Whatever we do, make sure we clean up baseball. Hank Aaron More Quotes by Hank Aaron More Quotes From Hank Aaron I think about how a guy mentally prepared himself to do battle, to go out and face the pitcher. I think so many hitters do not know how to get themselves prepared to play or hit against a pitcher. You have to mentally be prepared to hit against all pitchers. Hank Aaron play sports thinking You visualize [pitches]. You see it in your head; you think it...I used to play every pitcher in my mind before I went to the ballpark. I started getting ready for ever game the moment I woke up. Hank Aaron games sports thinking I had many, many, many death threats. I couldn't open letters for a long time, because they all had to be opened by either the FBI or somebody. I couldn't open letters. I had to be escorted. In fact, just recently I went to a funeral, Calvin Wardlaw, who was the detective -- the policeman -- with me for two years, passed away just recently. He and I got to be bosom buddies really, but that was the hardest part. I wasn't able to enjoy -- you know. Hank Aaron two long years Failure is a part of success. Hank Aaron The pitcher has got only a ball. I've got a bat. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting. Hank Aaron baseball motivational sports I never smile when I have a bat in my hands. That's when you've got to be serious. When I get out on the field, nothing's a joke to me. I don't feel like I should walk around with a smile on my face. Hank Aaron smile baseball sports Can I smoke now without someone taking my picture? Hank Aaron smoke I've tried a lot of things in the off-season, but the only thing I really know is baseball. Hank Aaron off-season baseball knows I have always felt that although someone may defeat me, and I strike out in a ball game, the pitcher on the particular day was the best player. But I know when I see him again, I'm going to be ready for his curve ball. Failure is a part of success. Hank Aaron bed-of-roses failure player I don't feel right unless I have a sport to play or at least a way to work up a sweat. Hank Aaron baseball play sports [My father] didn't make much money, and I tell a lot of people, you know, I was a vegetarian before people knew what a vegetarian was. That's all I ate was vegetables. Hank Aaron vegetables father people Once the record was mine, I had to use it like a Louisville Slugger. I believed, and still do, that there was a reason why I was chosen to break the record. I feel it's my task to carry on where Jackie Robinson left off, and I only know of one way to go about it. It's the only way I've ever had of dealing with things like fastballs and bigotry -- keep swinging at them. Hank Aaron louisville records use The thing I like about baseball is that it's one-on-one. You stand up there alone, and if you make a mistake, it's your mistake. If you hit a home run, it's your home run. Hank Aaron baseball mistake running Maybe the day will come when I can sit back and be content....But until that day comes, I intend to stay in the batter's box - I don't let the big guys push me out of there anymore - and keep hammering away. Hank Aaron boxes guy sports I looked for the same pitch my whole career, a breaking ball. All of the time. I never worried about the fastball. They couldn't throw it past me, none of them. Hank Aaron balls careers past Didn't come up here to read. Came up here to hit. Hank Aaron come-up In baseball, there is something electrifying about the big leagues. I had read so much about Stan Musial, Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson. I had put those guys on a pedestal. They were something special. I really thought they put their pants on different, rather than one leg at a time. Hank Aaron guy league baseball There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. Hank Aaron bed-of-roses bed rose Baseball needs me because it needs somebody to stir the pot, and I need it because it's my life. It's the means I have to make a little difference in the world. Hank Aaron differences baseball mean You can only milk a cow so long, then you're left holding the pail. Hank Aaron baseball long hands