If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.
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.
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.
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 want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give.
I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player.
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.
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.
Brooklyn was a famous team. I wanted to play for the Dodgers.
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.
To the people here, we are outsiders. Foreigners.
The first day that I get to Fort Myers, there was a newspaper down there. The newspaper said, 'Puerto Rican hot dog arrives in town.'
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 more valuable to my team hitting .330 then swinging for home runs.
But some people act like they think I live in the jungle someplace.
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.
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.
I couldn't ask for better teammates, and the Pirate fans are the greatest in baseball.
I was born to play baseball.
