These inspirational baseball quotes will prepare you for the ups and downs of America’s pastime.
The 162-game season is a grind – requiring toughness and perseverance. And the sport isn’t easy.
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As Ted Williams once said, “The hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round baseball with a round bat, squarely.”
From Little League to the majors, any ballplayer will tell you it’s a mental game. Whether you’re a hitter or pitcher, manager or assistant coach, there’s always more to learn.
Luckily, the following inspiring quotes contain wisdom from generations past that will help you navigate the challenges of the sport.
Inspirational Baseball Quotes
“That’s the beautiful thing about baseball. You can be any size and be successful.” – Andrew Benintendi
“I played my best every day. You never know when someone may be seeing you play for the first time.” – Joe DiMaggio
“It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” – Carlton Fisk
“During my 18 years, I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at-bats a season. That means I played 7 years without ever hitting the ball.” – Mickey Mantle
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
“People out there said I was too small. It’s those kinds of moments that pushed me to be where I’m at right now.” – Tim Lincecum
“You may not think you’re going to make it. You may want to quit. But if you keep your eye on the ball, you can accomplish anything.” – Hank Aaron
“Baseball is such a tough game, it really humbles you at times, you just have to try not to get too high or too low.” – Chase Utley
“You can’t get real happy or real depressed when you play baseball. Baseball is a great sport in that it offers a player a lot of opportunities for atonement.” – Mike Piazza
“Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding, and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” – Joe Torre
“Close don’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” – Frank Robinson
“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” – Reggie Jackson
“When you’ve learned to believe in yourself, there’s no telling how good a player you can be. That’s because you have the mental edge.” – Rod Karew
“Play this game like the 8-year-old you used to be, dreaming to play in the show. Heart, passion, and fire! Remember where you came from.” – Bryce Harper
Motivational Baseball Quotes
“I was told I would never make it because I’m too short. Well, I’m still too short, but I’ve got 10 All-Star games, two World Series championships, and I’m a very happy and contented guy. It doesn’t matter what your height is, it’s what’s in your heart.” – Kirby Puckett
“I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.” – Pete Rose
“If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game.” – Rickey Henderson
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“One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” – Nolan Ryan
“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson
“It’s a game, and that’s how I am going to treat it.” – Ken Griffey Jr.
“There is no time to fool around when you practice. Every drill must have a purpose.” – Albert Pujols
“In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted; if you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end.” – Tom Seaver
“I don’t fraternize with players when it’s time to hit. I’m preparing for the game. It’s the most important time of the day.” – Albert Belle
“Nobody wanted me. Scouts told me to go to school, to forget baseball. Coaches said, ‘You’re never going to make it.’ I appreciated their honesty because I think when someone tells you something you may not like, you have to use that as fuel for motivation.” – Mike Piazza
“A winner is somebody who goes out there every day and exhausts himself trying to get something accomplished.” – Joe Torre
“If you’re not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he’ll be ready to take your job.” – Brooks Robinson
“I like to be against the odds. I’m not afraid to be lonely at the top.” – Barry Bonds
“Winning depends on where you put your priorities. It’s usually best to put them over the fence.” – Jason Giambi
“Slumps are like a soft bed. They’re easy to get into and hard to get out of.” – Johnny Bench
“Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.” – Tommy Lasorda
“Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.” – Ty Cobb
Baseball Quotes About Life
“Never allow the circumstances of your life to become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have.” – Jim Abbott
“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” – Hank Aaron
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” – Bob Feller
“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” – Yogi Berra
“To succeed in baseball, as in life, you must make adjustments.” – Ken Griffey Jr.
“Baseball is a game of the soul.” – Pedro Martinez
“I want people to expect more from me because I expect more. If you don’t set goals high, you’re not trying.” – Todd Helton
“You don’t need to have a perfect ending to be happy.” – Prince Fielder
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“You should seek approval from yourself.” – Ichiro Suzuki
“Load up your mind with pictures capturing your preferred tomorrow. Put the remembrances of the past in a place where they won’t block your view.” – Gary Carter
“I can’t stand satisfaction. To me, greatness comes from that quest for perfection.” – Mike Schmidt
“Don’t ever let the pressure exceed the pleasure.” – Joe Maddon
“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but the attitude we bring to life.” – Wade Boggs
“You’ve gotta find a way to get out of your own way, so you can progress in life.” – Steve Carlton
“Luck is the by-product of busting your fanny.” – Don Sutton
Short Baseball Quotes
“Hustle is just playing the game right.” – Jimmy Rollins
“There are only two seasons – winter and baseball.” – Bill Veeck
“Work hard and have patience.” – Randy Johnson
“Never give up. Don’t cave.” – Jim “The Rookie” Morris
“It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” – Yogi Berra
“Pitching is the art of instilling fear.” – Sandy Koufax
“The best pitchers have a short-term memory and a bulletproof confidence.” – Greg Maddux
“Don’t try to be a hero. Try to be a winner.” – George Brett
“You either get better or you get worse. Those are the only two options.” – Max Scherzer
“If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn’t surprise you.” – Justin Verlander
“Good is not good when better is expected.” – Vin Scully
“I didn’t realize how much I loved the game until I couldn’t play it.” – Mark Teixeira
“Winning isn’t everything. Wanting to is.” – Catfish Hunter
“If you don’t have dreams, you don’t have a life.” – Bryce Harper
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