Top 40 Quotes That Every Baseball Player Needs to Hear

by Ryan Weiss November 17, 2021

We all need some motivation and inspiration when we are under high pressure or stress. As baseball players, we have some talented predecessors that have left behind great pieces of wisdom when we feel we need it most.

Having a list of go-to quotes can help you refocus on your goals and ease your mind before a big game. They can even become your mantra before coming up to bat or pitch. But, of course, when we think of quotes, we immediately think of our favorite actors in movies. So why not start with some of the most famous quotes from a few well-known baseball movies.

Quotes from Baseball Movies

“Juuuussssst a bit outside.” -Major League (1989)
“Today, I consider myself the luckiest man ... on the face of the earth.” -The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
“There’s no crying in baseball!” -A League of Their Own (1992)
“How can you not be romantic about baseball?” -Moneyball (2011)

Quotes from Players in the Baseball Hall of Fame

Baseball movies are almost as incredible as the all-American pastime. Who better, then, to get advice from than players who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame? These players played a good game, to say the least, and earned their recognitions throughout history. Here are a few key quotes I found for you.

5. “It was all I lived for, to play baseball.” – Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees Center Fielder (Hall of Fame, 1974)

6. “Close doesn’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.”-Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds Right Fielder (Hall of Fame, 1982)

7. “You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too.”-Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers Catcher (Hall of Fame,1969)

8. “There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time; I owe him my best.”-Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees Center Fielder (Hall of Fame, 1955)

9. “If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game.”-Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics Left Fielder (Hall of Fame, 2009)

10. “The ballplayer who loses his head, who can’t keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all.”-Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees 1st Baseman (Hall of Fame, 1939)

Quotes from Tommy Lasorda

Thomas Charles Lasorda was a role model to many within the baseball world. Lasorda was a military man, but his life was baseball. He played for the minor leagues a few years before making his Major League Baseball debut with the Dodgers. Upon retiring, Lasorda became the manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Upon retirement, he even managed the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team in Sydney. His passing earlier this year hit many of us hard because many teams and their players have felt his influence.

11. “Baseball is like driving; it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”-Tommy Lasorda

12. “There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”-Tommy Lasorda

13. “Guys, ask me, don’t I get burned out? How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever got tired of kissing a pretty girl?”-Tommy Lasorda

14. “About the only problem with success is that it does not teach you how to deal with failure.”-Tommy Lasorda

15. “Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands before too long, you’re up in the stands with them.”-Tommy Lasorda

Yogi Berra

Whether you call them Yogi-isms or Berra-isms, Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra, New York Yankees Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher (1972), has some of the best one-liners in baseball history. Even though he was inducted as a catcher, he could hit anything thrown at him. Yogi caused fear when it was his turn to bat. Even though it’s rumored that he never actually said all of the quotes he’s credited for, they have all been associated with Yogi throughout the years because they fit his personality so well. Here are some of my favorites to keep in mind when contemplating your baseball dilemma.

16. “It ain’t over till it’s over!”-Yogi Berra

17. “It ain’t like football. You can’t make up no trick plays.”-Yogi Berra

18. “Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.”-Yogi Berra

19. “Think! How the hell are you gonna think and hit at the same time?”-Yogi Berra

And my favorite that will always remind me why I love baseball as much as I do in the first place:

20. “It’s fun; baseball is fun.”-Yogi Berra

Babe Ruth

As one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, George Herman Ruth has one of the most memorable careers in baseball history. With all the specialized workout programs available now, it’s surprising to think about how his workouts were chopping wood. Babe Ruth was a member of three World Series Championship teams and got a chance to play alongside other Hall of Famers who left behind a legacy to admire. His passion for baseball is inspiring, so how could I not feature his famous words.

21. “All ballplayers should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill.”-Babe Ruth

22. “Baseball is the greatest game in the world and deserves the best you can give it.”-Babe Ruth

23. “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”-Babe Ruth

24. “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”-Babe Ruth

And for when you have a little plate-fright:

25. “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”-Babe Ruth

Jackie Robinson

I know I already gave you the top 25 quotes I promised, but I couldn’t resist talking about Jackie Robinson. Jack Roosevelt Robinson was the historical step toward inclusion in the MLB. He was the first African-American baseball player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His number, 42, has even been retired by the MLB from every major league team in his honor. Jackie was more than just a good baseball player; he was an activist that consistently fought against segregation outside the diamond.

26. “Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he’s losing; nobody wants you to quit when you’re ahead.”-Jackie Robinson

27. “The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.”-Jackie Robinson

28. “How you played in yesterday’s game is all that counts.”-Jackie Robinson

29. “It kills me to lose. If I’m a troublemaker, and I don’t think that my temper makes me one, then it’s because I can’t stand losing. That’s the way I am about winning; all I ever wanted to do was finish first.”-Jackie Robinson

30. “When I am playing baseball, I give it all that I have on the ball field. When the ball game is over, I certainly don’t take it home. My little girl who is sitting out there wouldn’t know the difference between a third strike and a foul ball. We don’t talk about baseball at home.”-Jackie Robinson

Bonus Quotes

Before you hit the gym for your next workout, here are some honorable mentions from players, broadcasters, and baseball movies that I think deserve consideration for a spot on your list. Warning, not all of these will be motivational, but they’re a good laugh.

31. “Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.”-Ty Cobb, Detroit Tiger Center Fielder (Hall of Fame, 1936)

32. “The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three-run homers.”-Earl Weaver, Baltimore Orioles Manager (Hall of Fame, 1996)

33. “Playing baseball for a living is like having a license to steal.”-Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds Manager

34. “Baseball is dull only to dull minds.”-Red Barber, Broadcaster

35. “Man, This Is Baseball, You Gotta Stop Thinking.”-The Sandlot (1993)

36. “Everybody Gets One Chance To Do Something Great. Most People Never Take The Chance...”-The Sandlot (1993)

37. “You know what we get to do today, Brooks? We get to play baseball.”-The Rookie (2002)

38. “The key to being a big-league pitcher is the 3 R’s: readiness, recuperation, and conditioning!”-Rookie of the Year (1993)

39. “I’m not sure what that pitch is, but it tastes like chicken.”-Kenny Mayne

40. “Get out the rye bread and mustard, grandma, it’s grand salami time!”-Dave Niehaus

In Conclusion

What are some of your favorite baseball quotes? Do you think you will any of these quotes to your short-list?

I know there are some big shoes to fill in baseball history, but you have to remember that your path will be different. These players blazed their own path to greatness, and I know you can too. Who knows, maybe some of your quotes can be on an aspiring player’s list one day. I sure hope so, but in the meantime, be sure to check out my Ryan Weiss coaching program and my other training programs to elevate your game.