It's a business. If I could make more money down in the zinc mines I'd be mining zinc.

Now they talk on the radio about the record set by (Babe) Ruth, and (Joe) DiMaggio and Henry Aaron. But they rarely mention mine. Do you know what I have to show for the sixty-one home runs? Nothing, exactly nothing.

It's like obituaries, when you die they finally give you good reviews.

I feel that I was a good all-around player, I had good speed, a good arm and could play the outfield.

I don't want to be Babe Ruth. He was a great ballplayer. I'm not trying to replace him. The record is there and damn right I want to break it, but that isn't replacing Babe Ruth.

Maybe I'm not a great man but I damn well want to break the record.

I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City.