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

I've been called one of the hardest bargainers who ever held out, and I'm proud of it.

I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me, but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch.

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've got to be first. ALL the time.

The first time I faced him I watched him take that easy windup and then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him... Every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park.

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