Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell "Willie" Stargell, nicknamed "Pops" in the later years of his career, was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseballcareeras the left fielder and first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. Over his 21-year career with the Pirates, he batted .282, with 2,232 hits, 423 doubles, 475 home runs and 1,540 runs batted in, helping his team capture six National League East division titles, two National League pennants and two World...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth6 March 1940
CityEarlsboro, OK
CountryUnited States of America
My first job after my retirement from baseball was as a narrator for the Eastman Philharmonica.
I found myself in a race with Mother Nature to play as much baseball as I could before she forced me to stop.
People like us are afraid to leave ball. What else is there to do? When baseball has been your whole life, you can't think about a future without it, so you hang on as long as you can.
Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork.
Playing baseball was my dream, and no amount of money could sway my opinion.
To me, baseball has always been a reflection of life. Like life, it adjusts. It survives everything.
It's supposed to be fun, the man says 'Play Ball' not 'Work Ball' you know.
Baseball for me was instinctive, born within me, given to me as a gift from God.
They give you a round bat and they throw you a round ball. And they tell you to hit it square.
When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."
They give you a round bat and they throw you a round ball and they tell you to hit it square.
I'm always amazed when a pitcher becomes angry at a hitter for hitting a home run off him. When I strike out, I don't get angry at the pitcher, I get angry at myself. I would think that if a pitcher threw up a home run ball, he should be angry at himself.
I've witnessed thousands of superior athletes try to becomes hitters and fail at it.
Don't be sharp or flat; just be natural.