You could be in the worst mood ever and all you had to do was hear Kirby laugh or see his smile and he could bring you back.

You don't project yourself in the Hall of Fame as a player. It's only during that five-year period where people start asking about it, and it doesn't seem real until it happens.

You could be a kid for as long as you want when you play baseball.

I never set out to do this; I never set out to say, 'Can I break this record?' Then all of a sudden, the preparations made for the celebration put pressure on me. I said, 'Okay, I have to get there.' After 2,130, there was sort of a realization it was a foregone conclusion you're going to play tomorrow.

Everywhere you go around the country, people relate to the consecutive games steak in one shape or form, whether it's school or how they approach their job. I'm still pretty amazed that it became a symbol. I didn't think it was that big a deal.

You could be in the worst mood ever and all you had to do was see Kirby smile or hear him laugh. And he'd bring you back.