The Most Inspirational Baseball Quotes Of All-Time

by Ashley E | May 13, 2024 | quotes

These motivational baseball quotes will help you play one of the hardest cerebral sports on the planet like a Hall of Famer.

These motivational baseball sayings can help you cope with the highs and lows of America’s favorite sport.

The 162-game season is a slog that calls for fortitude and tenacity. It’s not an easy sport either.

Any ballplayer, from Little League to the majors, will tell you that the game is mental. There’s always more to learn whether you play manager, assistant coach, or as a pitcher or hitter.

Fortunately, the timeless lessons from previous generations are shared in the motivational sayings below, which will guide you through the difficulties of the game.

As Ted Williams once said, “The hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round baseball with a round bat, squarely.”

“That’s the beautiful thing about baseball. You can be any size and be successful.” – Andrew Benintendi

“I played my best every day. You never know when someone may be seeing you play for the first time.” – Joe DiMaggio

“It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” – Carlton Fisk

“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 7 years without ever hitting the ball.” – Mickey Mantle

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth

“The best pitchers have a short-term memory and a bulletproof confidence.” – Greg Maddux

“People out there said I was too small. It’s those kinds of moments that pushed me to be where I’m at right now.” – Tim Lincecum

“Why does everyone talk about the past? All that counts is tomorrow’s game.” – Roberto Clemente

“You may not think you’re going to make it. You may want to quit. But if you keep your eye on the ball, you can accomplish anything.” – Hank Aaron

“Baseball is such a tough game, it really humbles you at times, you just have to try not to get too high or too low.” – Chase Utley

“You can’t get real happy or real depressed when you play baseball. Baseball is a great sport in that it offers a player a lot of opportunities for atonement.” – Mike Piazza

“Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding, and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” – Joe Torre

“Close don’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” – Frank Robinson

“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” – Reggie Jackson

“When you’ve learned to believe in yourself, there’s no telling how good a player you can be. That’s because you have the mental edge.” – Rod Karew

“Play this game like the 8-year-old you used to be, dreaming to play in the show. Heart, passion, and fire! Remember where you came from.” – Bryce Harper

“Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding, and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” – Joe Torre

“Close don’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” – Frank Robinson

“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” – Reggie Jackson

“When you’ve learned to believe in yourself, there’s no telling how good a player you can be. That’s because you have the mental edge.” – Rod Karew

“Play this game like the 8-year-old you used to be, dreaming to play in the show. Heart, passion, and fire! Remember where you came from.” – Bryce Harper

Motivational Baseball Quotes

“I was told I would never make it because I’m too short. Well, I’m still too short, but I’ve got 10 All-Star games, two World Series championships, and I’m a very happy and contented guy. It doesn’t matter what your height is, it’s what’s in your heart.” – Kirby Puckett

“I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.” – Pete Rose

“If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game.” – Rickey Henderson

“One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” – Nolan Ryan

“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

“It’s a game, and that’s how I am going to treat it.” – Ken Griffey Jr.

“There is no time to fool around when you practice. Every drill must have a purpose.” – Albert Pujols

“In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted; if you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end.” – Tom Seaver

“I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.” – Pete Rose

“If my uniform doesn’t get dirty, I haven’t done anything in the baseball game.” – Rickey Henderson

“One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” – Nolan Ryan

“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

“It’s a game, and that’s how I am going to treat it.” – Ken Griffey Jr.

“There is no time to fool around when you practice. Every drill must have a purpose.” – Albert Pujols

Baseball Quotes About Life

“Never allow the circumstances of your life to become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have.” – Jim Abbott

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” – Hank Aaron

“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.” – Bob Feller

“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” – Yogi Berra

“To succeed in baseball, as in life, you must make adjustments.” – Ken Griffey Jr.

“Baseball is a game of the soul.” – Pedro Martinez

“I want people to expect more from me because I expect more. If you don’t set goals high, you’re not trying.” – Todd Helton

“You don’t need to have a perfect ending to be happy.” – Prince Fielder

“You should seek approval from yourself.” – Ichiro Suzuki

“Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” – Roberto Clemente

“Load up your mind with pictures capturing your preferred tomorrow. Put the remembrances of the past in a place where they won’t block your view.” – Gary Carter

“I can’t stand satisfaction. To me, greatness comes from that quest for perfection.” – Mike Schmidt

“Don’t ever let the pressure exceed the pleasure.” – Joe Maddon

“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but the attitude we bring to life.” – Wade Boggs

“You’ve gotta find a way to get out of your own way, so you can progress in life.” – Steve Carlton

“Luck is the by-product of busting your fanny.” – Don Sutton