Quotes Database

«I was fortunate enough to be there for Ernie, Billy and Ron, ... I was on the field for all those ceremonies, not even thinking I would have a day that would come like today but just taking it in. To be in their company and to join them means everything to me.»

«It was all about doing things right. If you played the game the right way, played the game for the team, good things would happen. That's what I loved most about the game, how a ground out to second with a man on second and nobody out was a great thing. In my day, if a guy came to spring training 20 pounds heavier than what he left, he was considered out of shape and was probably in trouble. He'd be under a microscope and the first time he couldn't beat out a base hit or missed a fly ball, he was probably shipped out. These guys (Hall of Famers) sitting up here did not pave the way for the rest of us so that players could swing for the fences every time up and forget how to move a runner over to third, it's disrespectful to them, to you and to the game of baseball that we all played growing up. Respect.»

«We here today owe America's pastime a strict policy.»

«We do have a problem in baseball, and using steroids is not respecting the game.»

«I've been proud to be a lifelong Chicago Cub and still be with the Cubs. That's always been important to me and I think it's always been special. It's allowed me to have Chicago as a home; my family considers Chicago a home. There's not too many guys that spend their whole career with one team and I think it's very fortunate and a blessing for me.»

«Every time I look at that flag flying, I'll think of the Cubs fans that were there for me every day. You have never let me down, and for that I will never forget you.»

«I went into spring training that first year (with the Cubs) in '82 and No. 23 was hanging up in my locker, ... I thought it was kind of an odd number. I believe I asked for 14 and (former Cubs clubhouse manager Yosh Kawano) totally turned me down and said that number's been taken and retired.»

«I'm pretty overwhelmed right now and a little bit sick along with it. We'll see how the day goes. I was fortunate enough to be there for Ernie and Billy and Ron. I was on the field for all those ceremonies -- not even thinking that I would have a day come like today. Being in their company and joining them means everything to me.»

«I thought '23' was kind of an odd number, ... I asked for 14, and Yosh totally turned me down and said that number's been taken and retired. Yosh Kawano has been a good friend of mine, and he was the one that picked that out for me. And that was the perfect number.»

«I had double on my mind, ... Then [third base coach Chuck Cottier] waved me around. That was his call.»