We're not going to get involved with the players' pension plan and health insurance," Clancy said.
"We're not going to take the bull by the horns," he said.
"We're not going to win this thing—we're just glad to finish last," said Joe Cronin.
"We're not just a good team, we're a good team for a long time," Evans said.
"We're not so different from other ball clubs," Murphy said.
"We're not talking about a 'losing pitcher. We're talking about a loser who is pitching every day.
"We're not worried about the attendance," said Foley. "We're not worried about the money.
"We're not worried," he quipped. "I've been around baseball for a long time.
"We're playing for a lot of new faces," Don Mincher said.
"We're playing the Yankees," said Phillies manager Bill Terry.
"We're still in the dark as to what the cause of the fire is," said Chief of Police James E.
"We're still in the middle of a bad strike by the St. Louis Cardinals.
"We're the toughest group of pitchers in baseball," said Mack.
"We've all been there at some point in our careers.
"We've been fortunate to have players like Ted Williams and Tommy Henrich who have really helped us.
"We've been having continual discussions with the Yankees about a trade for a while," said McCarthy.
"We've been lucky," he recalled. "The Yankees have been great to us.
"We've been waiting for a miracle for the last ten years," he said.
"We've got 40-plus veterans, and we'll be in good shape.
"We've got a big lead, but we're not going to take it," the Rev.
"We've got a chance to win," said Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau.
"We've got a decent starting lineup and I'm going to pitch my best.
"We've got a good boy," said Mickey Mantle, "and we're gonna let him play.
"We've got a good boy," said manager O'Neill. "He's a good boy.
"We've got a good team. We've had a heck of a year," Jablonski said.
"We've got a great ballclub," he said. "We'll win a lot of games.
"We've got a great pitching staff," he said. "We'll have a tough rotation.
"We've got a great pitching staff," said Braves manager Charlie Grimm. "But we have to win.
"We've got a great team and we'll be good if we keep together," said Lancaster.
"We've got a great team," White Sox manager Johnny Pesky said in 1949.
"We've got a great team," he said. "We'll show them something.
"We've got a great team," said Garner. "But we'll be tough.
"We've got a great team. We'll be able to pull it out.
"We've got a great, tough team," said Cleveland manager Eddie Stanky.
"We've got a guy who can hit for power, massiveness, and distance," Diamond recalled.
"We've got a little more than we expected," he said. He was right.
"We've got a little more than we thought we had," he said in the spring of 1958.
"We've got a lot of good ball players and we're going to have a tough out," he said.
"We've got a lot of good, experienced guys. I think we'll do a good job.
"We've got a lot of guys who can play," said Baker.
"We've got a pretty good ballclub. We've won a lot of games.
"We've got a pretty good group of guys," said Walters.
"We've got a real good pitching staff," the manager said.
"We've got more solid baseball left." Durocher was right.
"We've got some good young players, and we'll start bringing them in," said Stengel.
"We've got to be able to win. And we're going to win big," he said.
"We've got to do something to win them," said Trampler.
"We've got to get everybody to work together," he said.
"We've got to get the ball to the guys," Priddy said.
"We've got to make him feel like we're respected," said Tommy Henrich.
"We've got to take care of the young guys," said manager Casey Stengel.
"We've had a lot of good ballplayers, but the ones that are going to win will be the ones who have experience.
"We've had a lot of good ballplayers, but you never have enough pitching to get the job done.
"We've had an active player contract for almost 17 straight seasons," catcher Joe Garagiola told the New York Times.
"We've had enough luck," said Gee. "I'll take you out.
"We've had good years," said Carl Erskine, "but we're not there yet.
"We've had some success pitching to him," said Burdette.
"We've just got to see him," said a tearful Lopata.
"We've travelled to more places than I ever thought was possible," he told the Associated Press.
"We, as a race, have a lot of work to do and I'm glad to be driving the bus.
"Well, I'll take the two," said Washburn. "I'll take the other one.
"Well, I've had enough," said Bobo, "and this is my last year in baseball.
"Well, he's a good pitcher," said the Yankee Clipper.
"Well, it is a good thing that I've got the ball," he said.
"Well, it's a little different this year. I've had some experience with the hitters.
"Were you ever in love with that music?" said Burt Reynolds, "I think I was.
"Werner Herzog is the best manager in baseball today. He really knows baseball.
"What I can't do is sit back and let people take advantage of me.
"What I did in the minor leagues was help the team," he told a reporter after the season.
"What I did was a little different from most people. I faked a hangover.
"What I enjoy about this job is the interaction with the fans," he said.
"What I had was the opportunity to play in the big leagues in the postwar era," Campanella explained years later.
"What I have to do is shut up about 40 percent of the hitters and you have to shut up about 40 percent of the pitchers.
"What I have to do is work hard and look for opportunities," he reportedly said.
"What I know about baseball, I learned at an early age," said Travolta.
"What I learned from him was that you're not a good teammate if you don't hustle.
"What I learned from that experience is you don't have to scare people.
"What I like about baseball is that you never get used to the idea that you're going to die.
"What I love about baseball is that people can rise above the mud and the slop of the mudlicking.
"What I saw that night changed my life. It was the coolest thing I ever saw in my life.
"What I've learned from my mistakes is that you have to catch them.
"What I've learned from those who went before me," he said, "is that no two players are alike.
"What I've learned is that you have to be a long-ball hitter," he said.
"What I've learned," he said, "is the importance of pitching.
"What a great game," said Joe DiMaggio after the Giants lost their first game of the World Series.
"What a great year it was in 1930," Mays said in 2003.
"What a jerk. I thought he was a great player. He was always hitting the long ball.
"What a ride! I'm telling you it was the greatest in my life.
"What a tremendous feeling," said American League President Will Harridge.
"What a way to say goodbye!" He returned to the front office and was told that he was leaving after the season.
"What a weird year it was, and then the year it was. I'm sitting in my hotel room in St.
"What a year it was," he remembered thinking when he took the mound for the first time in 1938.
"What about the rest of the team?" said Veille, "I'll take care of you.
"What an experience! It was a great experience for sure. They were amazing. The locker room was a big, big room.
"What an experience! What an experience I've ever had in my life," the first-game hero said.
"What could I have done better?" he told Sports Illustrated's Jim Murray.
"What did he say? Did he say something wrong?" Hal Griggs.
"What did you say?" Theo asked. "I'm going to come right after this evening.
"What do I have to do? I've been playing the game all my life," he said.
"What do they want with him?" said Hank, "They want me to play every day.
"What do you think I should do?" asked Harry, his voice rising with emotion.
"What do you think of that, Bob?" said a voice behind him.
"What do you think of this?" asked the puzzled Spahn.
"What do you think, my boy?"The whole place went silent. The little kid sat there, not hearing the question.
"What do you want to play for?" he asked."I want to play for the Cubs.
"What do you want?" A pitcher asks a hitter."I want to learn how to pitch.
"What does a pitcher need? A bat, of course. He needs a good fastball, and a curve and a sinker.
"What does it say," asked a question that made me wince," said Topps.
"What happened to 'Jerry?'" asked a spectator.Jerry was a good hitter.
"What happened?" Harry Potter asked. "Well, I'm not really sure," he said.
"What happened?" Lou Boudreau asked. "He had a bad shoulder.
"What happened?" the voice of reason interjected, "You're not answering my question.
"What is it, though?" he asked. The boy shivered. "It's nothing, Joe.
"What is the greatest thing that ever happened in baseball? The Yankees win.
"What is the most remarkable thing about it? The fact that it happened to me.
"What is the problem? I've got a lot of experience.
"What is this, a birthday celebration?" Yankee manager Bucky Harris asked.
"What is this, a joke?" he asked. "This is a great game.
"What is this? I never knew it was a drug." The answer is a little of everything.
"What made a good catcher? Fancy that, huh? Well, it's simple. He has to have good stuff.
"What makes him special is his style, his manner, his conviction in every aspect of his play," Billy Loes observed.
"What makes this worse is that the pitcher has a lousy arm," said Sicilia.
"What shall we do with the children? We'll take care of them ourselves.
"What started as a conversation between two friends has turned into a brainstorming session between two philosophers," wrote The New York Times.
"What the heck is wrong with him?" shouted the Cubs' bench.
"What the hell are you doing?"[fn]The Sporting News, October 3, 1968.
"What the hell is wrong with the ball?" he asked an exasperated reporter.
"What they're going to do with me is what they're going to do with anybody else.
"What was that, a buzz saw?" "No, that was an old lady.
"What was the greatest thrill I had all year?" Nuxhall said years later.
"What was the reason for the sudden change in attitude?" recalled Crandall.
"What was your favorite hobby?" he would ask his son.
"What we have to realize is that the Dodgers are no longer the team that lost in the exhibition.
"What we'll do is use our experience from the last two years," he said.
"What were you trying to do, you know, get married to get out of the Army? That was my thing.
"What you're looking at is my control," he explained.
"What you've done is the greatest thing you can do in baseball," he said.
"What's that, you're the new kid on the block, 'a young fellow," I said.
"What's the matter, Allie?" asked Hank, and Allie shook his head.
"What's the matter, Bill?" The manager of the Cleveland Indians, Lou Boudreau, called.
"What's the matter, then? I've got a bad feeling about it.
"What's the matter, young man? You look like a model citizen.
"What's wrong with him?" The answer was a bit of everything.
"What's wrong with the car? I think I can pass it without any trouble.
"Whatever your age, you can play baseball if you want to.
"When I came back I had a big, fat scar on my hand," he said.
"When I came back [to the Yankees] I was a different pitcher. I was 180.
"When I came back from college, I was a little rusty," Johnson said.
"When I came into the Major Leagues, I was a hit-and-run fellow.
"When I came out of high school, I was a pretty good pitcher.
"When I came to the Red Sox in 1966, I was the first guy to play for them.
"When I came to the Yankees in '46, it was a different club. We had won the World Series in 1945.
"When I came to the Yankees, I was really a new kid," Kiner said.
"When I finally got into the big leagues, I had a better feel for the strike zone. I was struck by a lot of pitches.
"When I first started, the manager told me I couldn't catch him.
"When I got to Boston, I went to the clubhouse, and that was the first time I ever saw Jack Porterfield.
"When I got to the Yankees, I didn't think I was coming back.
"When I got to the hotel, the receptionist said, 'Mr. Piersall, Mr. Piersall.
"When I had my operation I was told I was going to be in pain for six months," he said.
"When I heard the news they were all congratulating me on my birthday," said Cleveland right fielder George McQuinn.
"When I look at him now, I'm proud that I was the kid who played for him," Earnshaw said.
"When I play baseball, the way I think of it is, when you throw a ball, you put it in a certain place.
"When I played in Cleveland, I never had a bad word to say about either the Indians or Cuyler.
"When I played in the big leagues, I didn't have a curfew," he said.
"When I played with the Yankees, they were the greatest ballclub in history. We had won three straight World Series.
"When I saw you pitch, I wanted to ask you something," he said.
"When I started playing professional baseball, I was very proud to be from the East Coast," said Shotton.
"When I tell this story, I never mean it, you know. I mean it when I tell it.
"When I was 15, I went to a team in India. I was very happy," Greenbaum said.
"When I was a boy I was a star in the Baptist church," he said.
"When I was a boy, I had no idea what it meant to be a big-league ballplayer.
"When I was a boy, I never dreamed of being a professional baseball player. I was always a student and a big student.
"When I was a boy, I was afraid to go to school," he recalled.
"When I was a kid I never played baseball or football," he said. "Football was too dangerous.
"When I was a kid growing up, I always listened to the radio and movies.
"When I was a kid, I always dreamed of being a professional golfer.
"When I was a kid, I always had a lot of respect for the Cincinnati Reds.
"When I was a kid, I always liked to play sports," he recalled. "I liked to be a catcher.
"When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a broadcaster.
"When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a professional athlete," he said.
"When I was a kid, I always wanted to be like Eddie Waitkus.
"When I was a kid, I didn't play baseball because I was afraid I'd hurt someone.
"When I was a kid, I didn't see a war. Never heard of a battle. I only heard of a war.
"When I was a kid, I liked to play [Baseball] on the beach. I enjoyed those games.
"When I was a kid, I loved to go to the movies," he said.
"When I was a kid, I loved to see the Giants win. I loved to see Ron Santo catch the ball.
"When I was a kid, I never had a baseball glove," he recalled. "I had to borrow one.
"When I was a kid, I never had a favorite restaurant," he said.
"When I was a kid, I never had a job. I just liked to play baseball and that's all I did.
"When I was a kid, I never saw a baseball game anywhere.
"When I was a kid, I never saw a baseball game. I used to fill my days with playing cards and playing cards.
"When I was a kid, I never took it for granted," he said.
"When I was a kid, I never wanted to see a movie in my life," he said.
"When I was a kid, I remember playing in a sandlot, and I got to be a real kid.
"When I was a kid, I used to get really excited," recalled veteran catcher Mickey Owen in an interview for Sport magazine.
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to be a surgeon. I wanted to be a general.
"When I was a kid, I was always afraid to go to school.
"When I was a kid, I was always playing catch with my daddy. And his name was Tyrus.
"When I was a kid, I was never afraid of anything," Gil recalled. "I was a tomboy.
"When I was a kid, I went to a Baptist church. I listened to the sermons. They talked about the Three Witnesses.
"When I was a little boy, I was always interested in sports," Jimmie Foxx said.
"When I was a little kid, I used to listen to Old Spice and Bailey. … That's all they used to play.
"When I was a little kid, I was the only one in the neighborhood who played baseball.
"When I was a little kid, my father and I went to a boarding school in upstate New York.
"When I was born, everybody called me Blackie. I didn't know what that meant.
"When I was growing up, I always loved sports. I loved all the forms of recreation…I loved all activities.
"When I was growing up, I didn't know if I'd ever go back to baseball.
"When I was growing up, I had no interest in sports. I didn't enjoy any of them.
"When I was growing up, I never dreamed I'd play professional baseball.
"When I was growing up, I never had a baseball glove," he recalled. "My daddy always had baseball gloves.
"When I was growing up, I never had a baseball glove. I had to play bare handed.
"When I was growing up, I never had a baseball," he said.
"When I was growing up, I never saw a baseball game. I always saw cats or playing cards.
"When I was growing up, I remember my daddy would take us to the movies.
"When I was growing up, I remember playing in a sandlot. I remember hitting .500 that year.
"When I was growing up, I remember that I played sandlot ball in the afternoon, then I played at night.
"When I was growing up, I remember the Yankees and Indians were like a second family to me.
"When I was growing up, I was always a little afraid," he recalled.
"When I was growing up, I was very proud of being an American.
"When I was growing up, if you went to a movie theater, there was always a movie.
"When I was growing up, my father took us to see the movie of the Alamo," Davis recalled.
"When I was growing up, the first baseball game I had was Yankee Stadium," he recalled.
"When I was growing up, the only ball I had was a bat, the only bat I had was a bat.
"When I was growing up, the only baseball I played was handball, and it was on the sidewalks in front of houses.
"When I was his age, there was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to play baseball professionally.
"When I was in elementary school, I had a brother named Elliott who was a catcher. He was about my age.
"When I was in elementary school, I took a job working for a grocery store. It was bad, but it was a job.
"When I was in elementary school, there was a baseball team that won the state semipro championship," he recalled.
"When I was in high school I had a lot of friends who were big-league ballplayers.
"When I was in high school my father took me to a showcase in Pasadena, California. It was a big showcase.
"When I was in high school, I had an older sister and a younger sister.
"When I was in high school, I played some semipro ball for a team called the Golden Gate Boys.
"When I was in high school, I was a big fan of baseball, and I was a little worried.
"When I was in high school, I was fortunate to play for a team that was really good.
"When I was in high school, I was very proud that my high school played in the Negro Leagues" said Al.
"When I was in high school, my best friend was a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"When I was in high school," he said, "there was no Negro League. So I went to St.
"When I was in my teens, I tried to be like Joe DiMaggio.
"When I was in my tenth year in the majors, I was invited to New York for a trip to the Polo Grounds.
"When I was in the Army, I was never far from my buddies," he recalled.
"When I was in the Army, I was told that my father was a great ballplayer," said Barlick.
"When I was in the Army, I was very patriotic," he said.
"When I was in the Army," he remembered, "I got to play in the World Series.
"When I was in the hospital with a complicated spinal injury, I was told that I had a good fastball.
"When I was in the major leagues, nobody really recognized the fans. … Today, you see so many great players in the stadiums.
"When I was in the military, I had a lot of friends in the Negro leagues.
"When I was in the minors, I took a charge off the bat and I wanted to put it on the pitcher.
"When I was on my way to the big leagues, I got a call from Bobby Robinson, a scout for the Boston Braves.
"When I was on the Pirates, I was a little nervous. I didn't know what to do.
"When I was on the Yankees, I remember we had a great manager, Joe McCarthy.
"When I was on the Yankees, all I wanted to do was play baseball.
"When I was on the ball field, I was a little different," he recalled.
"When I was on the big-league club, I didn't think twice about the home run or the stolen base.
"When I was on the mound, I threw the ball 100 feet. I didn't have to do it that far.
"When I was on the mound, it would be a dead duck walking," said Mauch.
"When I was on the show, I was introduced to a lot of players who were not necessarily stars in baseball.
"When I was pitching for the Yankees, I wasn't very good," he remembered.
"When I was with the Yankees, I always felt like I wasn't a big-league ballplayer," he said.
"When I was young, I kept a razor blade in my pocket.
"When I was young, everything was free. My parents didn't have to do anything.
"When I was younger, I didn't know what a tan was," Garcia said.
"When I went back to the States, I went to a class where I was taught by the great Boston Braves coach, Eddie Stanky.
"When I went down to the [catchers'] box, I was just a kid.
"When I went out on the show, I had to be pinned down," he recalled.
"When I went up to the office and asked them to remove the plaque, they said, 'It's too heavy.
"When I'd get to the ballpark, I'd take a little nap.
"When I'm hitting, I'm hitting with power, and the power to which I am accustomed is to me.
"When I'm in my element, I'm the best. I like that.
"When I'm in my prime, I don't care where I play," said Mickey Owen.
"When I'm in one of the worst spots in my career, I'm always sad," he said.
"When I'm in the clubhouse, I'm a little different.
"When I'm in the heat of a pennant race, I like to be playing," said McDougald.
"When I'm in the middle of a great hit I think I should be the center fielder.
"When I'm out there, the first thing I'm thinking is: How am I going to stand up for myself.
"When I'm pitching, I don't necessarily think about what the opposing team is going to throw at me.
"When I'm pitching, I'm pitching like a mad man — a maniac, really.
"When I'm pitching, I'm trying to win," he told The Sporting News in 1951.
"When I'm talking about the Giants" and the Giants, I'm always talking about the Giants.
"When It Was a Game of Dice," The Sporting News, May 9, 1943: 23.
"When Walt and I were children growing up, we never dreamed we'd have a ballgame," Serrat said.
"When a guy like me comes along, you talk yourself. When I came along, I talk myself.
"When he arrived at the club house, he saw that the door was ajar," recalled teammate Mickey Mantle.
"When he came in, the first thing I said was 'Honey, I've got a problem.
"When he came out of the military, the first thing he was told was to get a job.
"When he came to the plate he was a swish, not a turn. He had to go to the plate to be hit.
"When he came to the plate, he was a dandy. He was the most dangerous hitter I ever played against.
"When he came to the plate, he was like a kid," said Cubs broadcaster Wacko Smith.
"When he came to the plate, he was my guy." So said Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor.
"When he came up, he was the antithesis of the old-time great. He was a strikeout artist.
"When he comes back, he's going to be one of my key guys," Schwartz said.
"When he comes to the plate, he stands off balance," McLish said.
"When he comes up with a pitch, he's like a kid on Christmas morning. He knows how to put it together.
"When he fanned three home runs in a game, it was a big deal. Now he's doing it for just one.
"When he got out there he was like a kid in the street.
"When he had the guts to go out there and play that ball, he was afraid to death," said Wynn.
"When he hit that first home run, he was the center fielder, and he was my center fielder.
"When he hit the ball, it was like a jet fighter coming in from the rear," said teammate Ed Ferrin.
"When he looks over the ball, he sees that it's a big ol' fastball.
"When he reached the big leagues, he was a different pitcher. He was a wild, tough kid. A tough competitor.
"When he saw me go down, he said, 'That boy is a better hitter than you.
"When he was a boy, he was called Jack, and he was famous.
"When he was a boy, he was going to church every Sunday. He went to St. Patrick's, and St.
"When he was a kid growing up, he always had a gun in his waistband. He was always shooting the gun up.
"When he was a kid, he always had a friend with him, and his friends were his friends.
"When he was a kid, he always played softball in the backyard. He was always out there, always trying to help people.
"When he was a kid, he had no interest in the big leagues. He wanted to play baseball.
"When he was a kid, he was a simple boy. He didn't know what's going on.
"When he was a kid, he was so wild, he couldn't even walk.
"When he was a little kid, he was a very shy kid. He was the quietest, most unassuming of kids.
"When he was batting, he was so quick he wouldn't even look up.
"When he was big, he had the biggest laugh in the world," Rodriguez recalled many years later.
"When he was born, he had a brother that was a dentist. And that was enough for me.
"When he was in his prime, in the prime of his career, he was the best left-handed pitcher I ever saw.
"When he was in the Army, he never missed a baseball game. He played every day. He was a very strong believer in baseball.
"When he was ready to pitch, I just started playing catch with him. I was a slacker," recalled Vincent.
"When he went down the line, he was so big, he looked like a pebble. He was just tiny.
"When he went down, we knew he was a big-league pitcher," White recalled in an interview.
"When he went up to the Cubs, he was the picture of condition. He played every position for us.
"When he's healthy, he's a great outfielder," said [former teammate] Mickey Mantle.
"When he's playing well, the other team doesn't have to worry about his hitting.
"When my parents were growing up, I didn't have a car, so I used to walk to school.
"When the Giants changed managers in the offseason, I was the only Giant left from the mighty Yankees, and I was sold to the Giants.
"When the Giants took the mound for the first time in Brooklyn, the Dodgers' lineup was more or less set.
"When the Phillies moved to Philadelphia in 1946, Don was going to play in Brooklyn and they wanted him.
"When the White Sox were winning, the fans were happy. They had been waiting for a winner for a long time.
"When the Yankees play the Yankees, they play to win. When the Yankees play the Dodgers, they play to win.
"When the Yankees traded me to the New York Giants, I was immediately asked what they had traded me for.
"When the Yankees were making their move to move up to the next level," he recalled, "they called me up.
"When the game was over he would say, 'I've missed my chance.' He would be so furious.
"When the natives of the country begin to speak English, it is assumed that they are at least somewhat familiar with the national language.
"When the season was over, I went home and ran in circles. I could hardly run.
"When the war ended he said that he didn't have enough money to pay the compensation claims.
"When the war ended, we had a lot of veterans, and we were very grateful for the war.
"When they came over here they were all Giants fans, they were all for the Giants.
"When they were playing for the Yankees you'd hear rumors every day about impending trades to other clubs," his mother recalled.
"When they were young, they were tough. But when they were older, they were soft.
"When they'd lock you in with that bat, you were afraid you were going to get hurt," recalled Meyer.
"When they're out there fighting, it's the same as when they're in the heat of the moment.
"When they're out there on the field, they're like a big brother to us all.
"When they're out there on the mound, they're real good.
"When they're out there playing, they help me with my pitching," Malzone said.
"When they've got a guy who can help them, they want to keep him," said Krueger.
"When we were in our prime playing for the Yankees, Larry Doby was our bench player.
"When you are a starter, you are always looking for the next one," said Riddle.
"When you have a chance to play, you're naturally inclined to take advantage of it.
"When you have a chance to win, it's a good thing to have," said Durocher.
"When you have a kid, you don't walk that route any more," he said.
"When you have a young kid, you want to make sure he stays healthy," said Sampson.
"When you know the truth, you don't want to tell it to anybody," he told the author.
"When you look at the overall numbers, the Braves finished second in the eight-team league, but they were inconsistent.
"When you play baseball you get to play all over the country," said John.
"When you play baseball you're a born liar," says Oakland's Joe Medwick.
"When you play for him, he's a great leader. He's got the ability to keep a team together.
"When you play in front of 100,000 people, you know you're doing something right.
"When you play the game you have to get the hit. When you get the hit you run, you run for the guy.
"When you talk about pitching in the big leagues, you mean that game in which the ball is pitched, the ball at the plate.
"When you're a favorite, everyone likes you. That's how it used to be with the Yankees.
"When you're a kid growing up, you'll spend your time playing sports," Irvin said.
"When you're a starter, you're a leader. You're the conscience of the club.
"When you're an athlete, you've got to be tough," Nick Feller said.
"When you're going well, it's easy to keep pace," said Hallahan.
"When you're going well, you're in the right place at the right time," he said.
"When you're in the bullpen, you're in a pinch situation. You're not good enough to start.
"When you're in the clubhouse, you're not out there to play. You're out there to win.
"When you're in the pennant race, you try to win the other team's games," said Joe.
"When you're on the mound, you've got to stay conscious of your surroundings," he said.
"When you're out there playing, you'm a part-time player," he said.
"When you're playing .300, you'm looking at other teams' balls.
"When you're playing ball, you're really thinking about the ball.
"When you're playing for a team like that, you're a team person.
"When you're playing for a team like that, you've got to be able to play the game.
"When you're playing for them, they're a sick team," Feller said years later.
"When you're playing good ball, the opposition doesn't have a chance," he told reporters.
"When you're winning, no one is complaining," he said.
"When you're winning, people say you're a bad loser.
"When you're young you don't want to be a big-league pitcher.
"When you've been on the road for the last three years, you're used to traveling.
"When you've been out there you're used to it. You're used to the noise.
"When you've been pitching, you've had that other guy on the mound.
"When you've got two controllable pitchers, it's a different ballgame.
"When you've played a game you care about it, it makes a mockery of the whole thing," he said.
"Where are they now? They are all in the military, all in the navy.
"Where do you play baseball? I have no clue where you play.
"Where have you been all your life?" "The last five years.
"Where were they when I'd last been unemployed?" Marshall McLish, a.k.a.
"Whether a pitcher is good enough to pitch for the big club or not, they are still going to have to work for him.
"While the Pirates were in the middle of a pennant race," he recalled, "I was the third baseman.
"While we were winning, the Giants lost so many great players to service, the war ended.
"Whiz Kids" lore dictates that he was the seventh child born to Frank and Lillis (Chapman) McGee.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Shanty Hogan, a.k.a.
"Who was the greatest pitcher ever?" "Tinker to my Ted Williams.
"Who would have thunk it?" Smoky joked years later.
"Who's the biggest fan in baseball?" was the popular refrain the next year, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.
"Who's the greatest player in baseball history?" tweeted Yankees blogger Grantland Rice.
"Why did they shoot him?" "It looked like a good opportunity for a hit.
"Why, I think he was too proud. He turned out to be too happy.
"Why, I'll see you dressed in a different outfit." He wasn't joking.
"Why, in other words, did you have to do this?" said Sylvester Stallone.
"Why, that South Siders, there was never any doubt in my mind that I could pitch. I was convinced I could win.
"Why, that was the most important game of the season!" Russell had a point.
"Why, there's no point in me asking you how it happened. I'll tell you how it is.
"Why, yes, there was a reason they called me the Martian," she remembered.
"Wild Bill" was the story of one of the most notable baseball players in his era.
"Willie Mays was the greatest, the most talented player ever to play the game," said Phillips.
"Wills, Wills, and Wills," The Sporting News (Springfield, Massachusetts: Tiger Publishing, 2000), 29.
"Wimpy" Snowe, a star shortstop in the Giants' glory days, was a big favorite of Dodger fans.
"With Ball, You're Looking At A Tall Man," The Sporting News of May 13, 1937.
"With Brooklyn, that's what I expected to do. With the Dodgers, it was almost the opposite.
"With Jim, I was like a kid in the street. He wasn't even supposed to be in the room.
"With Joe DiMaggio's bat in his hand, the Yankees won the American League pennant.
"With a little more seasoning, I think he's going to be a great pitcher," said manager Bucky Harris.
"With his body, his bat and his ability to run, Crandall will continue to be a fan favorite.
"With his exceptional pitching performance, more power was expected from the short porch in 1942. The ball was hit to the left of center field.
"With relief came the best relief I ever got in my life," he recalled. "Boy, it was wonderful.
"With that merger, I'm the only one in the big leagues with a chance.
"With the Cubs, there was no sense in trying to be fancy.
"With the Red Sox, I was a big, strong guy. It was my role.
"With the World Series on the line," he said, "I'm going to pitch my best.
"With the addition of Spahn, the Giants won the pennant," remembered Giants beat writer Dan Daniel.
"With the ball in his hands, he's like a coach. He's like a general.
"With the help of my young friend, Donald Young, I took my chances.
"With the start of the 1946 season I'll be the first to admit that I was a sucker for the World Series.
"With the war over, the excitement of the foreign game is back," he said.
"With the way the bill is written, the only way to stop the bill is to repeal it," he said.
"With the way the game is played, you're always thinking of new ideas, new ways to stop opponents.
"With the way things are, he's right in line with the majority of the players.
"With the way we're playing, they'll keep playing us," said Gee Walker.
"Within hours he was gone," teammate Charlie Toth recalled.
"Without Jose Canseco, the Indians would never have made it to the World Series," said manager Lou Boudreau.
"Wolves" and the Yankees in the late 1950s and early 1960s was a time of great excitement and change.
"Won't Take Away His Luck," The Sporting News, July 31, 1938.
"Won't You Just Consider Me Dead?" was one of his signature slogans.
"Won't stop him." The Browns left for three games but then won them all, 9-5.
"Won't the Reds do something to help him?" was the thought of many.
"Won-N-The-Pitcher," Sports Illustrated, November 18, 1960.
"Working with him was like being on the basketball court with the 30-year-old kid from Brooklyn.
"Would you like to come to the ballpark every day?" "No, I'm not.
"Wyler is a tremendous presence in the clubhouse," said his friend Mickey Owen.
"Yankee Stadium is going to be the World Series park.
"Yankees Past, Present and Future," Sports Illustrated, August 7, 1974: 22.
"Yankees fans used to rush the pavilion when the Yankees were playing.
"Yea," he mused, "I should have been up there in the first place.
"Yeah, that was my favorite thing. I was a catcher, but I was playing for the manager. We were playing in Griffith Stadium.
"Yes, I know it's a big year," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins after the 1950 season.
"Yes," said Branca. "I probably could have said 'No' but I didn't.
"Yogi Berra was the greatest, the most exciting, the most graceful player I ever saw.
"Yogi was the best [pitching] coach I ever played for. He was a genius. He knew everything.
"You can call it superstition or a matter of taste. But it's the truth.
"You can't believe the way they're treating Jackie. He's just amazing.
"You can't fix everything," he said. "I'll show them something.
"You can't get people to work for you," Chambliss told a reporter during the 1949 season.
"You can't run a team like that. Not with those guys.
"You could see the heat. He was nervous." The Braves beat St. Louis in the World Series.
"You could smell the sweat. You could taste the sweat, just from walking down the line. You could feel it.
"You don't know how lucky you are," he said. "We were lucky to be in there.
"You guys are going to the World Series," said Mickey Mantle.
"You had to use some hustling and aggressiveness, because I think you'll be successful.
"You had to work every day to make ends meet, and a couple of seasons in the minors," recalled Mays.
"You have the brawniest catcher in my book," said Yankees manager Bucky Harris.
"You have to go out and get it." Said manager Durocher.
"You have to have a good eye at the plate, and a good arm.
"You just gotta take him out one at a time. He's a tough competitor. He can run, throw, and field.
"You know, I didn't play baseball because I didn't have the money for a job.
"You know, I have a living-room-type kid," he says. "He wants to work.
"You know, I was a bit jealous when I was growing up.
"You know, I was in the Navy when the war ended, and I was in the Navy when the war started.
"You know, I was proud of being a Dodger. I knew I was good.
"You know, he was always reassuring me that he was not a star. He was a deserving player. He still is.
"You know, it was an accident. I had the wrong glove, and I slipped on the wet grass.
"You know, sometimes I've played double-teams and split the bat almost as wide as the infield.
"You know, we had a good team, but we weren't the best.
"You must be joking," said the pitcher. "I'll show you right now, buddy.
"You never get over them," he said. "You just keep trying to make it right.
"You play for a team that wants to win, and you're feeling it.
"You think he's playing good ball? He's hitting .280 and is playing at a .500 pace.
"You were a great competitor," he recalled. "You had a great attitude.
"You were a great kid," Lee said. "You're a real gamer.
"You will never guess who I've come to meet," he announced to the stunned crowd.
"You won't believe this. Last night was a great night and a great night.
"You'll Never Know 'em," said the great Yankee Ruth.
"You'll be a great addition to the team," said manager Mayo Smith.
"You'll be a great hitter," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"You'll be hearing about this again," said Casey Stengel.
"You'll be playing here," his manager, Casey Stengel, told him.
"You'll be playing me," he barked at the backstop, and then his concern shifted to my eyes.
"You'll be the best pitcher in the league," Billy Pierce said to Rizzuto after he signed his contract.
"You'll be very happy to hear that Mr. Groat is joining us as a coach.
"You'll be watching me in my tracks," Van Ravel told the Times's Morris Siegel.
"You'll be with them all season," said Bill. "I'll be there from the start.
"You'll have to say that I was his manager for a while," Blasingame recalled.
"You'll hear about him in some capacity," Rizzo said.
"You'll need it," the manager told the young outfielder.
"You'll see a lot of guys get hurt during the season," said DiMaggio.
"You'll see a lot of guys taking advantage of young pitchers like him," said Dodgers manager Leo Durocher.
"You'll see something happen here," said the Brooklyn Dodger.
"You're Fired," The Sporting News announced on May 24, 1950.
"You're a funny guy," said Sam. "I like to see you smile. That helps a lot.
"You're a good ballplayer, Jack," George Selkirk told Jack.
"You're a good hitter and you've got to stay out there and play.
"You're a good-looking kid, but you're not going to help the Yankees win.
"You're a great competitor, but you'll never be a winner on the baseball field.
"You're a great guy, Larry," said the Cardinals' manager, Charlie Dressen.
"You're a great guy, Wally, but the press never uses the proper words to describe you.
"You're a great guy, but you don't know how to pitch.
"You're a great player, Jack, but you're a lousy locker room player.
"You're a real pro, aren't you?" asked the man behind the wheel.
"You're a sweet guy, Joe. I'll take a picture of you and send it to the Yankees.
"You're a talent," said Stengel. "Well, I'll show you something.
"You're a tough competitor, but you'll play hard, too," said Gus.
"You're a tough competitor," O'Doul said. "But you're a good guy.
"You're about the only baseball player who can do this," Stengel told him.
"You're all set, Jack," said Boudreau. "You just rest on your laurels.
"You're doing me a favor," he said. "You're helping me get my career going.
"You're going to be a big-league ballplayer," he said.
"You're going to be a big-league baseball player," he told me.
"You're going to be a great one," he said. He was.
"You're going to be a great one," said Don Newcombe.
"You're going to have to do something about it," he said.
"You're going to have to do something different," said Yawkey.
"You're going to have to do something to me," Harry said to Bobby.
"You're going to have to work on your control," he said.
"You're going to have to work on your control," he told the pitcher.
"You're going to love baseball," he said. "You're going to love every inch of it.
"You're going to love baseball," said Johnny Beazley.
"You're going to make a good living out there," Macintosh said.
"You're going to make a lot of noise about it," Daniels said. "I care about it.
"You're going to miss the World Series if you're not good," Nelson told the man behind the plate.
"You're going to miss the World Series," he said and chalked up another Series loss.
"You're going to miss the World Series," said Burdette. "I got to see you play.
"You're going to miss the big leagues," said Dick Sisler.
"You're going to need something to pull this off," said Stengel.
"You're going to play in the All-Star Game," said Schnozz.
"You're going to spend a lot of time with me," Ford told him.
"You're gonna hear about a guy out there," he said to me in 1957.
"You're having too good a year," said Boss. "We have a chance to win the pennant.
"You're in charge," said the president. "You're the boss.
"You're joking, aren't you?" The question was rhetorical as the two-time All-Star batted .
"You're just a part of my family," I said. "I have no power to stop you.
"You're just a part of the fabric of the city that makes it big.
"You're just not ready for the big leagues," Phil Rizzuto said.
"You're liable for what you're doing," he admonished.
"You're looking at a good defensive player," said Miami manager Tony Orlando.
"You're making me crazy. You're making me miserable.
"You're not a big secret that I'm a big guy on the Yankees.
"You're not a good hitter, Nick. That's all you can be.
"You're not going to do that," he said. "I'm a headhunter.
"You're not going to get a better one out of me than this one," said Kluszewski.
"You're not going to get anything like a better contract this year," Schnozz said.
"You're not going to get him," said Yeager, "and I don't want him.
"You're nothing like a big leaguer," he told a reporter.
"You're right, but I'll tell you this: I'm a better batter than you are.
"You're saying that I tried to kill him," the man who heard the news said.
"You're so funny, I'll stand up for you," the alma mater president, Rev.
"You're starting to build a reputation as a clown," Dodger pitcher Allie Reynolds said.
"You're still alive," he told the bodyguard. "I'll be taking care of you.
"You're the best thing that ever happened to baseball," said the manager, and he meant it.
"You're the best," Bobby Brown said. "You're going to be a great one.
"You're the best," he said. "You're going to be one of the best.
"You're the best. You've got all the stuff. You've got the intelligence.
"You're the best." So went the refrain from the Bronx Bombers' cacophony.Not quite.
"You're the biggest crook I ever played for," Rigney cursed.
"You're the greatest." "Who's the greatest?" "Stan Musial.
"You're the luckiest guy in the history of the game," Wild Bill told his son.
"You're the luckiest guy in the world," said Allie Reynolds.
"You're the luckiest kid I ever saw," said Joe Cronin.
"You're the luckiest man I ever knew," said Harry Danning.
"You're the luckiest man alive," Cats manager Del Baker said.
"You're the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told the Boston Braves.
"You're the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Babe Ruth.
"You're the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Cleveland pitcher Bob Fothergill.
"You're the luckiest man on the face of the earth," said Wade.
"You're throwing the ball to the wrong base," Bob Fothergill said.
"You're too short, Jack," he said. "I can't do this.
"You're welcome, but not until you can play for them.
"You're welcome," said the old man, "but I wouldn't want to see you play.
"You've Got to Give Him a Chance," said Dodgers teammate Chuck Diering.
"You've Got to Give Them Something To Do," said Donie Bush, from the bench.
"You've Got to Have It," Joe Garagiola (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1984), 74.
"You've Never Seen a Better Outfield … Except in a League where Pee Wee was in the World Series.
"You've been a big part of my life," Charlyne Shugart told the author.
"You've been a great help to my pitching," said Pete.
"You've been an outfielder your whole life, Boy. You're a natural.
"You've been around Long Island for thirty years, and you know Long Island.
"You've been around the game a long time and you know about all the superstitions," Sandalio said.
"You've been in baseball for too long and know baseball doesn't always get the credit it deserves.
"You've been in the big leagues for 30 years," he said. "You've seen the plays.
"You've been in the big leagues for ten years and you're well known.
"You've been in the big leagues three times now and you're a big third baseman.
"You've been pitching better and throwing strikes for your teammates, and you've been getting better marks.
"You've been playing with me for a while now, and you're a fine, all-around athlete.
"You've caught so many people that you're bound to catch them all," he said.
"You've got to be kidding me! I thought he was a great pitcher. It's just unbelievable.
"You've got to be kidding me," Michaels said, "when you talk about winning.
"You've got to be kidding me," he said. "Not just kidding me, but telling people about me.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Harry, "the Yankees are worse than the Browns.
"You've got to be kidding me," said the President of the United States.
"You've got to be kidding me. They've got to be kidding me.
"You've got to be kidding. That guy was great. He kept everybody in check and he was a real good catcher.
"You've got to bring it to the plate," he added. "Just hit the ball to left.
"You've got to find a way to get rid of him," said Giants manager Bill Terry.
"You've got to find out what's going on," said Stengel.
"You've got to get a look at him," said Braves manager Charlie Grimm.
"You've got to get people to believe in you," he said.
"You've got to get the ball and you'll get it to him.
"You've got to give everybody credit. We're just a young ballclub, coming through.
"You've got to give him credit. He understands. He's a big-game player. He plays every shift.
"You've got to give him credit. He was steady all year long. He had a great year.
"You've got to give him credit. He's a great competitor.
"You've got to give him credit. He's a smart player. He understands what pitchers want out of hitters.
"You've got to give him credit. He's never going to do that.
"You've got to give the ball to the other team at some point," he said.
"You've got to give them credit," said Yankees manager Miller Huggins.
"You've got to give them credit. It's not just baseball players who get a lot of publicity.
"You've got to have a certain mentality. I had one that went wild.
"You've got to have a good veteran pitching staff around you," Verban said.
"You've got to have some patience. … I think the big thing is, where it counts most is: the fans.
"You've got to have that little extra something to win," said Rigney.
"You've got to have the right attitude," said Harvey, "and I think I have it.
"You've got to learn how to deal with adversity," he said.
"You've got to learn how to win with pitchers like that," Groat said.
"You've got to learn how to win. That's just the way we won in those days.
"You've got to make the big leagues," Hamilton said.
"You've got to make the guys around you better. If you do that, you're in good shape.
"You've got to pinch yourself every day to realize that you're not as good as you think you are.
"You've got to play in the big leagues to be able to afford to live in New York," said Dan.
"You've got to play the game the way it was meant to be played.
"You've got to play the game," he told the New York Times's Arthur Daley.
"You've got to play them," he told a writer. "That's what I did.
"You've got to put it on the line for your team," the manager told the manager.
"You've got to remember, that's the big game," said the manager.
"You've got to stop them," said Cleveland manager Roger Peckinpaugh.
"You've got to take a coach's job. You can't take a manager's job.
"You've got to take some pride in knowing that you played in the big leagues.
"You've got to think about the guys up there. They're better than most people.
"You've got to turn a good hitter into a great hitter.
"You've got to turn the other cheek," Sparky Adams declared years after he had retired from baseball.
"You've got to use them," said Hurwitz. "They're cheap.
"You've got to work and play in order to get to the big leagues," he said.
"You've got to work every day to be a good ballplayer," he said.
"You've got to work every day, every second of every day, just like I did," he said.
"You've got to work every day," said Chief Bender, "and that's what I did.
"You've got to work every day. This is a big man down here. He's a big, big man.
"You've got to work in order to get ahead," he said.
"You've got to work on your control. You'll be held responsible if you break that concentration.
"You've got to work with that stuff to win games," he said.
"You've got to work with them. They're going to love the ball.
"You've got to work," he said. "I'm not going to sit around and do nothing.
"You've got to work," he said. "You've got to learn how to pitch.
"You've gotta give them credit. … I'm not even going to try to argue with all of them.
"You've had a hell of a year," he told Rush Holt, the Yankees' longtime catcher.
"You've had a hell of a year," said the Cleveland catcher of the year, Cy Williams.
"You've had a wonderful career," he told the writer Bob Broeg.
"You've had some amazing days," he said. "You've had some unbelievable hits.
"You've heard it over the years, but the Brooklyn Dodgers never won the pennant by playing a losing pitcher.
"You've never seen a ballplayer do something like that," said teammate Johnny Blanchard.
"You've never seen a ballplayer like Lou Gehrig," Jack Kramer said.
"You've never seen anything like that. I've never seen anything like that.
"You've never seen the kind of spirit we have today.
"You've seen my pitching. And you'll see my hitting.
"You've seen the ones — the little black dot, the milepost, the zebra.
"You've seen the picture of Jackie Robinson in the stands. Well, I'm Jackie Robinson in the stands.
"Your Bible," said Jimmie Foxx, with a straight face and a wry smile.
"Your arm is stronger than it has been in years," Phillips said.
"Your arm? That's dead. You're just a shell of the ball.
"Your story is unbelievable," said the Yankees' Whitey Ford.
"Your work is outstanding," Rickey remarked. "I'm sure you'll make good.
"[A]ll of them were big league players," Harvey Haddix said.
"[H]e was a great kid and a great athlete and he was a real good fielder. He knew the strike zone.
"[H]e was a great motivator for young players like me," said Kelly.
"[He] is a big-game player, and he can play it. He can handle the big-league pitchers.
"[Murderer] Gordon, for all his talk, was a rotten liar," said the hot-blooded Red Sox owner.
"[T]he Yankees don't have any players who can play in the big leagues and could play in the minor leagues.
"[T]he Yankees promised me everything," Lazzeri said.
"[T]he history books tell us he was a decent hitter, but he didn't have the power that Babe Ruth had.
"[T]he young man will be a big-league ballplayer, and he will be a great one.
"[The] young man was as good as his word," said manager O'Neill.
"a scholar of Jewish mysticism," was to be the center of the group's operations.
"description":"The New York Yankees' Casey Stengel said, "I think of the way they played.
"i'll take care of him," said Davey. The phone rang. Davey answered it.
"in the second half of the season," according to the New York Times.
"nevertheless, the scene was so shocking," he continued, "the whole country was outraged.
"… the fans were terrific, and the players' morale was terrific.
"….if they're going to get the ball, they'll get it in the strike zone.
"…I don't think he's as strong as he looks," said Knickerbocker.
"…there are two things I can't stand about baseball," Terry said. "One, the constant travel.
#1. The 1961 season was Lockman's last as a major-league coach.
#18,208. The Dodgers had won the pennant in 1939 and 1940 but were unable to duplicate the winning power of the preceding two seasons.
#include <linux/module.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <string.
$$ It is a sad fact that baseball players are being exploited by unscrupulous individuals for financial gain.
$$define command for a given macro and set of arguments.
$150,000? That was the amount paid for the 2018 World Series. And so it was with the Yankees in 1954.
$2,500 to $5,000 a month, a salary cut from his previous high of $18,500.
$30,000+"Ozark Rage," Brooklyn Eagle, July 2, 1954.
'11,000 fans, including 489 children, walked out in protest after the team's first official victory.
'37 got off to a slow start, as the Yankees played their first game in New York City on April 12.
'Antilock's' horse had a natural ability to learn. But it was a hard nut to crack.
'Baby" became a familiar refrain in baseball books and pulp magazines over the next few decades.
'Ben Chapman, the legendary catcher, was a short, stocky man in the middle of five feet.
'I've got a better year than I had last year," Finley said.
'The Wonder Years" (SABR, 2018), edited by Gregory H. Wolf.
'The old Yankee Doodle," as the New York Times put it when it published the story, "never got the point.
'Uncle Sam" grew up on a farm, and he was an only child.
( For more information, or to purchase the book in e-book or paperback form, click here .
(") in the upper-tier Japanese leagues, and he was invited to train with the Tokyo Giants in 1941.
("Bowl is a bigger deal than trout," said a New York Times headline).
("Crazy as a fox," the Yankee phenom explained to The Sporting News's Jim Martin.
("He was a very smart kid," said his father, "and he learned a lot.
("I'm just glad they don't keep me around," said Werber.
("It's a tough spot for a first baseman, but you have to play there.
("The Babe") came to our attention through a decision by the players association a few years ago.
("We'll just have to hope that the other team doesn't bring him back," told Mays.
(1) From his high school days in Sudlersville, New York, Raymond James was a tremendous ballplayer.
(1) In a game the Yankees lost, they were humiliated by the St. Louis Cardinals.
(14) Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Bill Dickey, and nine others.
(2) The bat, which had been lost to the players during the war, was retrieved from the rubble.
(A) The appointment of Shelagh P. Ford as the first female player in the major leagues.
(ANSA) - Piedmont, New York, June 7, 2010) A pro-life theologian, Rev.
(B) was made available for the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers in the final week of the season.
(CNN) -- Lee Walls was a pitcher who could go deep and get to the ball fast, and could also throw a good fastball.
(CNN) . Bobby Brown was a great defensive player who also happened to be a bit of a social activist.
(CNN) A highly emotional Joe Torre was among the first to pitch in the Big Four American League, joining the Chicago Cubs.
(CNN) Donald Trump was elected president of the United States in a historic historic upset. But the shock didn't last long.
(CNN) The Black Codes, the diabolical black outfits worn by Italian street gangs, was outlawed in the United States in 1930.
(Cleveland.com) -- In 1937, the American League and the National League squared off in the first All-Star Game ever played.
(Connie) Lopata was a fine ballplayer, and a fine man. I look back at him now and he was my hero.
(Jim) Bob Wilson was a great leader. He was a great person, and he was a great competitor.
(KUTV) The Salt Lake City Bears were a .500 club in the first division for the 1963 season.
(New York: Crown, 1990) is a biography of baseball's first black player, Marius Russo.
(Photo by Ines Estoma) The Senators' success didn't last for long.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The White Sox won the 1941 pennant and faced the Yankees in the World Series.
(Photo credit) The White Sox published a statement on May 20, 1974, following the death of U.S. Rep.
(Photo credit: Lou Boudreau/The Sporting News) Lester: "You'll see a big change, Lester.
(Photo: The History Channel)On the twentieth of May 1960, the Chicago Cubs hosted the St.
(Photo: The LIFE of Pat Malone)A versatile outfielder, Malone played nine seasons in the major leagues and six seasons in the minor leagues.
(Photo: The Sporting News)The nation's capital was a baseball town in the early 1940s.
(Reuters) - A former major league outfielder, Bob Porterfield, has joined the ranks of the minor leagues.
(SALEM, Oregon) – The University of Oregon baseball team will mark its first official 100-win season since 1931.
(The Times) Richard Goldstein, a professional athlete, was born in Chicago on October 19, 1930.
(The above is a re-entry of an older post.)I'm going to start doing some backbiting.
(The above letter is a tribute to Ed Kranepool, the baseball coach who died on April 14, 2017.
(The art of the perfect pitching ace is part of a larger puzzle.
(The cartoon is from the September 4, 1948 issue of the Chicago Tribune.
(The controversy that followed his playing career is known by the pseudonym of the Deadball Era Yankees' Phil Rizzuto.
(The family names have all been changed to protect the identities of the players involved.
(The following is a transcript of a speech given by Roger Ailes to the Conservative Political Action Conference, August 20, 1999.
(The good-hitting, good-fielding, center fielder is the perfect foil for an infielder.
(The recipe for this soup is from the 1944 edition of the Chicago Tribune.
(Washington) — In the ninth inning of the March 28 game, the Senators were leading, 4-1.
(Weird, but true.) In 1965, manager Ralph Houk was now the Tigers' manager.
(You must also know that you can give the old guy a good beating if you have to, and the old guy will take it.
(a )"The Giants were a miserable failure," said Henryk.
(a) A player's salary is based on his wins and losses and the number of wins he's had vs.
(a) Information delivered by Roger C. Andrews, Chief of Staff, U.S.
(a) Sufficiently Celebrated. (b) Began in Los Angeles.
(a) as the number of plays in a game; and (b) as the number of offensive players on a team.
(a) became the first player to win 20 or more games in a season for the St.
(a)The United States was divided into three continents when Jackie Robinson crossed the continent in 1947. The country was still undergoing a racial shift.
(b) that the position he played was a disadvantage.
(n) A name that was popular at the time it was listed; the more recent name it is is the more popular it is.
(p) In 1960 the Dodgers played their home games at Ebbets Field, located across the Brooklyn River in the borough of Manhattan.
(t)he league record for a relief pitcher in the major leagues was five and I think that's what we did in 1959.
000-1000 $1,000 Baker, a white man, spent all of his life in the minor leagues.
03/27/1862, Philadelphia Athletics, 11/27/1862, Washington, D.C.
04/16/1956. The White Sox were in desperate need of a left-handed power hitter, particularly one with a power curveball.
09 /04 /04 "He loved to fish and hunt and he could eat all kinds of fish," his son Marty recalled.
09/30/2018) Our family's first home was a two-room brick house on Park Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood in Chicago.
0:00 – The famous moments from the 1951 World Series.
0:33 Hands on first pitch for Tigers in first game.
0:37 – A pitcher throwing a curveballs in the dirt can be difficult to pick up. A batter is setting a trap.
0:47 – The Yankees win the game and swept the White Sox in the World Series.
0:58 We are just a few inches above the moon. We are just a few inches above the moon.
1 2/3 innings of relief work, compared to nine innings in the regular season.
1 Kemp's Best Pitch From 1936 to 1939, the Pirates averaged 5.4 wins and lost 4.
1 Scooter Braun, who batted .300, was a model of consistency.
1 Shotton's "Blind Spot" was a hand-off move by the Yankees to first base.
1 The Sporting News, December 19, 1955, 4.2 The Sporting News, September 27, 1955, 5.
1 The War of the Coral Sea, 1941-1946 (repr. New York: F.W. Morrow and Co.
1 The first strike of the season hit Jack Keane on July 13, causing him to miss the rest of the season and all of the following year.
1 The first time he ever stepped on a rubber horse, Jack was a young catcher in the Class D Northeast Ohio League.
1 Tim Chapman, "Bubba the Bulldog," Baseball Digest, March 1950: 70.
1 Tim Lincecum "What a pitcher needs most is a few more innings.
1 of 24 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Photos of George Zimmerman in uniform View Photos A look at the life of a baseball player.
1 on Dizzy Dean's "wacky batting order and defensive strategy.
1) "Bummed Down, Still But Trying To Get On and Make Out.
1) As one of the oldest major leaguers, he was able to count on his own bat for protection.
1) He was a great student and very competitive. His family was financially secure enough to purchase a house in a good neighborhood.
1) The first time he saw a real bat was on June 26, 1931.
1) The world of baseball's first thriving blackball league, the Negro Leagues, was about to be transformed.
1) There was no such thing as a magic number; nobody ever did know the difference.
1) Vosmik, G. and Virtanen, J. The New Generation, New York: Scribner, 2000.
1) and his father, who had a managerial staff of five, and was known as a team leader.
1-A, who was posting a .295 batting average and slugging 41 home runs, was awarded a full year by the Yankees.
1-F100." He said he was never concerned about injury, and that a slight would do.
1. "A good target would be a left-handed starting pitcher," said McKechnie.
1. "He was a great competitor," recalled teammate Mel Parnell. "He could handle pitchers and anything else.
1. "He was so talented, he made us all go nuts for him.
1. "I never expected to make it to the majors until I was in my 40th year. I just wanted to play.
1. "I think he's going to be a great one," said Whitey Ford.
1. "I was raised on the hunch that I would be a ballplayer," said Dickson.
1. "It was a great thrill to play for him. He was a great competitor. He was a great teammate.
1. "The Big Bear," Chicago sportswriter Irving Vaughan (The Sporting News, August 16, 1933): 6-7.
1. "The Gashouse Gang," The Saturday Evening Post, March 7, 1974, 20.2.
1. A deceptively simple concept, the ball was in the hole.
1. A good place to work out, especially in the offseason.
1. A hand washing and disinfection machine, which could be used for many household items.
1. A little-known fact about the Yankees is that they started a season in the Depression and ended it with the greatest comeback ever.
1. A number of teams had approached the Yankees about the possibility, and New York was one of them.
1. A young, talented group of young men dedicated to making the game beautiful to all people, regardless of their background or their station in life.
1. A.L. pitchers aren't allowed to talk about their relief pitchers.
1. Acosta, "The Home Run Heard Around the World," The Sporting News, "September 20, 1936.
1. All-Time Series - First Tee, 1949-53 pic.twitter.
1. An early-season hero, he was the winningest pitcher on the Cardinals' pennant-winning team in 1931.
1. As a minor, Parnell had shown a penchant for working on his father's farm and playing baseball at night.
1. As part of his plea bargain, he admitted to striking a suburban girl multiple times and then biting her lip.
1. At bat, he drove in five runs in the first game of a doubleheader to help New York to a 12-6 lead.
1. Bauer, also known as Billy, was a nasty hitter who played in four minor league seasons in the early 1930s.
1. Bob Friend, "The Truth About Friend," Sports Illustrated, August 24, 1965, online archive.
1. Boudreau, who had been pitching in the most games, played in only seven, and he said he had to rest.
1. Burdette, Sandy. "Run, Run, Run." Sport, September 2, 1968.
1. Burdette, Walter. "The Big Bulge." Chicago Tribune. January 14, 1947.
1. By 1932 the Boston Red Sox had finished in fourth place and Ted Williams was hitting .287, with his best year ever.
1. Callum Hughson Born in Alameda, California, on October 30, 1918, Callum grew up in L.A.
1. Cooperstown, NY: A.S. Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1968.2.
1. First base. This position is the deepest in the majors, and in those days the best players hit from the backstop position.
1. For his teammates, the most important thing was to win.
1. For the next 28 years, he averaged 208 hits, batting .317 and leading the league in on-base percentage every year.
1. Frank Robinson, "A Man in The Moon," Sport, September 20, 1965, 19-20.2.
1. George Sleuthington was born in Adams, Kansas, on September 10, 1905, one of five children of German immigrants.
1. He batted .258/.396/.493 with 4 home runs and 38 runs batted in.
1. He had a lifetime batting average of .285 and hit over .300 three times in his career.
1. He had an excellent fastball and threw a curveball, but his control was suspect.
1. He started the 1960 season with a 3-2 record and a 2.85 ERA.
1. He was a very good pitcher, but not a great one.
1. He was born in the Bronx, New York, on December 29, 1927.
1. He was born on February 7, 1905, in Rosedale, California, an affluent part of the city.
1. He was never much of a leader at the plate, but he was great in the clutch.
1. He went 2-for-4 with a run batted in, and got a hit, too.
1. I like to play. I like to be in the game. I like to win. I like to score runs.
1. I think you're a bit of a myth. You're a freak. You're a freakish athlete.
1. I was 36 and unmarried; therefore, I had a lot of free time. But I was also very careful about the dates.
1. I was a homer hitter. I hit for average, power, and other guys.
1. I was fortunate to play in the 1920s and 1930s when there was a national league that was mostly men's teams.
1. I'm just a man who likes to win. I like to win because I can't stand sitting still.
1. I'm not a homer, or a short-stop, or anything of that nature.
1. I've had thirty-two men on my roster, and I've got to get the ball to them all.
1. If he's going to pitch for the Dodgers, he's going to pitch. 2. 3.
1. In 1894, he was one of the first professional baseball players to be classified as disabled.
1. In 1927 the Red Sox signed Willie "Sarge" Jones to a contract.
1. In 1932, the first All-Star Game was held in the Polo Grounds in New York.
1. In 1951 the Yankees won the American League pennant and defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. They set a new A.
1. In 1953, the Reds opened spring training in St. Petersburg, Florida.
1. In April 1933 at the time of the famous playoff game between the St.
1. In a game against the Yankees, George Kell was the starting third baseman.
1. In his first start for the Cubs, on April 8, he beat the Reds 5-2.
1. In his second year, Jansen was named to the All-Star team for the first time.
1. In the first game of a doubleheader in Cincinnati on September 24, 1919, the Reds were facing the St. Louis Cardinals.
1. In the lineup for the final month of the season, Gentry began the season by going 0-for-1 at the plate.
1. In the seventh inning, the Yankees' leadoff batter, Lou Gehrig, showed a good fastball.
1. In the spring of 1945, while under orders to the Army, Belmont played for the Army Signal Corps team.
1. Introduction . This biography was written by John Quinn. It contains substantial unverifiable detail.
1. It was 1931 and the Yankees were still playing the American League.
1. It was a special day in the history of the New York Giants.
1. It was reported that he had a 4.40 ERA for the season. This turned out to be the lowest mark of his career.
1. It's the reason why we're losing. It's the reason why we're losing.
1. Jack Kramer – The Game of Life 1. Jack Kramer – The Game of Life 2.
1. Jansen was born August 20, 1922, in San Francisco, the son of Walter and Laura Jansen.
1. Jimmie Foxx did it, even though he admitted he had been wrong.
1. Joe Louis "There was no such thing as the perfect pitcher," he said.
1. Joni, 34; 2. Three-base hits in six at-bats, four singles (.500), and two doubles (.
1. Lary ended his career as a starting pitcher in the big leagues for just the second time.
1. Let's face it, there aren't that many good-hitting left-handers in the history of the game.
1. Myer walked a bit more and was hit hard. He walked only one batter and struck out four.
1. Myer, J.B.B. The Sporting News, May 3, 1954. Ibid. Myer, J.
1. Myer, Myer, Myer. The Sporting News, January 18, 1963, 5.3.
1. Nat, "Furious Gives Vary Viewing To Nat," New York Times, June 30, 1932: 26.
1. Oldest and Wines: At first glance, the name of the oldest wine glass and the number of bottles is coincidental.
1. Paul Waner, "The Sweet Smokest," Sports Illustrated, July, 1953, 36.
1. Ponce, Marrero, & Guzman, The Wanderers, New York: Wild Squirrel Press, 1985, p. 186.
1. Put the kid on the park bench, or in the bullpen.
1. Sauced by a .323 batting average, 17 home runs and 98 runs batted in.
1. Starting in 1929, Allie Reynolds was another left-hander who thrived in the World Series.
1. Terry Moore, "Hefty Bill Toward Pitching in First League in Ala.
1. That he had a fastball. The next spring, with spring training just around the corner, the Cardinals were in full rebuild mode.
1. That he was back, but he'd been out for a few years.
1. That was the year Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play major-league baseball.
1. The Babe Ruth Story The Babe Ruth Story (New York: Viking, 1970), 82.2. Harry T.
1. The Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Ebbets Field on August 14-15.
1. The Bum Surgeon's "Permanent Home" (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1975), 129.
1. The City of Detroit, Michigan. We are a young and growing metropolitan area.
1. The Colorado Springs Gazette, May 3, 1965, 1A. The Sporting News, July 15, 1965, 19.2.
1. The Cubs lost to the Yankees in the World Series in seven games and fell to third place.
1. The Cubs shipped him to the Yankees in a cash transaction.
1. The Cubs were a second-division club in 1956, falling to seventh place before winning the pennant.
1. The Cubs' first baseman, Tommy Holmes was the last player drafted from the minor league ranks.
1. The Dodgers had a chance to clinch the pennant with a victory at Ebbets Field.
1. The Dodgers were the last team to win a World Series.
1. The Dodgers won the pennant, but it was a close race and they lost the World Series to the Yankees.
1. The Dodgers' record was 5-5. They started the season dogged by injuries and fumbling.
1. The Elusive Team's Playbook. By Mickey Kreeval. New York: Crown, 1976: 297.2.
1. The Giants finished in fourth place with a 79-79 record, and the Giants' lead over the Dodgers was two games.
1. The Giants played their final game at the Polo Grounds on September 12, 1933.
1. The Giants took a two-game lead in the first game of the Sunday doubleheader.
1. The Giants were in first place in '33, but then lost 10 straight and finished 4 games behind the Dodgers.
1. The Giants won the 1954 World Series, but lost four games to the Dodgers.
1. The Giants won the pennant, and the Dodgers lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games.
1. The Giants won the pennant, but lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games. The Yankees swept the Giants in seven games.
1. The Giants won the pennant, but lost to the Dodgers in a memorable World Series.
1. The Giants' Dolbert Giamatti was the game's premier defensive centerfielder from 1936 to 1941.
1. The Giants' first baseman, Edwin Robinson, was almost 40 when he was drafted into the Army in October 1942.
1. The Giants' home opener, April 16, 1960, was the first of those 14 White Sox victories.
1. The Giants' sweep of the Yankees in the World Series.
1. The Milwaukee Braves of the National League and the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League.
1. The Most Valuable Player in Baseball, Bill Russell, was a first baseman. He was a second baseman on the Cardinals.
1. The New Great Experiment: Baseball's New Science, by Harold Kaese, Jr., New York: A.S.
1. The New York Giants of the National League, and The Sporting News of the United States, in Baseball Digest, Fall, 1933, p.
1. The Overlooked Men: Men Who Made the Big Time (New York: Morrow, 1986), 13-16.2.
1. The Pirates were plagued by injuries in the early going.
1. The Pittsburgh Pirates," The Sporting News, July 22, 1958,3.
1. The Record Book, Roger Kahn, Jr. (New York: Scribner Publishing, Inc. 1990), 201.2.
1. The Red Sox were heavy favorites to win the pennant in 1939, but lost to the Yankees in a playoff.
1. The Red Sox' pitching staff had an outstanding year in 1949.
1. The Sporting News, August 12, 1953: 6.2. The Sporting News, February 26, 1953: 7.3.
1. The Steakhouse (Crossway, New York: Doubleday & Co.), 274.2. The Red Sox, 393.
1. The Story of the Heffner Murder, by Dan Daniel, New York Times, April 4, 1995: 4.2.
1. The Tigers, since the minor-league system was reinstated in 1933, have had the best staff in the AL.
1. The Yankees were a better team in 1940 than the Red Sox were in 1941, but the Yankees lost their way.
1. The Yankees were the defending American League champions, but they lost the World Series to the Detroit Tigers.
1. The Yankees won their first series in six years in 1949, besting the Brooklyn Dodgers in six games in the Bronx.
1. The Yankees, even without Velez, turned in another fine season in 1946.
1. The Yankees, led by co-leaders DeWitt and Gehrig.
1. The ball would have been hit to the left of center, so he would have had to go to the left side to field it.
1. The battle itself was a little more interesting. The Yankees apparently had their eyes glued to the St.
1. The big catcher, the big wimp, and the big turkey. He was the most popular catcher in the minor leagues.
1. The big right-hander used his new found power to win 12 of his first 16 starts of the 1950 season.
1. The big story in the 1948 spring training was "Baseball's Greatest Generation.
1. The biggest thrill of my career was when I was playing with the Giants.
1. The career of Bill Werber began in 1938, when the Giants signed him to a contract to play for the Newark Bears.
1. The day the Giants lost to the Dodgers. It was the last time the Cubs won a World Series.
1. The difference between second place and first place is that second place is a little more difficult to win over.
1. The fact is, the postseason was not kind to Kershaw.
1. The fans. The fans always love a good story, but never have they seen anything like this.
1. The first baseman was the team's anchor for years.
1. The first dog died at the age of six. His owner brought him into the family home at least twice but the death was never reported.
1. The first game of the 1948 season was a must-win affair.
1. The first major league game was played in Cincinnati's Crosley Field, the home of the Cincinnati Reds.
1. The first time I saw Bill Werber I was in fifth grade and I was a pitcher.
1. The first time I saw him play, I was very excited. I remember when he came to the Giants' spring training camp.
1. The first time he saw his father in the flesh, Joe's father was already dead.
1. The first time he saw his first real ballgame, he was with his father. The fourth game was his only game ever.
1. The first time he saw the big leagues, Jimmie Dykes was a second-string catcher for the St.
1. The game of baseball, one that has defined Don Mueller's career, was about to change.
1. The game was played at Shibe Park, the site of the first major league game ever played.
1. The humble beginnings of the Giants in 1933. The Giants were the last major-league team to ever win a World Series.
1. The league switched to a 16-game schedule for the 1931 season, and the St.
1. The man who called himself Billy was a good yearning young Chicago White Sox outfielder.
1. The name of the first base coach is not officially released, but is believed to be that of former New York Giants coach John C.
1. The old-timer but the new kid. George Crowe, or G-C.
1. The original owners of the club, the Crane family, had been John Fetzer, a German-born grocer.
1. The player's name is usually changed to the player's hometown.
1. The position he played in the major leagues is one of the most flattering comparisons ever devised.
1. The quest for a No. 1 hitter began in earnest in 1951, and ended in a near-miss.
1. The rest of the team is batting .300 or better, but the Yankees are the only ones who are above .500.
1. The second-place Giants were a far cry from the first-place Yankees, who had captured five straight pennants.
1. The short porch in right field is the only place in the ballpark where two batters can hit it out of sight.
1. The star of an earlier New York Yankees dynasty, Darvish was a power hitter and his bat was on the line all season.
1. The young Latvian had a spectacular first full season at the big-league level.
1. There is no denying the fact that 1952 was the year that Babe Ruth had his greatest year.
1. This article is from the book "Sweet '60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates" by Bill Nowlin and C.
1. To see the pattern of improvement, it is worth noting how the Giants performed in the first half of the season.
1. What was your nickname at that time? I was a speedy outfielder with a bit of an ego.
1." He spent one more season with the Tigers, appearing in 25 games for them in 1953.
1.1. The following players have been on and off the roster at least once during the season.
1.2Ki, and 3.9Ki. A March 23, 1948 article in the Boston Herald made this clear.
1.33" However, I was lucky to play for a team that had a stellar catcher in Veeck, Roy Campanella.
1.33. The Yankees eventually won 109 games and finished fourth, with a 73-79 record.
1.5 Million Visits in 1954, 'Bust of the Yankees" New York Times, January 11, 1954.
1.5 million fans watched the Cubs play the Reds in the 1951 World Series.
1.5 million people watched the first All-Star Game. It was the first time baseball had used an All-Star squad.
1.5. The Cubs won the 1935 World Series in ten games over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1.5. The first time I went to his home, I saw a bed and no television.
1.5.2. The Tigers had two pitchers of the stature of Denny Galehouse and Dizzy Trout.
1.5.3. The Phillies' run to the World Series began in December 1948 with a win over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1.6.3 The Yankees won the title, but Spahn became the only pitcher to win a World Series as a pitcher.
1.8. Dizzy Dean, The Man in the High Heel, New York: Henry Holt, 1992, p.
1.87 million people, 56% of them from the Bronx, and 90,000 from the New York suburbs.
1.8M votes were cast in the 1958 World Series, which the Cardinals lost to the New York Giants.
1.9.5.1. The big leagues were filled with holes. The Tigers and Yankees had to fight for survival.
1.I was born on March 9, 1915, in a Roman Catholic orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland.
1.In a 25-year run, the Yankees, coming off consecutive sixth-place finishes, climbed all the way to fifth in 1958.
1.Jimmie Foxx, A Ballplayer in a Major Trendy Era, Baseball Digest, January 1950;22.Ibid.;23.
1.The Slump Was My Year. As the Cardinals' season of 1948 wound down, manager Eddie Dyer was fired.
1/2 in. x 24 in. Solid-plywood floor. 1/2 in. thickness. 1/2 in. width.
1/2 inch thick. It was a standard-issue baseball bat. They didn't have a telescoped baseball bat.
1/2 lb. per week. During the summers, he worked in the fields and also worked in the fields.
1/4-inch thick. The ball is about 12 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.
10 games in 1937, and he was called up to the big club. Unfortunately, he played only seven games and hit .093.
10. That was the year the Cubs, with public funds, won the National League pennant.
10. The Boys of Summer, by Bill McGowan, Random House, New York, NY, 1986, p. 228.
10. The Great Depression and the American Dream, ed. F.B.I. and C.E.
10. The first time he came to the plate, he took a wide turn to first base.
10. The next time he was in the majors, he was a .251 hitter for the Boston Braves organization.
10. The opportunity to watch my first major-league game was my first love.
10. The team had only one real weakness: The Pirates were short a starting pitcher.
10.07% of the vote in the last two weeks. "I think the fans wanted it," he said.
10.2% of the total stock of the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles received the remaining 95.
10.3% of the vote and over 1 million votes for the Most Valuable Player in the American League.
10.35. The Cubs are in the middle of a four-game series starting on June 11th against the Boston Braves.
10.5.2. "I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he told a reporter.
10.5.2.1 The Cardinals, who won the pennant with the St. Louis Browns, swept the World Series in six games.
10.5.5.3 The Cubs had no shortage of outfielders in 1946.
100. The first-place Yankees lost 100 games in 1934. In 1935, the Yankees lost 100 games again.
102.1% owned by New York Yankees; 98.3% owned by Boston Red Sox; 97.
11 Rookies or Busts in the Dodgers' Mound Builders. By Earl T. Harris and Don Zminda.
11) The first time he met his future wife, Marge, he went fishing at Lake Michigan.
11. Aamodt. d. In 1998, the Cleveland Indians published a book entitled, "The Story of My Life.
11. After one season, the Dodgers signed Buddy Kerridge, a third baseman who had split the previous two years between the St.
11. His two years on the bench also gave him a better understanding of the importance of hitting.
11. San Francisco Giants, "The Tale of the Missing Link," June 25, 1950.
11. The Cubs were heavy underdogs in the Series, but they blew a four-game lead and lost to the Yankees in seven games.
11. The Yanks won the pennant, but lost the World Series to the Chicago Cubs. Keene, N.H.
11. The big-game quarterback may be gone, but he is still a good pitcher.
11.07% of the vote in his first year in the majors. In 1947, he fell short of the 60 percent needed for induction.
11.30pm: The Yankees send Kerr to the mound against the White Sox in Chicago for a spot start.
11.5% of the vote were elected to the Hall of Fame. In his season's MVP, he named his favorite player.
11/11/12 I'll get my chance in the majors in 1958. I'll start in Class A.
111.2 The Braves won the pennant, and defeated the Yankees in seven games in the World Series.
11:54pm: The Yankees signed Aquilino, who has experience in the minor leagues.
11:56 PM: "I've had a very interesting life," O'Neill told the author.
11:59pm: The Yankees announced that Girardi had been traded.
12 Gallery: Red Auerbach And His Sons," Sport, September 1937.
12 The Babe Was Back in a Tuxedo, Part 2 The following is a story from the movie The Taming of the Shrew.
12 wins, 8 losses and a 4.82 ERA in 77 games for the year. He was 3-4, with a 3.
12-12. The Phillies' offense was humming along and they were in the thick of the playoff race.
12. At the age of 40, the Cardinals acquired Ruth from Brooklyn in July. Ruth had been batting .290 at the All-Star break.
12. Burdette, "Old Man," New York Times, October 13, 1999.
12. The only way to a good game is for the other team to lose.
12. The winning pitcher will have a significant role in deciding the games of the two teams.
12.1% of the vote in the third-place Giants' game at the Polo Grounds.
12.12 A.L. pitchers from 1947 to 1960 had an ERA (3.
12.5% of the vote in the last month of the regular season. Kerr was elected to the All-Star Game.
12.9% of the vote in the 2016 Negro League Hall of Fame poll.
12/28/1974 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Cubs were playing the Phillies.
12th game, New York Yankees, Forbes Field NY.
12th-century king of the Chaldees, Efrat hails from a family of language-learners.
13. A.L. pitchers won 10 times as many games as they lost in the most recent A.L. season. But the A.
13. The day: A cool, balmy spring day in 1935, when the Giants played Pittsburgh.
13.3% of the vote, or 3.6 million more votes than his closest competitor, Ralph Nader, had garnered.
13.3.2 The big news in the mid-season trade was the signing of Billy Martin, the Cardinals' All-Star shortstop.
13.5% of all sales would be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus.
14. Bill Humber, "The Bums" (Rochester: New York University Press, 1996), 29.15.
14.22 (2) In the twentieth, the Yankees won their first World Series since 1919.
14.49% of the vote in his home state of California to win the American League batting title.
14.7% of the vote – well over the 1.5% needed for a majority – and got the nod.
15. .209/.268/.402. He was 0 for 1 with a walk, but struck out a career-low 15 times.
1525-1540. The Sporting News, January 1, 1939, 1.
17 out of 18 players were still with the club as of the end of the season, and the Cubs continued to battle against the Yankees.
17. Durocher, "Dodgers' Big Game," Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1950: 20.
17. Roseboro's career and personality were shaped by his baseball career.
17.8.9 . In 34 games he batted .268, belted 17 home runs, and drove in 59 runs.
18-11, 2.12 ERA in 120 games. The Reds finished third, 10 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
18-5, 4.18 in 37 games. In 1943 he batted .318 and hit 25 home runs.
18. Ibañez, "Jolly Cholly," San Antonio Light, August 6, 1977.19.
18. Nellie Fox's three MVP awards, four shutouts, and a 2.79 ERA were impressive.
18.5. Sports of the Times (Baltimore), June 8, 1974: 7.6.
18.8% of players in the 1960s were white. Meet the man behind the mask.
1838. Bob Dylan, "Yankee Stadium," New York Times, May 13, 1838.
1844:44-1/2. He did not have his best year at the plate in 1939.
1877-1962. Lautier pitched in the American Association, the first of nine attempts at a major-league career.
1883, Pascual, Cuba. In Cienfuegos, Cuba. The New York Times, June 8.
1885-1962. The story is rarely told, but many of the men in it were.
1891-1962) The Philadelphia Phillies won the pennant in 1891, but lost the World Series to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1891: 1-0, in a game his manager called because the team was being short-staffed.
1892 was the first season in which the 22-year-old infielder played professional ball in the United States.
1894. The next year he was in the Navy. In early 1946 he was discharged after serving 18 months and 28 days in the Navy.
1919. The Wrights, the Yankees, and the American League. New York: Crown, Viking, and Macmillan, Inc.
1919: The New York Yankees' Chase for Babe Ruth's Number.
1922, when the Yankees won their first world championship, the first since the Cardinals in 1909.
1933 was the last campaign in which the Browns played in the World Series. They lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games.
1933 was the last regular season in which the Royals played in the NL.
1933. During spring training, the Cubs were joined, along with the Cardinals and Indians, by a group of eight American League teams.
1935, the year of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, is the year of the first American entry into the Second World War.
1938, "I Don't Want To See A Black President," New York Times, May 1:40.
1939 was a banner year for the New York Giants, as they captured the National League flag with an outstanding 89-31 record.
1939 was the last in a series of six World Series between the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers since the start of the "Greatest Generation.
1940: See that year for more details. It was in 1940 that the Reds finally won a World Series.
1941 New York Giants' first home run on Lou Gehrig's "shot heard 'round the world.
1941 had the best year for the Reds in the post-war era.
1941 was the series between the Athletics and the ten-game winner Boston Braves, which had defeated the St.
1941, 1941, and 1942 were his prime years in the majors, and he took full advantage of the opportunities.
1941-1942 — The Last Great Depression — A Time of Deeper Depression and Greater Opportunities. New York: G. P.
1941. The St. Louis Cardinals won the American League pennant with a record of 1111-1102.
1941. The Yankees and Indians, with the pennant on the line, split the season series.
1941. The first All-Star Game was played in Pittsburgh in that city's Polo Grounds.
1942 was a banner year for the St. Louis Cardinals.
1942 was the last year of Joe DiMaggio's playing career.
1942, opening the season with a 1-0 shutout of the Baltimore Orioles.
1942: First All-Star Game at Pittsburgh's Polo Grounds.
1943 was the last year of the Nankai shogunate period.
1944 15-6, 5.01 ERA in 46 games. He and the Cardinals faced each other in a late-season classic.
1944 National League Most Valuable Player Bill Werber (right field, batting average: .
1944 is the last year that a major-league rookie would be eligible to play in a World Series.
1944, the first All-Star Game was played in Cleveland.
1944-47: Red Sox Underdogs; Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, Boston Braves.
1946 The Dodgers won the National League pennant, and then beat the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series.
1946: After missing almost three full years with the Browns, the Orioles signed him to a contract.
1947 was a great year for the St. Louis Cardinals, the National League's first-ever pennant winner.
1947 was a turning point in the Cubs' history. With the Dodgers in a pennant race, St.
1947 was the last full season in which Jackie Robinson would play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1948 Browning, Jr. S6. First All-Star selection and MVP as Angels completed first-half sweep of Yankees.
1948 saw the debut of the first true racehorse in the major leagues, Bob Elliott.
1948 was the last in a series of controversies between Arroyo and the Yankees.
1948 was the last year of Jackie Robinson's career.
1948 would turn into a memorable year for the Tigers, as they finished in third place with an 82-68 record.
1949 Bucky Harris returned to the Yankees after a 13-year hiatus as manager. He made his managerial debut in Brooklyn as a coach.
1949 to 1955: A Decade of Magic in the Early Days (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Co.
1949 was a banner year for the Negro Leagues, with the integration of the game and the emergence of Jackie Robinson.
1949 was a watershed year for baseball and America.
1949's greatest baseball player wasn't necessarily the best player of his era, but he was certainly the best of his time.
1950 marked the twenty-sixth anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson.
1953 was the last year of Jackie Robinson's career. In that season, the Brooklyn Dodgers faced the St.
1954 was the last baseball season in which players were permitted to play for their hometown teams.
1954-1957 The standard by which all baseball players were measured and ranked was the number of hits and total bases they had.
1955 World Series Jaguars' roster was released in early June.
1955 was a banner year for the Brooklyn Dodgers, with a 112-46 record.
1955 was a watershed year for Negro League baseball.
1955: The Boston Braves' Greatest Team of All Time, edited by Bill Nowlin and C.
1956 Masi's batting average fell to .250, but he finished with a. average, second in the league.
1956, the apex of the decade for Jackie Robinson's baseball career, was a special season.
1956-57: Mays was a big-league star, but he was also a boy learning to play baseball.
1956/57 was a very tumultuous time for baseball in the United States.
1956: The Pirates and Greenville's Famous Sleepy Night. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 4, 1956, 1.
1957. The Red Sox finished in third place. They had lost three straight and were only three games off the pace.
1957: Unhappy Dodgers fans, Brooklyn's World Series opponents, see Baker in action.
1958 Miami-Dade County Election: The Uncompleted Dream Season.
1958, the Red Sox enjoyed their best year in Boston going 71-87, 29 games ahead of the Yankees.
1958-1961. He had a .324 lifetime batting average, with a .731 OPS.
1961 became the last of the great Italian silversmithing craze.
1961 didn't go as smoothly for the Yankees as many expected.
1961 marked the first of six straight seasons that Bill involved himself in a World Series.
1961 was a watershed year for baseball at large. The arrival of Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the big leagues, changed all that.
1961 was a watershed year for baseball, and the world.
1962 saw the signing of Mickey Owen, a 6-feet-2 first baseman from Sioux City, Iowa.
1962 was a banner year for World War II, and baseball, as a sport, was at the height of the fight.
1968-14. The switch to the Pacific Coast League was a financial disaster for the Braves.
2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief work in relief, and a 3.27 ERA. That was his last year in professional baseball.
2 Harry Walker, "The Wartime," New York Times, May 4, 1942.
2 × 7 - In 1931, the Chicago White Sox (at the time called the American League) played a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics.
2, or "Sixty-Three," as they were known, when they were in the clubhouse.
2,500 fans packed the grand opening game in Cincinnati's Crosley Field, but it was a dud.
2. A "ghost" is someone who can neither hear nor see.
2. As for the Mets, they won the American League pennant, but lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2. But the Giants lost in extra innings. "We were strong in the bullpen," Hamilton said.
2. Failure to recognize the importance of control; failure to accept responsibility for oneself; and a refusal to accept responsibility for others.3.
2. For two years, the Pirates dominated National League pitching, finishing in third place in three seasons.
2. Hal Smith, "Catching the Giants." New York Times, May 4, 1947.3. Ibid.
2. He had the best glove man in the game, Joe DiMaggio.
2. He made the All-Star team in 1942 after losing a walk-off two-run homer to Ted Williams.
2. He pitched in the All-Star Game, again, for the United States.
2. He was a boom-bust pitcher, as he would be from 1940 through 1944.
2. He was a very good hitter with an excellent batting average and line drive hitterically.
2. He was born on November 28, 1920, in the sparsely populated central California town of Alameda.
2. He was not averse to taking a little extra on the road.
2. He was the first to use a revolving door at first base and became the first black player in the u.s. at the time.
2. I really liked those first days, even if I'm remembered for something that happened a long time ago.
2. In a game at Philadelphia on August 16, 1937, his right thumb was broken by a pitch from Charlie Root of the Philadelphia Athletics.
2. In the first inning, with the team down 4-0, Carl Reynolds hit a three-run home run off Bill Wight.
2. Installing the right equipment at the right time.
2. Manushka, 1935.3. The Sporting News, June 5, 1935, 7.4.
2. Myer, 2-0.5. Myer drew two walks, but the Yankees' Lee Walls shut them down.
2. On June 16, 1960, Mays became the seventh player in major-league history to be named to the all-star team.
2. Once he had taken the first no-hitter, the Tigers' lineup was set for the second game of the World Series.
2. Roberto Clemente, Brooklyn Dodgers, "The Yankee Clipper," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 21, 1961.
2. Showalter is a combination of a good hitter and a good fielder. He is also a good team man and a good citizen.
2. The 1949 season was the first in which the Yankees had a losing season.
2. The Athletics lost their first game at Yankee Stadium, 2-0, in Stengel's first start as the manager.
2. The Babe's Three Ls. After the world series, the Yankees and Red Sox met in Boston for the fourth game.
2. The Busch Bowl, Chicago, is an American League city's first great baseball stadium.
2. The Cubs were a mediocre team when they won the pennant in 1939. But they were the best team in baseball as late as 1933.
2. The Dodgers were headed into a slump and needed to win to close the gap.
2. The Giants (1957)'s first World Series, in Brooklyn, was a disappointment to the Yankees.
2. The Giants won their first World Series. But the Dodgers swept them in six games.
2. The Giants' best players were fading after a brutal 1953 season.
2. The Giants' great success in the 1960s was predicated on their ability to beat the Yankees and other American League teams.
2. The Giants' win was the first in a series of five straight games that the Dodgers won.
2. The Long Beach Boys, by Al Hirshberg. If you thought the great depression was bad, think again about these boys.
2. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the World Series in 1953, were a terrible bunch of losers that fall.
2. The Orioles went on to win the 1954 World Series, both games played in Baltimore.
2. The Pirates, along with the Lions of Detroit, defeated Cleveland and Cincinnati in a playoff for the pennant.
2. The Red Sox were an excellent team, but they didn't stop there. They acquired Al Kozar from the Dodgers.
2. The State—His Life and Times. By Howard G. Hughes. New York: Morrow, 1992. Print.
2. The Tigers, "Hard Luck Boys" (SABR, 2018), edited by Bill Nowlin and C. Paul Rogers III.
2. The Yankees. Staten, indeed, was an unusual bird-dog.
2. The death of his father, George Washington Grant, a surgeon by trade, had a profound effect on his outlook on life and his behavior.
2. The first baseman, with an assist on one ground-breaking play, became the game's premier defensive player.
2. The first thing he did was to analyze his own strengths and weaknesses.
2. The first time he pitched, Dickey was a relief pitcher.
2. The game of baseball is a drama. It is a competition between the mental and physical, the moral and legal.
2. The game was played in Washington's Griffith Stadium.
2. The job of the catcher is to stay in position and not be an impediment to the other runners.
2. The last time a pitcher pitched 200 innings in the major leagues, he/she reached the 20-win mark.
2. The name of the game was not chosen because the Indians were terrible during the streak, but because it was already plain Dizzy.
2. The real cause of his disfigurement was a ruptured disk. The doctor had removed the disk.
2. The season that appeared to be a repeat of the previous year was in fact a turning point in the Dodgers' season.
2. The third member of the 1946 AL All-Star squad, Dickey was a right-handed batter who batted .291/.
2. The umpire, Gene Mauch, made the call that saved McCosky's career.
2. The victory over the Yankees which gave the Red Sox a share of the lead and set the stage for the clinching play.
2. This is a list of all the home runs that Barry has hit at home, from 1926 through 1933.
2. To unionize the players and lower the playing field.
2. When did you first hear the name of the song? It was probably the first time you heard it.
2. World War II was in full swing, the result of which was the formation of the United States Navy.
2.0. The Yankees won the title, but lost the World Series to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
2.09 pct in his first year (1958), his career-best performance in aces.
2.1. "A Little Bit of Blue Cheese," The Sporting News, August 2, 1939.
2.1.3 The Dodgers' win in Boston was the last of three consecutive victories in the series.
2.1.3.3033 Jack was the youngest of four children born to Walter and Margaret (Greider) King.
2.10. That was the average run rate at the time of his capture, but it was an extremely volatile run rate.
2.2.1 The Tigers got off to a fast start in 1952 and were in first place for much of the summer.
2.26 billion people, or roughly the population of San Francisco.
2.5% of the national vote, for the pennant-winning Dodgers. The highest recorded vote was for 6.
2.5. The Giants' first victory over the Dodgers was the 1,000th game.
2.5. The strike zone, as depicted in the above-mentioned scouting reports, was a tad crowded in 1930.
2.5.3. The Yankees' offense stalled for five runs in the first inning, but rallied for six runs in the second.
2.5.5 Don Murphy, "The Boys of Summer," Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1966, 20.6 Murphy.
2.5.6.3, and he was called to an early grave at the age of thirty-six.
2.50% for the season, the highest in history, according to the SABR.
2.6 Eight-game winning streak as a starter, but he was hampered by a sore shoulder in the last two weeks.
2.6.3. The Giants' offense was flat in the first half, but the defense was sharp.
2.6.6.2. The Yankees' history and the Yankees' are intertwined.
2.63 Ranked in the top 100 in several offensive categories, including doubles (114), total bases (1,294), and average (.
2.7. In the ninth inning of the first game of a possible Sunday doubleheader in Chicago, the Cubs were leading 4-0.
2.7.3. The Giants' run to the 1952 season began with a 9-3 victory over the St.
2.8. The Cardinals lost the Series in seven games, but the series was closer in five games.
2.8.2. He put together a streak of .360 batting average and .344 on-base percentage (.
2.8.2.2 The Yankees' pennant-winning season of 1945 was no exception.
2.8.4. He was the subject of trade rumors throughout the 1950s.
2.9 million fans in attendance and a record breaking $2,287,168.13 These were the great days of the 1920s.
2.9% of the vote in the last two months of the season.
2/5/06 (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2/5/06): 22.3/5/06: 11.
20-12, 2.87 ERA, in 252⅔ innings, but he surrendered a career-worst 191 hits and 8 home runs.
20-year-old Joe Rosar was the Braves' regular catcher in 1948.
20-year-old outfielder Hunter Hayes was signed in the offseason by the Tigers for a roster spot in 1937.
20. And on a pitch that bears repeating, remember that the third pitch in the inning was the infamous "slip pitch.
20. John Ruark, "John and Jackie Robinson: Mad Men," Sports Illustrated, August 6, 1993, online archive.
20.1.19 In 1955, when the Reds were touring Japan, he and Ruth led a group of players on two Japan tours.
20.4% of the vote total, but a big landslide for him in the city of tens.
20.6% of his lifetime batting average, .304/.374/.484, and 48 homers in his first three years with the Browns.
20.7.1963-1962. These two games stand out for what they symbolized.
20.8% of the vote in the spring of 1949 was enough to put him over the top.
20.9% of the vote in the first round, followed by 16.8% in the second, and finally 20.
200-lb. hamstring sprain, suffered in a game against the Senators, kept him out for three weeks.
2009 American League All-Star Team Led by a team's batting average (.304) and on-base percentage (.
2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the first All-Star Game, held in conjunction with the Chicago White Sox.
2014 was the first full year in which the Yankees played in the World Series.
2067 was a banner year for the Braves. They won the first of their four consecutive World Series titles (the Indians took the next two).
20th-century big-league players had a hard time keeping up with the innovations of the game.
21. The White Sox had two outstanding pitchers with two more years of experience than Farrell, but both were in the prime of their careers.
21.40% of the votes cast in the General Election of 1935, the highest vote for a candidate by a third-place team.
21.5% ABV, a bit lower than the national average, was the norm in the late 1920s.
2121. Repealed by The Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
21st Century Wire, a digital magazine covering the news, sports, and culture from Chicago.
22 …3″, 185 pounds, and a left-handed batter. Jack went to a tryout with the St.
22) "The Longest Mile Ever Tied in a Football Frenzy," New York Times, April 25, 1936.
22) To The Wilkes-Barre Barons, where he met his future wife, Jean.
22-11, 3.49 ERA in 133 innings. In the World Series, he pitched in only two games and was a benchwarmer.
22-year-old Flint Tilson was the first African-American to play professional baseball in the United States.
22-year-old third baseman Jim Davenport, a good friend of Walker's, was named to the team.
22. "I'm going to die a happy man," he told a reporter.
22. At the time of his death, he was only the seventh player to appear in the majors.
22. In the first game he pitched, Araujo was the losing pitcher in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
22. In the spring of 1964, the Mets began the season in a familiar position, in fifth place.
22. The Giants were a good testing ground for Mr.
22. The Rubber Shop Boys, by John Wilson (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007), 26.23.
22. The White Sox had a veteran baseball team in 1950, but they were still as young as a team.
22.1% of the vote from the voters had a negative view of the club, compared with 8.5% for a positive view.
22.1% of the vote in the previous year were in favor of changing to the new system.
22.2% of the vote in his rookie year, he was named to the All-Star team for the only time in his career.
22.2% of the vote were for him, and he was elected to the Hall.
22.2.1. Etches. The etchings were performed by Bill Werle of the Associated Press.
22.3% of the vote, the best showing for the Yankees since 1918.
22.5% of the vote in the first week of September, the veteran outfielder was again named to the All-Star team.
22.5% of the vote, the highest ever for a vote in the series, gave the Yankees the flag.
22.6% of the vote, the highest of any pitcher who got 20 percent or more in the previous two seasons.
22.7.6. The year was 1937. That was the high point of the Yankees' season.
22.8 That was the highest true rate of 3.02 through the first seven years of the twenty-first century.
22.8.88. But the Pirates wanted to see if he had a future in the big leagues, and he was offered a contract.
22.9% of the vote, $156,000, in the summer of 1945, is a record for a first-place club.
223 (4-for-12) in 25 games, the Tigers finished in fourth place.Dobb had a few memorable games.
223. In the first three seasons, the Dodgers had a winning record.
23-10, 4.03 ERA in 195 innings, but he was not, in the eyes of Cleveland fans, a success.
24-10, 2.54 ERA in his first four starts. "I was a workhorse," he said.
24-year-old Molitor did not have the ingredients to be a big-league utility player.
24.1 The Cubs moved into first place in August, but the Cardinals went on a long winning streak to overtake.
24.3% owned by the Cleveland Indians in 1982, and by the Seattle Mariners in 2005, respectively.
24.3.3.3 After the All-Star break, he was the hottest pitcher in the majors, winning 15 of 16 decisions.
24.5. I've seen a guy come back from a bad break and he's really sharp.
24.8% of the vote in the summer of 1932, the highest ever for a rookie.
24.9% of Indians had a positive view of the Indians, but only 6.4% had a negative view.
25-inch-thick force plate, which he fashioned from some scrap metal.
25. "I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said.
25. "I'm the luckiest pitcher on the planet," he said in 1989.
25. Al Todd, "Pitcher Dies of Bronchitis," The Sporting News, December 24, 1941: 14.
25.8% of his plate appearances in 1957 were for 20 home runs and 81 runs batted in.
26.5% ABV and only 2,000 bottles; the most expensive in the history of the company, at $5,000.
268 in 26 games, not exactly a Hall of Famer, for a team that was trying to win the pennant and the World Series.
27 in. x 79 in. (406 x 292 mm) Clearance at the time was limited to only a few of the major league clubs.
27. He batted .265 with 12 home runs and 65 runs batted in as the Cardinals won the pennant.
27. He was the first player to hit 20 or more homers in a season for the Washington Senators.
27. In the first inning of the game, he struck out. The Tigers scored four runs in the third inning to win the game.
27. The first was named after the first president, Dwight Eisenhower. The second was named after the second president, Franklin Pierce.
27. The summer after he graduated from high school, he joined the Yankees' farm club at Fort Lauderdale.
27.2 The first night game in the big leagues was played on October 4, 1906, and it was referred to as "The Night.
27.3(a)-1. Among the errors by the White Sox in Philadelphia on April 27, two were charged to the catcher.
27.5% of all votes cast in the first four contests. (2) The Minnesota Twins, led by general manager John P.
27.5.8. He was never more effective, and his teammates loved him for it.
27.7.1939 The pennant race came down to a final day at Yankee Stadium.
2700 blocks with a .367 batting average, a .694 OPS, and a .955 OPS.
273 in 66 games. The Yankees' slugging percentage was .516, and his 29 home runs tied a major-league record.
28 Grady, "Kiki To Play in Opening Day," Chicago Tribune, April 2, 1949.
28) On a 1-0 count, he was beaned on a pitch from the Senators' Al Kaline.
28-year-old outfielder Jim Davenport, a right-handed batter, hit .
28-year-old pitcher Eddie Lopat joined the club in September and worked exclusively in relief the rest of the season.
28. The Indians' lead over the Yankees in the American League race narrowed to one game at the All-Star break.
28.2% of the vote from the Rotarians, the highest vote percentage for a club in the history of the game, as of 2013.
28.3.2. The Yankees lost the Series in six games over the Red Sox, and then lost the Series in seven games over Cleveland.
28.4% of the vote in the first-in-the-nation primary was enough to put him over the top.
28.5% of Florida's 17,000 residents voted to become naturalized as US citizens.
28.8 percent of the vote in the California primary, but the President was declared the winner by an 8-to-1 margin.
28.8 percent of the vote in the first three contests.
28.9% of the general population rate, exceeding the reserve requirement of 25.0% for the National Football League.
280. This is the average number of runs scored by a pitcher in a season in the major leagues.
29. A few days after the '65 World Series, Rick was a guest on the CBS television program Game of Their Lives.
29. The All-Star Game in Chicago. The White Sox took both games, which the AL won by a 3-2 score.
29. The Braves' victory in Game Four of the World Series marked the first time in seven seasons that the National League swept a Series.
29. The Sporting News, July 1, 1952.30. The Sporting News, May 29, 1952.
29.1 percent of the vote. In the fall, the Braves lost the pennant and the World Series to the Yankees.
29.1. The report of the investigation was made publicly available by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the summer of 1961.
29.1.3. The Yankees' victory was the result of their fifth consecutive win over the Tigers.
29.3% of the vote, the highest ever for a pitcher on the ballot.
29.5% ABV, made with a European malted barley wine yeast.
29.9% of the vote - The Sporting News, May 31, 1950.
2:42pm: The Yankees' decision to send him to the Giants was based on his .
3 of 3 In 1943, the Braves led the National League in fielding percentage .738.
3-1. For the next ten innings, the Pirates trailed the Giants 4-1 before scoring two runs.
3-2 and the Yankees went on to win the World Series.
3. "The Whiz Kids' First Fan," New York Times, February 2, 1954, 15.4.
3. A feeling of dread and loathing. This is the first indication of a generic feeling of unease.
3. Bobby Brown, the Yankees' All-Star second baseman, batted .350, belatedly the team's best season (.
3. But in the spring of 1938, a change in the circumstances forced him to change his mind.
3. Had he been a starting pitcher, he could have had a Hall of Fame career.
3. He did not like being limited to first base. He said, "I've learned to play first base and outfield.
3. He triples and doubles to lead the league, and he's hitting .288 with 11 home runs and 70 runs batted in.
3. He was a good, but hardly perfect, hitter, with a batting average of .294 and a few home runs but little else.
3. He was one of the most popular players ever to play the game. (There are no statistics to back this claim.
3. He was secretly married to the former Helen Farrell, a New York girl from the Lower East Side.
3. He was the second youngest player on the club. After 20 years in the big leagues, he was still a young man.
3. Herb Score, San Francisco Giants, "My Back Hurts. And Then It Hurts.
3. His father was a butcher who did the cutting, which was then done at the butcher shop by his mother.
3. In his second start, on April 10, he threw a 12th inning two-hitter to beat the Washington Senators.
3. In the spring of 1963, the Mets hired a major league coach, Joe Gordon, to work with them.
3. It was the first time in major-league history that a pitcher threw three no-hitters in a year.
3. Kawasaki's success in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers stands as the blueprint for future Yankees.
3. Lohrke's performance set the tone for his career.
3. Nellie Fox, Detroit Tigers (1951-1952): The Team that Couldn't Hit, p. 151.
3. Pettine was a good boss. He was a good judge of talent.
3. That was the year Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the major leagues.
3. The 16-game winning streak ended in a playoff with the Cubs; the Cubs lost all four games.
3. The Braves made the All-Star team in 1949, followed by three games by the Yankees in 1950.
3. The Bronx Bombers: The World Champion Losers' Club, May 15, 1974.
3. The Cincinnati Reds were the National League's first great non-winning team.
3. The Dodgers and the Giants went to the World Series, and Game Six was played in Los Angeles.
3. The Dodgers won the pennant with a stunning pitching performance by the last-place Giants.
3. The Dodgers won the pennant with more than half the teams. It was the year the Brooklyn Dodgers wrote their names in history.
3. The Dodgers' home had a fine dugout, but not enough to turn the tables.
3. The Giants' "Super Friends," New York Times, May 31, 1958, 29.4.
3. The Giants' victory in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers was thus largely due to Byner's two shutouts.
3. The Milwaukee Braves, in 1917, had made a significant improvement over the Chicago Cubs in the following season.
3. The Nats took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning in Game Four.
3. The Rays made the World Series for the fourth time in five tries in 1953. But they fell to the Yankees in seven games.
3. The Reds' ownership changed dramatically in 1962.
3. The Tigers won the 1954 World Series, but the Dodgers took home their only championship in 1955.
3. The Yankees met St. Louis in the World Series, a game won by the Cardinals. After the Series, St.
3. The Yankees were not the only ones who were looking forward to the 1947 season.
3. The Yankees won the World Series, but the Dodgers lost to the New York Giants in six games.
3. The Yankees' victory over the Red Sox in the 1951 World Series marked the last time the Tigers lost to the Yankees.
3. The Yankees, .263. In mid-July, the Yankees swept to the American League pennant by nine games.
3. The boy was born on August 25, 1920, in the Bronx and grew up with an unspectacular childhood.
3. The following year, 1932, he compiled a 41-17 record and a 2.69 ERA in 234 innings.
3. The life of a professional baseball player is not an easy life.
3. The moundsmen, who were not just talented but also hard-headed, did not take themselves too seriously.
3. There were fewer than 100 players in the big leagues in 1940, compared with more than 200 in 1939.
3. There were three Blue Jackets on the team at the time; Gene Mauch, Don Schultz, and George Culberson.
3. Wagner "This is the greatest city in the greatest country in the most of the world.
3. We have had enough. We must assume that at least one team will be contending for the pennant in 1950.
3. When he won his first game in 1937, the first game he pitched for Pittsburgh was against the St.
3. Whiz Kids, The Rise of the Whiz Kids, edited by Peter C. Davis and C. Paul Rogers III.
3.0. However, the White Sox also lost a World Series to the Yankees in 1953.
3.12.1. In the 1940s, such acquisitions were not unusual.
3.16 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
3.2.8 The Reds were eliminated in the World Series. Their opponent was the Yankees, who swept the New York Giants.
3.3.3.1 When the Cubs won the pennant in 1950, they were joined by the Yankees.
3.3.5.3 The Yankees threatened in the ninth, setting up a two-run lead that they eventually won, 6-5.
3.3.8 I was not the only one who thought that his father was not a very good person.
3.3Cards vs. Tigers, 1926. The Detroit Tigers had won the 1927 World Series, 4-1, over the St.
3.5.1.1. The left-handed-throwing ability of the young pitcher was evident at the plate.
3.9 I have a firm belief that the Negroes are not as equal as they think they are.
3.9"Braves' manager Frankie Frisch was the big attraction at the 1939 All-Star Game.
3.9. The Giants' opening game series with the Dodgers was a rematch of the three games that transpired in the same park in 1932.
30 April 1967: The Oakland A's announce the signing of Maris and him to a minor-league contract.
30 J.L. Taylor, "Penelope R. Taylor," in HOF File, National Baseball Hall of Fame.
30-year-old career major-league outfielder, he was moved to left field to start the season. The shift paid immediate dividends.
30-year-old standout outfielder George Kell was the club's regular catcher, but had to settle for a backup role.
30. (9) Joe DiMaggio had a .330 batting average, but his OBP was only .323.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers, "The Ballplayer Nobody Wanted," New York Times, August 21, 1989.
30. Lou Brissie, "Chinaman," Baseball Digest, March 1965. Ibid.
30. Turner, "The One Show," New York Times, January 30, 1945: 40.
30.3.2 The Reds played at Yankee Stadium for the third time in 1932, with the two teams meeting in the World Series.
30.4% of the vote was required for the seat to be filled, and he was sworn in as a delegate to the National Convention.
30.6 percent of the vote, which would have been a symbolic highwater mark for the Greens, gave him the nomination.
30.8% ABV, and it was unique among the American craft breweries, because it was made with a mixture of sugar and corn alcohol.
300 Batting Average in 1948, He Hit 9 Home Runs with a .467 Slugging Percentage and .567 OPS.
300 to 400. Everybody was in the 300s. We went to Dodger Stadium, which was about a 45-minute train ride from downtown.
300,000 fans turned out for the 1962 All-Star Game held at Yankee Stadium.
300-pound, 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, Chico was a good hitter, but never developed a swing.
302. "I took a dip in the pool one day and fell in.
304/.378/.478. Noreen Johns was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 4, 1905.
30th place, 8.42 ERA, and tied for the lowest ERA in the majors, 2.86.
31-year-old Garcia was acquired from the Indians at the trade deadline in the hopes he would be able to help the club.
31-year-old rookie outfielder Don Mueller was the big news of the show.
31. The following job was offered to him by the Yankees' minor-league director, Jack Lestrange.
32. The Dodgers won the National League pennant in 1939. Bobby Thomson hit .317 with 32 home runs and won the All-Star Game.
32.3.11. The Yankees had won the American League pennant, and they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.
33 %, a career high, and also led the league with seven triples.
33.2 percent of the vote, almost 23 times the number needed to win the starting job.
333 "The World's Most Courageous," Boston Herald, August 17, 1958, 6.
34-year-old Smith was a center fielder for the Pirates in 1950 and 1951.
344 in the month of August, the Red Sox struggled all season.
36.5% of the time, the White Sox were shutouts, with the White Sox pitchers going 9-0.
37.5% of the vote in the first season of the Double-A Pacific Coast League, and 8.7% in the second.
38. Appling, "The Bell Rings," (SABR, 2018), 4-5.39.
39-6, 2.76 ERA. The Browns and Yankees split the season series.
3rd ed. Washington : Brassey's, 2000, pp. 101-102.
4 Thesz Biederman, "The Big Night – Charlie Keller," The Sporting News, November 18, 1942: 20.
4-F. Under the rules of Civil Service, the player could not play on the furlough team.
4. A description of Aerosmith's first-ever performance at Boston's Fenway Park on April 29, 1956.
4. A.L. pitchers had the highest strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors.
4. All of his teammates had even better days, and he had a fine year at the plate.
4. Burdette, who was 3-6 in his career, also had a 4.05 ERA in his first year with the Tigers.
4. Byrd's pitching record was 9-9 with a 3.82 ERA in 413 innings for the season.
4. Do you think that you are the best pitcher in the league?" Jackie was silent.
4. For the full year, he batted .306 with 11 home runs and 74 runs batted in.
4. In 1938, with the Cardinals' season in full swing, Leo Durocher took over the reins of the team.
4. In his first eight seasons, he batted better than .300, more than anyone else on the team.
4. In the inter-divisional playoffs, five clubs matched up against the New York Yankees in a postseason series.
4. In the second inning Rock Hill drove in the game's first run.
4. It was the Bucs' first home victory in more than a month. The Giants had pounded second-place St.
4. Kershaw's record, 2-2, was the worst of his career.