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. |
Every time I look at my pocketbook, I see Jackie Robinson. |
Hopefully, they can say, "There goes the best baseball player in the world." I honestly believe I did everything in baseball that a baseball player can do, and I did it with love. |
How old does he think I am? |
I don't compare 'em, I just catch 'em. |
I don't compare 'em, I just catch 'em. |
I remember that 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? You cry because you love her. I cried, I guess, because I loved baseball and I knew I had to leave it. |
I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw. |
I wanted badly to play and coach (Mike) Goldschmidt gave me that opportunity. My best friend came up here and told me about the program. I want to be drafted after this season. Ultimately, I want to play pro baseball and meet Willie Mays in person. |
I will go to a couple of guys if I feel they want help, but I don't like to go to guys when I feel I'm going to be rejected. Any ballplayer, if he ever came up to me and wanted me to help him, I would be there regardless of who he may be. |
If people want to say Barry is No. 1, they won't get an argument from me. As long as I get to be No. 2. |
If you can do that - if you run, hit, run the bases, hit with power, field, throw and do all other things that are part of the game - then you're a good ballplayer. |
In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept destructive criticism. Without 100 percent dedication, you won't be able to do this. |
It was all I could do to not scream. If they were closer they may have seen my eyes tearing up. Man, that hurt. |
It's not hard. When I'm not hitting, I don't hit nobody. But when I'm hitting, I hit anybody. |