I always loved the game, but when my legs weren't hurting it was a lot easier to love.

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.

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

The only thing I can do is play baseball. I have to play ball. It's the only thing I know.

It was all I lived for, to play baseball.

If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself. -Mickey Mantle.