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Striking out batters was easy.

After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases.

I found out early in life that I could hit a baseball farther than most players, and that's what I tried to do.

I always could hit, but fielding I had to work at. I took as much pride in fielding as hitting. I became a complete ballplayer. I knew when to take the extra base. I knew about the outfielder hitting the cutoff man. I knew when and how to bunt. I knew when to hit-and-run.

The easiest way around the bases is with one swing of the bat.

There is hard hitting, but the hitting is not nearly as hard as it used to be.

I threw my best to every hitter I faced, and I found I had the strength to go all the way.

In my own case I have frequently faced the pitcher when I had no desire whatever to hit. I wanted to get a base on balls.

When I was up there at the plate, my purpose was to get on base anyway I could, whether by hitting or by getting hit.