When I Played Ball, I Didn't Play

I Never Could Stand Losing. Second Place Didn't Interest Me. I Had A Fire In My Belly.

The First Time I Faced Him I Watched Him Take That Easy Windup And Then Something Went Past Me That Made Me Flinch. The Thing Just Hissed With Danger. We Couldn't Touch Him... Every One Of Us Knew We'd Met The Most Powerful Arm Ever Turned Loose In A Ball Park.

The Base Paths Belonged To Me, The Runner. The Rules Gave Me The Right. I Always Went Into A Bag Full Speed, Feet First. I Had Sharp Spikes On My Shoes. If The Baseman Stood Where He Had No Business To Be And Got Hurt, That Was His Fault.

When I Came To Detroit I Was Just A Mild-mannered Sunday-school Boy.

I Have Observed That Baseball Is Not Unlike War, And When You Get Right Down To It, We Batters Are The Heavy Artillery.