Ernie Banks

My theme is, 'The spirit of friendship is the balance of life.' Not money. Not the World Series. It's friendship. The relationships I have with people, that's enough to keep me happy.

It's a kind of philosophy of my own life, to create the energy enough to keep on going.

Playing for the Kansas City Monarchs was like my school, my learning, my world. It was my whole life.

I meet a lot of people that grew up with my career and have retired, and I just want to talk to them. I like to get a feeling from them, a feeling of the old times.

I wanted to finish my career with one team, in one city, one mayor, one park, one owner. I did that. The Wrigleys owned the team. We played all of our home games at Wrigley Field during the daytime. So my career was very unique, and I am proud of it.

When you do things to try to help people and share things, it really comes back to you. I try to do that.

It would be a lot different for me because there is a lot of information that you need to know about as a player. How pitchers are pitching you, how defenses are playing, certain situations about certain pitchers.

The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money.

I hit a home run in my first game, and they told me to go into the stands and pass my cap around. I made six dollars in nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Some people feel that because you are black you will never be treated fairly, and that you should voice your opinions, be militant about them. I don't feel this way. You can't convince a fool against his will.

When I wake up in the morning, I feel like a billionaire without paying taxes.

I like my players to be married and in debt. That's the way you motivate them.