A lot of people think I had such a rosy career, but I wanted to identify that one of the things that helps you have a long career is learning how to deal with adversity, how to get past it. Once I learned how to get through that, others things didn't seem so hard.

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.

There is somebody in our lives that we could call the Energizer Bunny and we admire for those qualities.

My approach to every game was to try to erase the games that were before and try to focus on the game at hand.

I think Nick Markakis is a perennial All-Star, and nobody knows about him. I think people are learning about how good he is.

Each and every day had its challenges.

I take pride in the fact that you are able to make some good contributions to the sport at certain times.