play ball


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 seven years without ever hitting the ball.  ~Mickey Mantle, 1970



two of the men in my life are umps

I don't want to play golf.  When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it.  
~Rogers Hornsby


no, that's not chew in his cheek
my guess... sunflower seeds

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.  ~Humphrey Bogart


a rare treat... ump a game together
father and son

Every hitter likes fastballs, just like everybody likes ice cream.  But you don't like it when someone's stuffing it into you by the gallon.  That's what it feels like when Nolan Ryan's thrown balls by you.  ~Reggie Jackson


a beautiful spring evening

When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball."  They say, "Play ball."  
~Willie Stargell, 1981


but, in my heart i had to ask "why"

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile.  ~Tom Clark


jeers, complaints, chatter

There are three things in my life which I really love:  God, my family, and baseball.  The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.  ~Al Gallagher, 1971


but, when true ump fans show up

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base.  ~Dave Barry


well, those boys light up

Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world.  If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off.  ~Bill Veeck


yes, i'm lucky
to be related to these men
who love baseball

Ideally, the umpire should combine the integrity of a Supreme Court judge, the physical agility of an acrobat, the endurance of Job and the imperturbability of Buddha.  
~"The Villains in Blue," Time magazine, 25 August 1961



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Comments

Cath said…
These are sweet pictures. I love the "chew" in the cheek. The sunglasses are throwing me. Is that David?
alison said…
i love these pictures and am crazy for those guys!
S. Etole said…
great photos and quotes ... and great men in your family
Melissa: said…
what a great post. Love the quotes, and the pictures say it all. You can tell those boys are in their element.

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