Monte Irvin

Willie Wells, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, Buck Leonard, Quincy Troupe, Satchel Paige - earlier than when he was called up - Oscar…

— Monte Irvin

Everyone says we have our first African American president. Has there ever been a Jewish president? An Italian president? They don't say…

— Monte Irvin

I was all-state in four sports in New Jersey, but sometimes I couldn't get served at a restaurant two blocks from my…

— Monte Irvin

My mother was a Bible student, and when I was a youngster, both my mother and father would say, 'If people would…

— Monte Irvin

I always felt that I had a mission in life. I thought I was born to play sports. Even now, I still…

— Monte Irvin

We used to look at each other and say, 'We play the same game with the same rules, the same bat, the…

— Monte Irvin

Early in life I learned, just through observation, that right always wins out over wrong. If a person has good intentions in…

— Monte Irvin

I played for Almendares in Cuba. Guess who was trying out for the team? Castro. Fidel Castro, as a pitcher. He could…

— Monte Irvin

For me, there was nothing like my time with the Eagles - ever. We were young, and the world was new to…

— Monte Irvin

Many of the greatest black athletes of all time played baseball for no money and no recognition. I'm just sorry many major…

— Monte Irvin

It was in 1942 and I flew from St. Louis to Mexico City. I had just gotten married and we were on…

— Monte Irvin

The reason we had an all-black outfield in '51 is Don Mueller got hurt, so Hank Thompson was a legitimate replacement. So…

— Monte Irvin

Oscar Charleston was the Willie Mays of his day. Nobody ever played center field better than Willie Mays. Suppose they had never…

— Monte Irvin

I'm a forgiver. I might not forget, but I forgive. My mother, father and older brother always told me: 'Don't hold grudges.…

— Monte Irvin

I played with Willie Mays and against Hank Aaron. They were tremendous players, but they were no Josh Gibson.

— Monte Irvin

Baseball has done more to move America in the right direction than all of the professional patriots with all their cheap words.

— Monte Irvin

I think anybody who saw him will tell you that Willie Mays was the greatest player who ever lived.

— Monte Irvin

Leo Durocher was our manager and he brought Willie up to me and said, 'This is Willie Mays and he's your new…

— Monte Irvin

You should have seen Willie Wells play shortstop: as good as Ozzie Smith and a better hitter. How I wish people could…

— Monte Irvin

I played in three countries. I played in two World Series. But I never found anything to match the joy and the…

— Monte Irvin

My all-time heroes are Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., two men who had to really work to achieve what…

— Monte Irvin