ESPN Classic - Quotable Willie Stargell

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Monday, April 9, 2001
Quotable Willie Stargell

Quotes by Willie Stargell

"I love September, especially when we're in it."

"I'm always amazed when a pitcher becomes angry at a hitter for hitting a home run off him. When I strike out, I don't get angry at the pitcher, I get angry at myself. I would think that if a pitcher threw up a home-run ball, he should be angry at himself."

"It's supposed to be fun. The man says 'Play ball,' not 'Work ball,' you know...You only have a few years to play this game, and you can't play it if you're all tied up in knots."

"You pull up an old tree from the ground and move it, say to California. Well, you can damage the roots"
--On not becoming a free agent at the age of 40

"When Sandy Koufax retired."
--On his greatest thrill in baseball

"They give you a round bat, and they throw you a round ball. And they tell you to hit it square."
--On hitting a baseball being the toughest thing in sports

"Under pressure, you want to be at peace with yourself. You want your energy to flow, not feel knotted. You don't want to be too sharp. You don't want to be to flat. You just want to be natural."
--on hitting

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