Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahnwas a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games or more in 13 seasons, including a 23–7 record when he was age 42. Spahn was the 1957 Cy Young Award winner, and was the runner-up three times, all during the period when one award was given, covering both leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, with 83% of the total vote...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth23 April 1921
CityBuffalo, NY
CountryUnited States of America
He was something like zero for twenty-one the first time I saw him. His first major league hit was a home run off me and I'll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie (Mays) forever if I'd only struck him out.
Once Musial timed your fastball, your infielders were in jeopardy.
A good hitter has timing. A good pitcher upsets timing.
A sore arm is like a headache or a toothache. It can make you feel bad, but if you just forget about it and do what you have to do, it will go away. If you really like to pitch and you want to pitch, that's what you'll do.
You don't just throw the ball - you propel it.
Once (Stan) Musial timed your fastball, your infielders were in jeopardy.
When I throw a ground ball, I expect it to be an out, maybe two.
Spahn and Sain and pray for rain,
I throw just as hard as ever - it just takes twice as long to get there.
The difference between winning nineteen games and winning twenty for a pitcher is bigger than anyone out of baseball realizes. It's the same for hitters - someone who hits .300 looks back on the guy who batted .295 and says 'tough luck buddy.
Home plate is 17 inches wide, but I ignore the middle 12 inches. I pitch to the two-and-a-half inches on each side.
I'll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie forever if I'd only struck him out.
Twenty games is the magic figure for pitchers - .300 is the magic figures for batters. It pays off in salary and reputation. And those are the two things that keep a ballplayer in business.
I'm probably the only guy who worked for (Casey) Stengel before and after he was a genius.