Quotes From Ronald Reagan

"I had a ball on the way to the plate and there was no way to call it back. So, I had Augie foul this pitch down the left field line. He fouled for six minutes and forty-five seconds. My voice was riding in pitch and threatening to crack - and then, bless him, Curly started typing. I clutched at the slip. It said: 'Galan popped out on the first ball pitched."

"I just know its an ugly rumor that you and I (Gaylord Perry) are the only two people left alive who saw Abner Doubleday throw out the first pitch."

"I never cared for baseball... because I was ball-shy at batting. When I stood at the plate, the ball appeared out of nowhere about two feet in front of me. I was always the last chosen for a side in any game."

"I think we ought to nail his (Qadhafi) nuts to that log over there (the Orioles dugout bench) and push him over."

"I wouldn't even complain if a stray ball came through the Oval Office window now and then."

"Nostalgia bubbles within me and I might have to be dragged away (1981 Hall of Famers Luncheon at the White House)."

"One day at Catalina, Charlie Grimm, the Cubs' manager bawled me out for not even showing up at the practice field. How could I tell him that somewhere within myself was the knowledge I would no longer be a sports announcer."

"(baseball is) our national pastime, that is if you discount political campaigning."

"This is really more fun than being President. I really do love baseball and I wish we could do this (1983 Old-Timers Game) on the lawn every day."

"You know in a few months I'm going to be out of work and I thought I might as well audition." - Broadcasting September 30, 1988

Quotes About Ronald Reagan

"He's sitting over there (by his desk in the Oval Office) and says, 'Hey Grover Cleveland. I played him in the movies.' I said no, you played Grover Cleveland Alexander, the baseball player. And then I knew the nation was in tough shape from that moment on." - Tip O'Neill

"He was very graceful and east to teach. I had this little quirk in my own motion where I did a little hop after I released the ball so I would be in position to field a ball hit back at me. By the time they started shooting the movie, Reagan was doing exactly the same thing." - Bob Lemon

"I think the President enjoyed this visit even more that we did." - Joe DiMaggio

"I was the player that plunked Reagan with a ball between the eyes as he was heading for second. We used a cotton ball and when I hit him I shouted, 'look out!' But the director said, 'cut.' He figured I would get an extra $350 for having a speaking role so we reshot the scene, and after I hit Reagan, I had to look sad and keep my face down as Reagan was sprawled on the ground." - Peanuts Lowrey

"The wire has gone dead." - 1934 note handed to Reagan as he was calling play-by-play - he went on to improvise for six minutes

"You could tell he was an old radio guy. He never once looked at the television monitor." - Harry Caray

Quotes From & About Ronald Reagan