Don't come home a failure.

I never could stand losing. Second place didn't interest me. I had a fire in my belly.

When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch.

The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault.

I regret to this day that I never went to college. I feel I should have been a doctor.

The best recommendation for an umpire in the old days was: "He licked somebody in the Three-I League. He ought to do.

He batted against spitballs, shineballs, emeryballs and all the other trick deliveries. He never figured anything out or studied anything with the same scientific approach I gave it. He just swung. If he'd ever had any knowledge of batting, his average would have been phenomenal. ... he seemed content to just punch the ball, and I can still see those line drives whistling to the far precincts. Joe Jackson hit the ball harder than any man ever to play baseball.