He foresaw the platooning that managers like Casey Stengel used years before it happened. He told me I had to be a switch-hitter if I was going to play.
The only thing I can do is play baseball. I have to play ball. It’s the only thing I know.
I hated to bat against Drysdale. After he hit you he’d come around, look at the bruise on your arm and say, ‘Do you want me to sign it?’
Roger Maris was as good a man and as good a ballplayer as there ever was.
Today’s Little Leaguers, and there are millions of them each year, pick up how to hit and throw and field just by watching games on TV. By the time they’re out of high school, the good ones are almost ready to play professional ball.
Casey wanted us to stay loose. That didn’t mean clowning around. He just meant we should be confident and relaxed. We shouldn’t feel that one strikeout was going to end the season for us.
My views are just about the same as Casey’s.
The best team I ever saw, and I really mean this, was the ’61 Yankees.
It was the single greatest feat I ever saw.
Well, I beat my man. Now it’s up to you to beat yours.
The greatest thing I ever saw was Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth’s record.
Hey Yog, what time is it? You mean right now?
He said to play louder. He can’t hear you.
Hey man! Get away from me!
This year I’d rather lead the league in home runs, runs batted in and hitting.
Watch the old man. Watch how the old man keeps the guys who aren’t playing happy.
Billy copied Casey to a ‘T.’
There were things that would irritate Casey, but trying too hard or getting mad at sitting on the bench weren’t among them.
Casey didn’t easily forgive a guy who got doubled up on a hit-and-run play. He didn’t see any reason why the runner couldn’t take a quick glance back toward the plate to make sure the ball was hit safely.
Butcher boy, damn it, butcher boy.
As far as I’m concerned, Aaron is the best ball player of my era. He is to baseball of the last fifteen years what Joe DiMaggio was before him. He’s never received the credit he’s due.