Always wanted to be a Major League player. Loved baseball. Followed it. Loved to play. Plus, I could always hit.

Used to be bats had thick handles and a big barrel. Then they found it's not the size of the bat that gets home runs - it's the speed with which you can swing it.

Back in my day, we didn't think about money as much. We enjoyed playing the game. We loved baseball. I didn't think about anybody else but the Cardinals.

I started to crouch because that way I could guard the plate better, and I always wanted to hit .300 in the big leagues.

I never realized that batting a little ball around could cause so much commotion. I now know how (Charles) Lindbergh must have felt when he returned from St. Louis.

There was never a day when I was as good as Joe DiMaggio at his best. Joe was the best, the very best I ever saw.

The first principle of contract negotiations is don't remind them of what you did in the past - tell them what you're going to do in the future.