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.

It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What is tough, is being good every day.

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

Maybe I was born to play ball. Maybe I truly was.

I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I played with, and I never felt comfortable, when I grew up, telling other people how to act

I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.

I don't rate them, I just hit them.