Top 45 Ryne Sandberg Quotes

If this validates anything, it’s that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera.

I have great memories of being a Cub, and I’m happy building new ones with the Phillies.

I’ve always had that attitude that things happen for a reason.

You never forget the feeling of not getting to the World Series. Yes, it sticks with you.

I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.

When we went home every winter, they warned us not to lift heavy weights because they didn’t want us to lose flexibility. They wanted us to be baseball players, not only home run hitters.

I was in the postseason twice and I’m thankful for that.

If you played the game the right way, played the game for the team, good things would happen.

I defend my players and coaches.

It didn’t happen, but I feel fortunate for the two chances we had and it’s just a shame we didn’t go to a World Series for Cub fans.

I was taught coming up in the Phillies organization to be seen and not heard by people like Pete Rose, my hero growing up, and players like Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton and Manny Trillo.

I think sometimes Hall of Famers might get labeled as guys who aren’t suited for a coaching job or to be back at the Major League level.

For me, the game starts with starting pitching.

I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.

I talk to the players, either individually or as a group, what I’m feeling, and I think the players appreciate that. And I think they respond to that.

There were a lot of players who worked just as hard as I did, and if you didn’t, you didn’t stay in the big leagues.

I never forgot the four years I spent with the Phillies, my September call-ups and my big league Spring Trainings. I never forgot that.

I am not the type of person who can leave my game at the ballpark and feel comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance.

One of the first benchmarks in a season are far as at-bats is 100.

As great a public speaker as I am, I don’t know have – I don’t – I don’t have the words to describe Cub fans who welcomed me as a rookie, were patient through my 1-for-32 start, and took me into their homes and into their hearts and treated me like a member of their family. You picked me up when I was down.

I don’t expect any red carpet to the big leagues. If the opportunity comes, then it comes. But I don’t think I’m owed anything.

Your first responsibility is to the organization, to teach and prepare players to get to the big leagues and have them ready when they get there, but everyone in the minors wants to be in the majors.

When I’m arguing, I’m competing. I’m trying to win a game. And if that’s what’s called for, it’s just a reaction.

I was in awe every time I walked on to the field.

I’m not a sportswriter. I don’t get to vote. I don’t get the ballot in the mail, so it’s out of my hands either way. I can say that in the history of the Hall of Fame, there are no suspicions about guys who are in the Hall of Fame.

My Hall of Fame speech was about respect for the game.

My wife Margaret is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

My mom was at every single game I played as a kid, rain or shine.

No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. He’s the best I’ve ever seen.

There’s nothing I would do differently, no wishing I had done this or done that.

In other ways, one way to be in a lineup or stay in a lineup or stay in a spot is to produce.

I played it right because that’s what you’re supposed to do – play it right and with respect.

At my growing years of 18 to 21 years old in the Minor Leagues, I dreamed of being a Philadelphia Phillie.

It was everyone going up there to swing for the fences, because the home runs were what would get them on ‘SportsCenter.’ That really changed the mindset of the players.

I’d rather play a double-header than speak at a banquet, and if I went to Wrigley Field knowing I had to be somewhere two hours after the game, it would bother me all day.

I struggled many times when maybe it didn’t look like I was struggling, and I had to work hard every day.

All it takes to play baseball is a strong arm, good speed, and the coordination to hit the ball. That’s it.

When did it – When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?

I had too much respect for the game to leave it behind or to make it my second or third sport in college.

I’m not interested in on-the-job learning or on-the-job training.

Am I impressed by myself? Nah, not really.

I’ve been in baseball my whole life, so I understand there’s a lot in baseball that is out of your control, and you have to focus on the things you can control.

I know I’m appreciated by how fans treat me, and the best way to treat them is play every day, hard. I sign autographs, but if I’m with someone I don’t know who doesn’t start the conversation, there won’t be a conversation. That’s just me, living my life. But I’ll loosen up after baseball.

I have to do what I have to do, and you have to go where the opportunities are.

I love to play baseball. I’m a baseball player. I’ve always been a baseball player. I’m still a baseball player. That’s who I am.