Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead.

I guess you'd call me an independent, since I've never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label.

It's not easy to be a martyr in the field of race relations.

I ought to break this trophy into 32 pieces

The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.

If I had to choose between baseball’s Hall of Fame and first class citizenship for all of my people. I would say first-class citizenship.

You're going to be a great player, kid.