Jim Leyland Quotes

• I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'

  Jim Leyland

  Song, Humorous, Player

  58 Copy quote

• You're not always going to be at your best, but it better be the best you've got that day.

  Jim Leyland

  Being The Best

  25 Copy quote

• Still. Smokers out there, you know what I'm talking about. That moment, after you've had a huge meal, say at Thanksgiving, when you step outside in the cold, light up a cigarette and take a deep inhale ... that's about the best moment in the world, you know? All the smokers out there, you know that feeling. Sometimes, smoking is fantastic.

  Jim Leyland

  Talking, Light, Smoking

  "Jim Leyland, America's Role Model". deadspin.com. October 3, 2005.

  25 Copy quote

• You don't lead by lip service, you lead by example.

  Jim Leyland

  Example, Lips, Lip Service

  14 Copy quote

• When it’s time, it’s time … and it’s time.

  Jim Leyland

  "CNN Newsroom", www.cnn.com. October 22, 2013.

  15 Copy quote

• You can't run a mule in the Kentucky Derby.

  Jim Leyland

  Running, Kentucky, Mules

  Source: www.usatoday.com

  7 Copy quote

• It takes time to get the whole package. Freshmen can't be seniors.

  Jim Leyland

  Senior, Baseball, Freshman

  8 Copy quote

• We need our veterans to set an example, like being the first ones there. A veteran is entitled to a bigger paycheck, but not a special set of rules.

  Jim Leyland

  Our Veterans, Special, Firsts

  15 Copy quote

• We need to have preparation to win. A disciplined team will win more close games over a period of time.

  Jim Leyland

  Team, Winning, Games

  15 Copy quote

• I'm second in doubles - double vodkas, double scotches.

  Jim Leyland

  Scotch, Vodka

  10 Copy quote

• Everyone in the world disagrees with me, including some managers, but I think managing in the American League is much more difficult for that very reason (having the designated hitter). In the National League, my situation is dictated for me. If I'm behind in the game, I've got to pinch hit. I've got to take my pitcher out. In the American League, you have to zero in. You have to know exactly when to take them out of there. In the National League, that's done for you.

  Jim Leyland

  Zero, Thinking, Games

  13 Copy quote

• Momentum is your next day's pitcher.

  Jim Leyland

  Next Day, Momentum, Next

  "Giants' Sandoval Joins Home Run Elite In 8-3 Win". "Morning Edition" with Tom Goldman, www.npr.org. October 25, 2012.

  7 Copy quote

• I've managed 25 years, and I can probably count on one hand players that I didn't really care for, and that's probably thousands of players that I've managed. I think that's pretty good. I love the players and I always will.

  Jim Leyland

  Player, Thinking, Hands

  9 Copy quote

• Barry Bonds was like Joe Namath or Muhammad Ali. He could make a statement and go out and back it up. Not a lot of guys can do that. In fact, managers usually cringe when guys make statements about what they're going to do. In Barry's case, I liked it. I think he did it on purpose to motivate himself. In a lot of ways, it's easy for Barry. I think he needs a little controversy around him.

  Jim Leyland

  Thinking, Guy, Littles

  12 Copy quote

• When somebody talks about your career, most people are gonna talk about wins and losses, a World Series or pennants. But if somebody asked me how I would sum up my career I would say I had a unbelievable, fabulous career.

  Jim Leyland

  Loss, Winning, Careers

  "The skip’s good-bye". Interview with Mitch Albom, www.mitchalbom.com. November 10, 2013.

  9 Copy quote

• I learned this a long time ago. If you call a guy into your office and shut the door, if there’s media around, it sends up a red flag. I never wanted to embarrass a player.

  Jim Leyland

  Player, Red Flags, Doors

  "The skip’s good-bye". Interview with Mitch Albom, www.mitchalbom.com. November 10, 2013.

  7 Copy quote

• It's well known that I interviewed with Philadelphia last winter, and I'd like to manage again.

  Jim Leyland

  Winter, Philadelphia, Lasts

  8 Copy quote

• If anybody says they get used to it, you don't.

  Jim Leyland

  Used, Ifs

  4 Copy quote

• He represented the Twins , but I think everyone in baseball felt like they were a teammate of Kirby Puckett.

  Jim Leyland

  Baseball, Thinking, Teammate

  11 Copy quote

• My eight years in Detroit, obviously, were my most successful years managing. I think that Pittsburgh and Detroit are probably very, very similar. We kinda rekindled the fire of baseball in Pittsburgh. We did the exact same thing in Detroit.

  Jim Leyland

  Baseball, Successful, Thinking

  "The skip’s good-bye". Interview with Mitch Albom, www.mitchalbom.com. November 10, 2013.

  4 Copy quote

• I had 11 years of managerial experience and four years of coaching before I managed a big-league team. To me, it was important, because I learned a lot through trial and error. And it's tough to have to go through trial and error when you're a big-league manager.

  Jim Leyland

  Team, Errors, Years

  4 Copy quote

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