
Nobody does anything better than me in baseball (said before the 1971 World Series).

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a baseball player. This is something I think about. The more I think about it, I'm convinced that God wanted me to play baseball.

I would be lost without baseball. I don't think I could stand being away from it as long as I was alive.

If I would be happy, I would be a very bad ball player. With me, when I get mad, it puts energy in my body.

A country without idols is nothing.

When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth.

There's no difference between me and you. You need something, a glove, a place to live, you let me know.

Why does everyone talk about the past? All that counts is tomorrow's game.

In a way, I was born twice. I was born in 1934 and again in 1955 when I came to Pittsburgh. I am thankful to say that I lived two lives.

A nation without heroes is nothing.

I wasn't ready for the majors when I joined the Pirates in 1955. I was too young and didn't know my way around.

The Dodgers told me a big bonus was no good, and they said other players would resent it. Better for me to take a small amount of money and work my way.

I used to watch Monte Irvin play when I was a kid. I idolized him. I used to wait in front of the ballpark just for him to pass by so I could see him.

I would like to get 3,000 hits.

After I failed to win the Most Valuable Player Award in 1960, I made up my mind I'd win the batting title in 1961 for the first time.

I am more valuable to my team hitting .330 then swinging for home runs.

I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to play many hours every day.

Baseball has been very good to me.

But some people act like they think I live in the jungle someplace.

I was born to play baseball.

Look at my skin - I am not of the white people.

They said you'd really have to be something to be like Babe Ruth. But Babe Ruth was an American player. What we needed was a Puerto Rican player they could say that about, someone to look up to and try to equal.

It's not a bad ball if I can hit it.

Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball.

Brooklyn was a famous team. I wanted to play for the Dodgers.

My mother has the same kind of an arm, even today at 74. She could throw a ball from second base to home plate with something on it. I got my arm from my mother.

I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player.

I couldn't ask for better teammates, and the Pirate fans are the greatest in baseball.

To the people here, we are outsiders. Foreigners.

The farther away you writers stay, the better I like it. You know why? Because you're trying to create a bad image of me... you do it because I'm black and Puerto Rican, but I'm proud to be Puerto Rican.