There’s no denying that baseball is an iconic American institution. The big leagues officially formed in 1903 after two professional leagues in the U.S.—the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), joined forces.
But baseball is more than just pro sports. For many of us, it’s hard to imagine summer without memories of Little League, attending a double-header, or spending an afternoon in front to the tube catching a game with your old man. It’s also a game that musters up tons of nostalgia. (Especially in movies. Here are 30 of the best baseball movies.)
The Covid-19 pandemic caused the 2020 MLB season had to be shortened to just 60 games. And with limited travel, teams played a majority of games against their division opponents. But this year, things are back on track. Opening Day of the 2021 season arrived on April 1, and the schedule is back in full swing, with a whopping 162 games on deck (that’s the typical length of the regular season, for the uninitiated). The 2021 All-Star Game is also happening, and is currently scheduled for July 13. If you’re a die-hard baseball fan, life is good so far.
To celebrate the start of the 2021 MLB season, here are 35 of the best baseball quotes. Some are real. Some are fictional. Some are probably a bit of both. But we’ve gathered some of the funniest, inspiring, and motivating quotes from actors and players alike.
Yogi Berra
New York Daily News ArchiveGetty Images
Let us begin with the Book of Yogi Proverbs. Brothers and sisters, remember:
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
“You can observe a lot by just watching.”
“Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
“I knew the record would stand until it was broken.”
“How can you think and hit at the same time?”
“You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.”
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
“In baseball, you don’t know nothing.”
Major League and other movies …
Paramount
“Juuuuuust a bit outside.” ~ Harry Doyle, Major League
“He’ll need a rocket up his ass to catch that one; that baby’s out of here.” ~ Harry Doyle, Major League
“OK, we won a game yesterday. If we win today, it’s called “two in a row”. And if we win again tomorrow, it’s called a “winning streak”… It has happened before!” ~ Lou Brown, Major League II
“There’s no crying in baseball!” ~ Jimmy Dugan, A League of Their Own
“All I know is when we win a game, it’s team win. When we lose a game, it’s a team loss.” ~ Coach Morris Buttermaker, The Bad News Bears
“Legends never die.” ~ The Babe, The Sandlot
“How can you not get romantic about baseball?” ~ Billy Beane, Moneyball
“You know what we get to do today, Brooks? We get to play baseball.” ~ Jimmy, The Rookie
Players, coaches, umpires, and fans
Focus On SportGetty Images
“Baseball was, is, and always will be the best game in the world to me.” ~ Babe Ruth
“Playing baseball for a living is like having a license to steal.” ~ Pete Rose
“Fans don’t boo nobodies.” ~ Reggie Jackson
“I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.” ~ Willie Mays
“Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” – Ted Williams
“It ain’t nothin’ till I call it.” ~ Umpire, Bill Klem
“A hot dog at the game beats roast beef at the Ritz.” ~ Humphrey Bogart
“Close doesn’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” ~ Frank Robinson
“Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.” ~ George Will
“Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand.” ~ Leo Ernest Durocher
“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” ~ Jacques Barzun
“There are only two seasons: winter and baseball.” ~ Bill Veeck, Jr.
“People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” ~ Rogers Hornsby
“There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best.” ~ Joe DiMaggio
“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” ~ Hank Aaron
“Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.” ~ Ty Cobb
“The ballplayer who loses his head, who can’t keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all.” ~ Lou Gehrig
“Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, ‘Sure, every time.'” ~ Mickey Mantle
“Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” ~ Nolan Ryan
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