Baseball is a game, yes. It is also a business. But what is most truly is is disguised combat. For all its gentility, its almost leisurely pace, baseball is violence under wraps.

I'm not the type of guy to go out and just say, 'Hey, I'm raising my fist to do this and do that.' I don't think I'm that type of guy. I wasn't a leader the way other people may have wanted me to be.

When I'm not hitting, I don't hit nobody. But, when I'm hitting, I hit anybody.

Yes, I had to learn how to live life outside, but I had so many people help me.

Every time I look at my pocketbook, I see Jackie Robinson.

Never assume the other guy will never do something you would never do.

If you can do that - if you run, hit, run the bases, hit with power, field, throw and do all other things that are part of the game - then you're a good ballplayer.