Roberto Clemente quotes - page 2

Roberto Clemente was a legendary Puerto Rican baseball player who played 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Admired for both his athletic excellence and humanitarian work, he became an icon both on and off the field. He remains celebrated as one of baseball’s greatest right fielders and a champion for social justice. Here are 412 of his quotes:

With two men on base I was more concerned with driving in a run than getting No. 2,000. I set a goal of 100 RBIs and 25 home runs at the start of the season. Usually I'm not a home run hitter but I've been swinging more for home runs this season then ever before.

Roberto Clemente

I jus' try to sacrifice myself, so I get runner to third. If I do, I feel good. But I get heet and Willie scores, and I feel better than good. [...] What makes me feel most good is that the skipper let me play the whole game. I think maybe he take me out after a few innings for Aaron but no, he pay me big compliment. I stay in game and that gave me confidence. I think I don't let him down, no?

Roberto Clemente

My body is old and tired, but I'll bounce back. I think Mazeroski can do the same if he takes off a few pounds and gives them to me. I need them.

Roberto Clemente

There are many good players in this game. If they weren't good, they wouldn't be in the majors. I'm not bragging when I say I think I'm as good as anyone. Mays, Aaron, Robinson, guys like that, hit with more power than I do. After that, I think I can hold my own.

Roberto Clemente

There was a time when I said if I couldn't play in Pittsburgh, I wouldn't want to play anywhere. I don't feel that way now. If the Pirates traded me, I would accept it as a part of baseball and continue doing my best wherever I went.

Roberto Clemente

The Braves have been digging in on us all year. They're taking toeholds on our pitchers. Somebody is going down tonight if I have to come in from right field and do it myself.

Roberto Clemente

Jackie, what is the matter with you? You did not lose this ball game. We all lost it. No one man loses any ball game. You remember that. You are a good ball player. We need you to play shortstop. Come now, get dressed, let's go out and have a steak.

Roberto Clemente

They've been knocking me down all season in the National League and I've still gotten my share of base hits.

Roberto Clemente

I've had two lives: the first one when I was born in Puerto Rico in 1935 [sic] and the second when I came to Pittsburgh to play baseball in 1955. I have been very lucky and I feel gifted to be able to play well.

Roberto Clemente

Once upon a time I never believed I could get tired of baseball. I played baseball from morning to night. But today it isn't as it once was. I just never seem to get enough rest. And if I can't play at my best all the time, why play?

Roberto Clemente

I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give.

Roberto Clemente

I am more valuable to my team hitting .330 then swinging for home runs.

Roberto Clemente

They call my people 'Spics' in New York. These are poor people struggling to make a living and should be treated like people and not animals.

Roberto Clemente

The only people who criticize me are writers. You say, maybe I no team player. Did a player ever come to you and say I no team player? Who say that? The writers, right. I win four batting championships. Why I no team player? I kill myself in the outfield. You say, I no team player. You never see me loaf on the field. I break my back. Even Harry Walker tell me: "Roberto, why you want to break your back? Look at the other fellows. Take it easy." Super stars, my foot. They say Mickey Mantle is a super star. He's limping. They say poor Mickey. I play with four stitches in my foot and nobody knows about it. [...] The fans are good to me. Only the writers are bad."

Roberto Clemente

I could always hit a home run, but if I try to do that all the time, maybe I not hit over.300. I am more valuable to my team hitting.330,.340, than I am swinging for home runs.

Roberto Clemente

I was mad last year. I played as well as anyone else on our team and I didn't receive one vote for MVP. Don't get me wrong; I didn't say I was the best last year or that I should have won the MVP award. But nobody seemed to care about me. But you win the batting title yourself. They can't take that away from you.

Roberto Clemente

Blass, I 'm going to tell you this. You pitch me inside; I will hit the freaking ball to Harrisburg.

Roberto Clemente

I am having a plaque put on the front of my house. It will say, "To God, Mother, Father and Baseball."

Roberto Clemente

Why should I be more ‘cautious, careful,' as you say? I stay in the big leagues as long as I do because I play only one way. I know I take too many, maybe. I know I should not sometimes dive for the ball-or hit the wall trying to catch it- as much as I do. But you catch the ball, you help your team. You don't catch it, you don't help your team. I believe playing, how you say, ‘all out' has prolonged my career. If a ballplayer starts loafing, he tends to lose that little push that is so necessary, so important. You get lazy, won't take even the smallest chance; kind of lose interest. Your rhythm, I guess it is, gets all messed up. Fly balls start falling on you, when they should not. And you find yourself not getting around on the ball like you should. Once you lose this ‘little push,' then it is awfully hard to get back in the groove... get yourself going again. Your ambition – desire – suffers. And you become the kind of ballplayer you don't want to be.

Roberto Clemente

I want to thank my teammates for being a bunch of swell guys. I want to thank Branch Rickey for giving me the opportunity of playing baseball. Most of all I want to thank the people of Pittsburgh whose encouragement helped me win this award. They deserve the best.

Roberto Clemente

They think it is an act. When I said I had back trouble, they call me Mama's Boy. Goldbrick. When my elbow was swollen as big as a softball, they say it was in my head. If I am sick, I do not deny. If my back is hurting me and I am forced to punch at the ball with no power, I tell the truth. I tell them I am hurting.

Roberto Clemente

You could have put salt and pepper on me and fried me out in right field.

Roberto Clemente