Passionate, heart-stirring quotes that let you feel the way of life of professional baseball players.
From Japan’s professional baseball leagues to MLB, the WBC, and the Olympics, countless memorable quotes have emerged from players who have shined on the biggest stages.
In this article, we highlight famous quotes from professional baseball players—both retired and active—who have excelled across many arenas.
Spoken to inspire themselves and their teams, these words will encourage not only those who dream of becoming pro baseball players, but also anyone who pours their effort into something every day.
Let these passionate words—tough yet full of heart—ignite your spirit!
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Powerful, heartfelt quotes (21–30) that let you feel the way professional baseball players live their lives.
Because I lack talent, I have to think twice as hard as others to catch up.Koku Wada
You can’t easily catch up to someone talented with just a little effort, can you? To catch up, overtake, and win against such a person, you have to think and act even more than they do.
This quote is one that fires you up and makes you recommit to putting in daily effort.
It’s a famous saying by Tsuyoshi Wada, who excelled with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Chicago Cubs and also competed in the Athens Olympics.
These words likely teach us that it’s important to make a great effort—not only against those with talent, but so that you won’t lose to anyone around you.
Practice doesn’t lie. What you put into practice will always come back to you.Kudo Kimiyasu
Mr.
Kudo has continued to rack up dazzling results at Koshien, in professional baseball, and even after becoming a manager.
When people say “a guaranteed winner” or “a man who’s got it,” they’re talking about him.
His words teach us the importance of practice.
Some might think, “Isn’t this a bit too plain to be a quote?” but planning, executing, and sustaining practice is incredibly hard! He even goes on to say, “Even efforts that don’t pay off at the time will come back to you in another way.” “No effort is ever wasted”—it’s truly one of those sayings you want to keep close to your heart.
Being at the top isn’t enough. I want to be so far ahead that second place fades into the distance.Daisuke Matsuzaka
Nicknamed the “Monster of the Heisei Era,” Daisuke Matsuzaka shone in summer high school baseball, Japan’s pro leagues, and even in the majors.
This quote is fitting precisely because he was always at the top.
Once you reach the top, it’s easy to grow complacent and think, “This is good enough,” but if you do that, those in second or third place may overtake you.
That’s why, rather than resting on your laurels, his words convey a resolve to keep working hard no matter how good your results are.
Whether you’ve won a championship, ranked first on a test, or earned a promotion, let’s keep striving so we don’t get overtaken by those below us!
Fight with everything you’ve got for that moment when you win and gather on the mound.Ryoji Kuribayashi
A true overhand power pitcher who could probably compete on the world stage, Kuribayashi’s famous words are as pure as if a boy had grown up just as he was.
Kuribayashi is also known for his high strikeout rate, but his mental toughness is surely second to none.
When a game is won and the championship is decided, all the players sprint to the mound—perhaps the mound is a sanctuary not only for pitchers but for everyone involved in baseball.
The moment when all is rewarded by the smiles of those gathered—these are words that only players who have fought in earnest can speak.
May your life also be filled with many moments when you achieve something and people gather around you with smiles.
People can call it half-baked, but I’m me.Akira Neo
It was Akira Neo who spoke about firmly establishing his own core and having confidence that, no matter what others say, he is who he is.
In 2022, he made headlines for switching from outfielder to shortstop during the season, and then later converting to pitcher.
This was highly unusual and drew mixed reactions from those around him.
Even so, in an interview Neo said these words, expressing a firm resolve to stay true to himself.
It’s a remark that teaches us the importance of moving forward while holding on to who you are.
Timidity is the greatest enemy.Tsuda Tsunemi
When days go by where things don’t go well or you just can’t seem to beat your rivals, anyone can start to lose heart.
In times like that, remember these words and break free from discouragement! They were spoken by Tsunemi Tsuda, who played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and was known as the “Fiery Stopper.” When you start thinking “I can’t do it,” “It’s impossible,” or “I want to quit,” your feet stop moving and you can’t do anything.
That’s how fear and timidity become the biggest enemy—bigger than anyone or anything else.
I used to love baseball. Can I really take even a single day off from something I love this much?Sachio Kinugasa
Mr.
Sachio Kinugasa, known as the Iron Man, holds Japan’s record for consecutive games played, and even die-hard baseball fans say, “This is a record that will never be broken.” He must have had small physical discomforts during his playing days—like “my back hurts” or “my thighs feel tight.” That’s precisely why his words resonate so deeply with us.
From a baseball boy to a baseball youth, and then all the way to a baseball old-timer, Kinugasa always “loved baseball.” Being able to take that much pride in your life’s work is just wonderful!