I kept thinking, 'this must be the coolest job - I'd like to be a professional baseball player.' They were getting paid to play a game, and what a cool lifestyle that was.

I love baseball. The game allowed me the influence to impact kids in a positive way. This gives me a chance to talk to some social issues.

You could be a kid for as long as you want when you play baseball.

If you really think about it, the stadium can't last forever. There is going to have to come a time when it replaces.

Whether your name is (Lou) Gehrig or (Cal) Ripken, (Joe) DiMaggio or (Jackie) Robinson, or that of some youngster who picks up his bat or puts on his glove, you are challenged by the game of baseball to do your very best day in and day out. That's all I've ever tried to do.

Get in the game. Do the best you can. Try to make a contribution. Learn from today. Apply it to tomorrow.

By far, the best moment of my big league career was when I caught the last out at the World Series.