Logo - Feel The Words

Baseman Quotes

Baseball history told from the infield.

These baseman quotes come from players and coaches describing life around the bag, including a runner who defended sliding in hard with spikes because the rules gave him the Business right of way.

The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business...

Quotes by Ty Cobb

I played from the time I was seven years old. My father was my first baseman coach. I had opportunities that I never really pursued - with some Miami teams and a few larger colleges, and then I ended up...

Quotes by Todd English

I was trying to land an 18-year-old strapping first baseman from Blanco, Texas, population 200. His name was Willie Upshaw. It turned out there were only three scouts who knew about Willie - Dave Yocum and I working for the...

Quotes by Pat Gillick

For several years, I have had my eye on second baseman Del Pratt of St. Louis. I cannot say that he is a better player than our own Joe Gedeon, but he has played better ball, and we wanted him....

Quotes by Jacob Ruppert

Bailing Quotes

There was a time when rival teams used a shift against me. They would put the second baseman on the shortstop's side of the bag, move the shortstop into the hole to his right, and have the third baseman hug...

Quotes by Harmon Killebrew

Your goal as a hitter is to get on. And if the third baseman is playing back and letting you lay down a bunt, I don't have a problem with that, even if it's late in a no-hitter.

Quotes by Bert Blyleven

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the quote about sliding into base describe?
It describes a runner defending the right to slide hard and feet first into a bag, spikes and all, if a baseman stood where he had no business standing.
Is coaching mentioned in these baseman quotes?
Yes, one quote credits a father as the speaker's first baseman coach, starting a baseball career from age seven.
Is a specific historical second baseman named here?
Yes, one quote references Del Pratt of St. Louis as a second baseman being scouted, compared to a teammate named Joe Gedeon.
Do these quotes explain infield defensive shifts?
Yes, one quote describes a shift where the second baseman moved toward the shortstop's side of the bag, and the shortstop and third baseman adjusted in turn.
What era of baseball do these baseman quotes reflect?
They read as older baseball history, referencing scouting decisions and defensive shifts in a style closer to Business as usual in the sport's early decades.

Other quotes recall a father coaching at first base, scouting notes on a rival second baseman, and a defensive shift that moved the shortstop and third baseman to counter a Better Player.