"Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people
year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat."
"If a guy hits .300 every
year, what does he have to look forward to? I always tried to stay around .190, with three or four RBI. And I tried to get
them all in September. That way I always had something to talk about during the winter."
"In 1962 I
was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the Bigs."
"I signed with the
Milwaukee Braves for $3,000. That bothered my dad at the time because he didn't have that kind of dough. But he eventually
scraped it up."
"People don't know this but I helped the Cardinals win the pennant. I came down with
hepatitis. The trainer injected me with it."
"The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your
son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something.
Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we
drove off. Gosh, I was proud."
"I had slumps that lasted into the winter."
"I
led the league in 'Go get 'em next time.'"
"I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope
90% of them don't even get printed."
"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from
Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets."
"I remember one time I'm batting against
the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2 - 1, it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out and the pitcher has a full
count on me. I look over to the Dodger dugout and they're all in street clothes."
"When I looked at
the third base coach, he turned his back on me."
"Wait until it stops rolling and pick it up."
- on how to catch a knuckleball
"I hit a grand slam off Ron Herbel and when his manager Herman Franks came
out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase."
"Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse
their products."
"I didn't get a lot of awards as a player. But they did have a Bob Uecker Day Off
for me once in Philly."
"I knew when my career was over. In 1965 my baseball card came out with no
picture."
"One time, I got pulled over at 4 a.m. I was fined $75 for being intoxicated and $400 for
being with the Phillies."
"A doctor told me to drink lemon juice after a hot bath. But I have never
finished the bath."
"The highlight of my career? In '67 with St. Louis, I walked with the bases loaded
to drive in the winning run in an intersquad game in spring training."
"Baseball hasn't forgotten me.
I go to a lot of Old-Timers games and I haven't lost a thing. I sit in the bullpen and let people throw things at me. Just
like old times."
"Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people
year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat."
"If a guy hits .300 every
year, what does he have to look forward to? I always tried to stay around .190, with three or four RBI. And I tried to get
them all in September. That way I always had something to talk about during the winter."
"In 1962 I
was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the Bigs."
"I signed with the
Milwaukee Braves for $3,000. That bothered my dad at the time because he didn't have that kind of dough. But he eventually
scraped it up."
"People don't know this but I helped the Cardinals win the pennant. I came down with
hepatitis. The trainer injected me with it."
"The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your
son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something.
Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we
drove off. Gosh, I was proud."
"I had slumps that lasted into the winter."
"I
led the league in 'Go get 'em next time.'"
"I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope
90% of them don't even get printed."
"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from
Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets."
"I remember one time I'm batting against
the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2 - 1, it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out and the pitcher has a full
count on me. I look over to the Dodger dugout and they're all in street clothes."
"When I looked at
the third base coach, he turned his back on me."
"Wait until it stops rolling and pick it up."
- on how to catch a knuckleball
"I hit a grand slam off Ron Herbel and when his manager Herman Franks came
out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase."
"Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse
their products."
"I didn't get a lot of awards as a player. But they did have a Bob Uecker Day Off
for me once in Philly."
"I knew when my career was over. In 1965 my baseball card came out with no
picture."
"One time, I got pulled over at 4 a.m. I was fined $75 for being intoxicated and $400 for
being with the Phillies."
"A doctor told me to drink lemon juice after a hot bath. But I have never
finished the bath."
"The highlight of my career? In '67 with St. Louis, I walked with the bases loaded
to drive in the winning run in an intersquad game in spring training."
"Baseball hasn't forgotten me.
I go to a lot of Old-Timers games and I haven't lost a thing. I sit in the bullpen and let people throw things at me. Just
like old times."