If he can hit, he can hit. I don't care if he came from Class Z league. Frank Robinson More Quotes by Frank Robinson More Quotes From Frank Robinson Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades. Frank Robinson horseshoesbaseballsports Be anything you want to be, but don't be dull. Frank Robinson wantwritingdull Whether you're trying to excel in athletics or in any other field, always practice. Look, listen, learn - and practice, practice, practice. There is no substitute for work, no shortcut to the top. Frank Robinson basketballpracticetrying Pitchers did me a favor when they knocked me down. It made me more determined. I wouldn't let that pitcher get me out. They say you can't hit if you're on your back, but I didn't hit on my back. I got up. Frank Robinson determinedfavorssports I always tried to do the best. I knew I couldn't always be the best, but I tried to be. Frank Robinson do-the-bestbeing-the-bestsports Listen, I was the first black manager in baseball and there was incredible pressure. I don't blame anyone else. I was too tough . . . I lack patience. I probably got on guys a little too hard, with the wrong tone of voice. Frank Robinson voiceguybaseball I haven't seen a player in this game, as long as I've been in it, that can't be pitched to... Barry is an outstanding ballplayer. I respect him an awful lot. I also have confidence in my pitchers that they can pitch to Barry Bonds and get him out. Frank Robinson confidenceplayersports I don't see why you reporters keep confusing Brooks (Robinson) and me. Can't you see that we wear different numbers. Frank Robinson confusingdifferentnumbers I had no trouble communicating, the player's just didn't like what I had to say. Frank Robinson communicateplayertrouble The fan is the one who suffers. He cheers a guy to a .350 season then watches that player sign with another team. When you destroy fan loyalties, you destroy everything. Frank Robinson loyaltycheersports Probably the most dramatic change in pitching I've observed in my years in baseball has been the disappearance of the knockdown or brushback pitch. This is why record numbers of home runs are flying out of ballparks, why earned run averages are soaring, and why there are so few twenty game winners in the majors. Frank Robinson baseballhomerunning I expect that [trying to do the best] of my players today and of my kids. My wife says I shouldn't expect that of my children, but I don't think that's asking too much. Frank Robinson kidschildrenthinking I don't see anyone playing in the major leagues today (1982) who combines both the talent and the intensity that I had. I always tried to do the best. I knew I couldn't always be the best, but I tried to be. Frank Robinson talentleaguetoday You have to have a short memory as a closer. Frank Robinson short-memorymemories But I'm not going to walk Barry Bonds, like some teams do, in the first inning with nobody on. Frank Robinson teamtiessports The way we're going... if I called up another pitcher, he'd just hang up the phone on me. Frank Robinson phonessportsway No. 1, these guys out here on this field. They keep my energy level up. They try hard, they don't complain about things - and I'd just like to be with them when things are good, and hopefully we can win a pennant together. Frank Robinson guywinningsports The baselines belongs to the runner, and whenever I was running the bases, I always slid hard. I wanted infielders to have that instant's hesitation about coming across the bag at second or about standing in there awaiting a throw to make a tag. There are only 27 outs in a ballgame, and it was my job to save one for my team every time I possibly could. Frank Robinson teamrunningjobs Managers don't have as much leverage as they used to have. We can't really be the boss. Frank Robinson bossusedsports It's nice to come into a town and be referred to as the manager of the Cleveland Indians instead of as the first black manager. Frank Robinson blacknicesports
