Keith Hernandez

Everyone has someone they looked up to. Mine was Mickey Mantle. For Alex Rodriguez to idolize me coming up, that makes me feel very good.

I've been to Gettysburg probably more than half a dozen times.

I had great moments. I had not-great moments.

I'm just another guy who likes his job and doesn't like his commute.

I always performed out of fear of failure - and that's a tough way to play. It was as if my back was to the wall and I was constantly surrounded by very dangerous people that were not friendly to me.

I remember, as a kid, I couldn't wait to get my library card, get my first book. There was a sphinx on the cover, and I figured I was going to read about the Egyptians. But it was this archeology. It was so dry. But I forced myself to read it because it was my first book out of the library. Should have gotten a 'Hardy Boys.'

I played football in the fall when I was in high school. Then basketball, a different conditioning - you're running up and down the courts. Then you come into baseball, you're doing a sprint to hit a triple.

I don't believe in playing just one sport. I believe it results in burnout, and each sport trains your body in a different way.

My high school coach was a bit of a jerk.

You can always improve your bench and relief pitching.

Acting is really not what I'm interested in. I'm not an aspiring actor and you should be able to tell.

In New York, I have a photo of my parents on their wedding day in 1947. They're beaming at home plate in Houston's Buffalo Stadium. I love the photo because my dad is smiling. He didn't smile much in his later years.