Back and forth Quote by Burleigh Grimes
![“One day he [Wagner] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. The catcher was a kid, too . The pitcher threw Honus a curve ball, and he swung at it and missed and fell down. Looked helpless as a robin. I was kind of surprised, but the guy sitting next to me poked me in…” quote by Burleigh Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c43/burleigh-grimes-53660_back-and-forth_one-day-he-wagner-was-batting-against-a_191761.jpg)
“One day he [Wagner] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. The catcher was a kid, too . The pitcher threw Honus a curve ball, and he swung at it and missed and fell down. Looked helpless as a robin. I was kind of surprised, but the guy sitting next to me poked me in the ribs and said, 'Watch this next one.' Those kids figured they had the old man's weakness, you see, and served him up the same dish - as he knew they would. Well, Honus hit a line drive so hard the fence in left field went back and forth for five minutes.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Baseball Hall of Fame Oral History, 1970s
A veteran player was underestimated because of a perceived weakness, but he turned it into a spectacular success.
In simple terms: Experience can surprise opponents.
Key Takeaway
Expect the unexpected from seasoned talent.
Themes
sports
experience
underestimation
resilience
Mood
surprised
admiring
Type
anecdotal
inspirational
When to use this quote
- game moments
- coaching advice
- team dynamics
Key Concepts
baseball strategy
psychology of competition
Questions to Reflect On
- How can experience be leveraged against stereotypes?
- What does this teach about judging abilities?
A Different Perspective
Assumes weakness always leads to easy advantage.
![“Writing two stories [in the Thorn and the Blossom] about the same set of events that were complete stories in themselves, but also added up to a larger story. As I was writing them, I kept going back and forth, because something would happen in one story that would have to be reflected in the…” quote by Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c0d/theodora-goss-10051_back-and-forth_writing-two-stories-in-the-thorn-and-the_213001.jpg)
