--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think I was like the wicket…" description: "\"I used to think I was like the wicket- keeper, which is like the catcher in base- ball, y'know what I mean? You can call the play a lot from behind the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/eric-idle-3734_balls_i-used-to-think-i-was-like-the-wicket-ke_2667014.jpg" --- # I used to think I was like the wicket- keeper, which is… ![“I used to think I was like the wicket- keeper, which is like the catcher in base- ball, y'know what I mean? You can call the play a lot from behind the plate, y'know what I mean? You're not necessarily the star, you're not the one that makes the mark, but usually in the end, you're called upon to…” quote by Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/eric-idle-3734_balls_i-used-to-think-i-was-like-the-wicket-ke_2667014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/eric-idle-3734_balls_i-used-to-think-i-was-like-the-wicket-ke_2667014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/eric-idle-3734_balls_i-used-to-think-i-was-like-the-wicket-ke_2667014.jpg) > “I used to think I was like the wicket- keeper, which is like the catcher in base- ball, y'know what I mean? You can call the play a lot from behind the plate, y'know what I mean? You're not necessarily the star, you're not the one that makes the mark, but usually in the end, you're called upon to get a run when it's needed.” [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The behind‑the‑scenes role may be overlooked, but it becomes crucial when needed. **In simple terms:** Support roles are vital despite lacking spotlight. Key Takeaway Value and prepare for essential support roles. Themes teamwork humility unsung heroes readiness Mood humorous insightful Type team dynamics motivational When to use this quote - project management - sports teams - emergency response - theater production Key Concepts role theory group dynamics recognition Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations honor behind‑the‑scenes contributions? - When have you relied on an unexpected support role? A Different Perspective Support roles often lack recognition and reward. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [To me, White Boy Shuffle is sort of like Catcher in the Rye, the story is so universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/to-me-white-boy-shuffle-is-sort-of-like-catcher-in-the-rye-the-story/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [I really like The Catcher in the Rye a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-suplee/i-really-like-the-catcher-in-the-rye-a-lot/) [Ethan Suplee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-suplee/) > [“Being a parent is like being a catcher. You gotta handle whatever is thrown your way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-swyers/being-a-parent-is-like-being-a-catcher-you-gotta-handle-whatever-is/) Tom Swyers > [I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have made it? Hard to say. I probably wouldn't quite have been good enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-was-a-wicket-keeper-who-opened-the-batting-could-i-have-made-it/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [Don't try to strike everybody out ... stay back and just focus on the catcher's mitt, just throw the ball low in the strike zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ubaldo-jimenez/don-t-try-to-strike-everybody-out-stay-back-and-just-focus-on-the/) Ubaldo Jimenez > [Joe Torre, who switched to first base because he didn't want to go through life as Chicken Catcher Torre. Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/joe-torre-who-switched-to-first-base-because-he-didn-t-want-to-go/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) > [Yes, hard is good. When I was in high school, I spent a lot of time on my knees playing with balls. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-piazza/yes-hard-is-good-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-on/) [Mike Piazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-piazza/) > [ One day he \[Wagner\] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. The catcher was a kid, too .… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burleigh-grimes/one-day-he-wagner-was-batting-against-a-young-pitcher-who-had-just/) [Burleigh Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burleigh-grimes/) > [The game has never seen a better catcher than YADIER MOLINA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/the-game-has-never-seen-a-better-catcher-than-yadier-molina/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [When I was 16 years old, my brother Frank said, 'You'd better become a catcher, because you're too big and fat to do anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/when-i-was-16-years-old-my-brother-frank-said-you-d-better-become-a/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [There is only one Mariano Rivera. There wont be another person who will come along and do what he did. No one does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-posada/there-is-only-one-mariano-rivera-there-wont-be-another-person-who/) [Jorge Posada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-posada/) > [It's hard on an all-gay softball team because no one knows if they want to be a pitcher or a catcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-s-hard-on-an-all-gay-softball-team-because-no-one-knows-if-they/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [It is now. It is always now. Now is good. Now could be the best. My name is Catcher. My name was Catcher. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/it-is-now-it-is-always-now-now-is-good-now-could-be-the-best-my-name/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [No one ever grew up intending to be an umpire, except perhaps my friend Bill Haller. His brother Tom wanted to be a catcher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/no-one-ever-grew-up-intending-to-be-an-umpire-except-perhaps-my/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [My idea of a 'super bowl' is when the catcher is standing in front of the plate with the ball, waiting for me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-gibson/my-idea-of-a-super-bowl-is-when-the-catcher-is-standing-in-front-of/) [Kirk Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-gibson/) ## More by Eric Idle > [“Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it, life's a laugh and deat's a joke, it's true: You'll se it's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/life-s-a-piece-of-shit-when-you-look-at-it-life-s-a-laugh-and-deat-s/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Having little money to spend was a valuable learning experience. My schooling also shaped my work ethic because while other children were listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/having-little-money-to-spend-was-a-valuable-learning-experience-my/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Americans like to think 'Python' is how English people really are. There is an element of truth to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/americans-like-to-think-python-is-how-english-people-really-are-there/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ If you're famous, you have to \[be overly generous\], otherwise people say, "Eric Idle came in and only left me $4." I always tip… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/if-you-re-famous-you-have-to-be-overly-generous-otherwise-people-say/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-in-america-you-have-freedom-of-speech-which-is-a-good-thing/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [You look just like you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/you-look-just-like-you/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Many years ago I also bought a house in Provence for about 70,000 francs. It had no electricity or running water, and no road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/many-years-ago-i-also-bought-a-house-in-provence-for-about-70-000/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [No day of my life passes without someone saying the words 'Monty Python' to me. It's not bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/no-day-of-my-life-passes-without-someone-saying-the-words-monty/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I believe in the separation of church and planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-planet/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I've got soggy thighs. It must be dinner time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-ve-got-soggy-thighs-it-must-be-dinner-time/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-one-way-of-measuring-the-freedom-of-any-society-is-the/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [The Minister of Transport issued this appeal to motorists: Can anyone give him a lift to Leicester?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/the-minister-of-transport-issued-this-appeal-to-motorists-can-anyone/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-think-the-special-thing-about-python-is-that-it-s-a-writers-commune/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ There's no gap between the writer and the performer, which is what I think makes \[Monty\] Python unique. Five or six people who write… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/there-s-no-gap-between-the-writer-and-the-performer-which-is-what-i/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) [Explore all 122 Eric Idle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. 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