When I was in Birmingham I used to go to a place called Redwood Field. I used to get there for a two o'clock game. Where can you make this kind of money playing sports? It was just a pleasure to go out and enjoy myself and get paid for it.

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

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.

I played with the Birmingham Black Barons. I was making 500 at 14. That was a lot of money in those days.

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.