Keith Hernandez Quotes

There is nothing better than walking out and hitting a home run.

I've always loved hitting, and even as a kid, I always hit.

As a kid, baseball was always my passion.

That's how baseball works. You put some good swings on the ball and it goes out of there.

I played Little League in junior high and high school.

Generally in the Little League you're up against a good pitcher who throws like hell. What does the coach say? Get a walk. Isn't that beautiful way to learn to hit? For four years you stand up there looking for a walk.

We lived near a playground that had four baseball diamonds on it, and when I got to be 11, 12 years old, I was always over at the ballpark practicing or playing or doing something pertaining to baseball. And when I wasn't doing that, I was bouncing a rubber ball off the steps of my front porch at home.

I played Little League. I was a 'pitcher.' But we had a pitching machine, so I was just basically an 'in-infield' shortstop because all I got to do was field bloopers six feet from the plate. I couldn't hit, so that was pretty much my entire job.

Now the advantage is all with the hitters.

Anytime you can see a hitter and face a hitter, you gain knowledge, and you gain that experience. Whether they hit a homerun off you, or you strike them out or whatever it is, it's information.

The first time I picked up a bat in a professional game, I hit a ball hard left-handed, and my first home run was so effortless, it surprised me.

I wanted to play baseball!

There has always been a saying in baseball that you can't make a hitter, but I think you can improve a hitter. More than you can improve a fielder. More mistakes are made hitting than in any other part of the game.

I'm a good hitter for a pitcher.

I love baseball so much, ever since I was a child playing during the summers.

I think everyone's favorite part of the game is hitting - especially when you're having success - considering it's so hard to do.

You have to try to move your feet and get to the pitch to hit the spinners away.

It could be, it might be... It is, A home run!

In baseball, you don't know nothing.

Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.

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.

I swing hard all the time. That's what I've done my whole life - hit.

I pitched and I played the outfield.

Well, my favorite sport as a kid was clearly baseball.

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