I did what any American could and should do: serve his country in its time of need.

Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but DiMaggio was the greatest all around player.

Baseball in the Navy always was much more fun than it had been in the major leagues.

I'm no hero. Heroes don't come back. Survivors return home. Heroes never come home. If anyone thinks I'm a hero, I'm not.

Trying to sneak a fastball by Ted Williams was like trying to sneak a sunbeam by a rooster in the morning.

I try to be a good human being and keep up with what's going on in the world by reading and staying in touch with the current events.

I don't think baseball owes colored people anything. I don't think colored people owe baseball anything, either.