If this validates anything, it`s that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera.
My wife Margaret is the best thing that`s ever happened to me.
The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played.
I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.
I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn`t leave many scraps for the writers.
When did it - When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?
No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. He`s the best I`ve ever seen.
I didn`t want to let them down or let the fans down or my teammates or my family or myself. I had too much respect for them to let them down.
I was in the postseason twice and I`m thankful for that.
I didn`t play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel.
I was in awe every time I walked on to the field.
I played it right because that`s what you`re supposed to do - play it right and with respect.
The fourth major league game I ever saw in person, I was in uniform.
Baseball wasn`t easy for me.
There`s not too many guys that spend their whole career with one team and I think it`s very fortunate and a blessing for me.
My mom was at every single game I played as a kid, rain or shine.
I love to play baseball. I`m a baseball player. I`ve always been a baseball player. I`m still a baseball player. That`s who I am.
There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years.
If you played the game the right way, played the game for the team, good things would happen.
Hit a home run - put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases, because the name on the front is more - a lot more important than the name on the back.
It didn`t happen, but I feel fortunate for the two chances we had and it`s just a shame we didn`t go to a World Series for Cub fans.
I`ve been proud to be a lifelong Chicago Cub and still be with the Cubs. That`s always been important to me and I think it`s always been special.
In my day, if a guy came to spring training 20 pounds heavier than what he left, he was considered out of shape and was probably in trouble.
I had too much respect for the game to leave it behind or to make it my second or third sport in college.
A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn`t work hard for validation.
In baseball, there`s always the next day.
I struggled many times when maybe it didn`t look like I was struggling, and I had to work hard every day.
They instilled in me how to do things the right way, having good fundamentals, having good work habits - and even how to put on my socks.
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