People say I stole a lot of bases. I stole the bases for a reason. I crossed the plate.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Stealing bases is just something I like to do. I figure if I can hit home runs and steal bases, I'd be different than everybody else.
Stealing bases was put to me almost as a prerequisite for staying in the game. They didn't give me a handbook on how to do it; they said do it. Under those conditions you go out and develop your own handbook.
Well, stealing bases adds some runs but very few, and you lose most of the runs that you gain by having runners caught stealing.
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.
If you want to steal a base, steal a base. Don't make the hitter swing at a bad pitch trying to protect the runner.
I have learned not to overlook the advantages of being me. From when I was a softball player, and I held the stolen bases record. I would slide into second with my prostheses, and the girl on the base could either step aside or meet two wooden sticks.
And then after that, running around the bases, it was just one of those things. You couldn't believe what happened to you. And I look back on it, it's almost like it happened to somebody else.
The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault.
I sort of missed one big thing, to touch first base. I hope I didn't act foolish, but this is history.
Nobody talked about my defense or that I used to steal bases, too.