What you are thinking, what shape your mind is in, is what makes the biggest difference of all.

One of the hardest parts of practice is the criticism a player takes from his coaches. Some players think a coach has it in for them when a flaw in style is pointed out ... I know that when things start going wrong, for one, I get the coach to keep his eye on me to see what I'm suddenly doing wrong. I can't see it or I wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

When I got to professional ball I used to play 150 games every year. It depends on how many games there was.

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

In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated.

I remember the last season I played. I went home after a ballgame one day, lay down on my bed, and tears came to my eyes. How can you explain that? It's like crying for your mother after she's gone. You cry because you love her. I cried, I guess, because I loved baseball, and I knew I had to leave it.

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