One time in spring training, we had the hit-and-run on, and Carl Erskine threw me a curve and I struck out into a double play. I came back to the bench and Casey [Stengel] said, 'next time, tra-la-la.' I didn't know what tra-la-la meant, but next time up, I hit a line drive, right into a double play. When I sat down, Casey came over and said, 'Like I told you, tra-la-la.'

We need three kinds of pitching: left-handed, right-handed and relief.

I'd rather go fishing for three years.

What counts aren't the number of double plays, but the ones you should have had and missed.

The way we have been playing, I might tell my players not to cross the picket line (umpire strike of 1979).

We need just two players to be a contender. Babe Ruth and Sandy Koufax.

The only thing bad about winning the pennant is that you have to manage the All-Star Game the next year. I'd rather go fishing for three years.