Warren Spahn Quotes

United States, Baseball Player
April 23, 1921 – November, 24, 2003.

Warren Edward Spahn (April 23, 1921 – November 24, 2003) was 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.

When I throw a ground ball, I expect it to be an out, maybe two.

Warren Spahn
- Two
- Expect
- Maybe
You don't just throw the ball - you propel it.

Warren Spahn
- You
- Just
- Throw

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.

Warren Spahn
A pitcher needs two pitches, one they're looking for and one to cross them up.

Warren Spahn
- Up
- Two
- Looking
What is life, after all, but a challenge? And what better challenge can there be than the one between the pitcher and the hitter.

Warren Spahn
- Life
- Challenge
- Better
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.

Warren Spahn
- Home
- Wide
- Plate
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.

Warren Spahn
- Bad
- Want
- Forget
Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.

Warren Spahn
- Sports
- Timing
- Pitching

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.

Warren Spahn
- League
- Major
- Rid
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.

Warren Spahn
- Winning
- Games
- Difference
I throw just as hard as ever - it just takes twice as long to get there.

Warren Spahn
- Hard
I'm probably the only guy who worked for (Casey) Stengel before and after he was a genius.

Warren Spahn
Gentlemen, for the first 60 feet that was a hell of a pitch.

Warren Spahn
- Hell
- Pitch
- Gentlemen
A good hitter has timing. A good pitcher upsets timing.

Warren Spahn
- Upset
- Timing
- Hitter

I'll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie forever if I'd only struck him out.

Warren Spahn
- Myself
- Never
- Forgive
Once (Stan) Musial timed your fastball, your infielders were in jeopardy.

Warren Spahn
Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.

Warren Spahn
- Rain
- Pray
- Spahn