Quotes by Mickey Mantle

“A team is where a boy can prove his courage on his own. A gang is where a coward goes to hide.”

“If I knew I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself.”

“After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases.”

“When I hit a home run I usually didn't care where it went. So long as it was a home run was all that mattered.”

“I'll play baseball for the Army or fight for it, whatever they want me to do.”

“Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said "sure, every time".”

“I feel better than I have in years—no leg problems at all. But if I'm to get three more home runs, I'm afraid I'll have to get them right-handed. I don't know what's the matter. I've lost my confid...”

“When you reach the major leagues, it's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life.”

“He was like a father to me, and I mean that. My dad died after I had been with the Yankees a year and I guess Casey felt it was up to him to bring me up right. He kept me when I wasn't ready for th...”

“I figured that once I got past 40, that was all behind me. If I knew that I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.”

“That horse had better win. I saw George get on the plane with an automatic.”

“Later on they tend to get longer than they really were.”

“No one hit the ball harder than Frank Howard. He was the strongest I ever saw. I saw him hit a line drive off Whitey Ford at the stadium that Whitey actually jumped for, it was hit that low. It end...”

“I'd never show up a pitcher by standing in the batters box and watching how far the ball goes like a lot of players do now. But it made me feel good to know I could hit a ball longer than anyone el...”

“If we were choosing sides and every player was in the pool, my first pick would be Whitey Ford and my second would be Ted Williams. Beyond that there would be just too many and I'd be afraid of lea...”

“That would be Sandy Koufax, even though he was in the National League and I didn't have to face him very much. Among American League lefties I'd have to pick Herb Score before he got hurt. From the...”

“The most underrated guy is the one who will do absolutely anything to win a game. The two who come to mind immediately are Billy Martin and Pete Rose.”

“He who has the fastest golf cart never has a bad lie.”

“It was a Sunday doubleheader in Cleveland. Mickey's on third base, and they hit a ball to medium right field to me. I would get back on a ball like that, and then I'd come in and take it on the run...”

“That's the hardest I've ever seen anyone hit a ball. Jimmy Foxx. Ruth, anybody. I don't believe a man can hit a ball harder.”