I was lucky enough to have the talent to play baseball. That's how I treated my career. I didn't think I was anybody special, anybody different.

Red Sox versus Yankees is the greatest rivalry in sports.

And if I have my choice between a pennant and a triple crown, I'll take the pennant every time.

I came to love Fenway. It was a place that rejuvenated me after a road trip; the fans right on top of you, the nutty angles. And the Wall. That was my baby, the left-field wall, the Green Monster.

I loved the game - I loved the competition. But I never had any fun. All hard work - all the time.

I think about baseball when I wake up in the morning. I think about it all day and I dream about it at night. The only time I don't think about it is when I'm playing it.

This is a strange game.