Nobody lives forever and I've had a blessed life.

Life comes down to honesty and doing what's right. That's what's most important.

My father loved baseball and he cultivated my talent. I don't think he ever had any doubt in his mind that I would play professional baseball someday.

I went on inactive duty in August 1945, and since I had stayed in such good shape and had played ball on military teams, I was ready to start for the Indians just two days later, against the Tigers.

My background wasn't one blessed with all the luxuries in life. Nothing is forever and I realize that.

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.