People try to make a Greek tragedy of my life, and they can't do it. I'm too happy.

I was told by the general manager that a white player had received a higher raise than me. Because white people required more money to live than black people. That is why I wasn't going to get a raise.

And I'd be lying if I told you that as a black man in baseball I hadn't gone through worse times than my teammates.

I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame.

There is no such thing as bragging. You're either lying or telling the truth.

I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame. But when you weigh that against all the things that are really and truly important, things that are deep inside you, then I think I've succeeded.

The baseball establishment is permissive about revelry.