--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Close don't count in baseball. Close only…" description: "\"Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.\" — Frank Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/frank-robinson-16202_baseball_close-don-t-count-in-baseball-close-only_3112559.png" --- # Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in… ![“Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” quote by Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/frank-robinson-16202_baseball_close-don-t-count-in-baseball-close-only_3112559.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/frank-robinson-16202_baseball_close-don-t-count-in-baseball-close-only_3112559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/frank-robinson-16202_baseball_close-don-t-count-in-baseball-close-only_3112559.png) > “Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and grenades.” [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only precise, measurable outcomes count in sports; vague closeness is irrelevant except in games where proximity matters. **In simple terms:** Close matters only in specific games. Key Takeaway Focus on clear goals. Themes competition precision measurement Mood serious pragmatic Type observational practical When to use this quote - athletics - gaming - military tactics Key Concepts sports strategy goal setting Questions to Reflect On - When is effort enough? - How to define success precisely? A Different Perspective Some fields value effort over exact results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Grenade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grenade/) [Horseshoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horseshoes/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Nearly' only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/nearly-only-counts-in-horseshoes-and-hand-grenades/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm almost there.I'm almost over this bridge os trying to forget you...but almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-gernades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-almost-there-i-m-almost-over-this-bridge-os-trying-to-forget-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Close only counts in horseshoes and hand gernades”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/close-only-counts-in-horseshoes-and-hand-gernades/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [ Of course I don't believe in it \[pointing to horseshoe on his office wall\]. But I understand that it brings you luck whether you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/of-course-i-don-t-believe-in-it-pointing-to-horseshoe-on-his-office/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [Somebody once asked Niels Bohr why he had a horseshoe hanging above the front door of his house. Surely you, a world famous physicist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/somebody-once-asked-niels-bohr-why-he-had-a-horseshoe-hanging-above/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [ I've tried to move \[the sidhe-seers\] during times of peace and quiet and had the luck of a broken mirror nailed beneath an upside-down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-ve-tried-to-move-the-sidhe-seers-during-times-of-peace-and-quiet/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Horseshoes are lucky. Horses have four bits of lucky nailed to their feet. They should be the luckiest animals in the world. They should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/horseshoes-are-lucky-horses-have-four-bits-of-lucky-nailed-to-their/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [It's so fun to do theater, because as opposed to television, you just keep doing it again and again and again - every night.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missi-pyle/it-s-so-fun-to-do-theater-because-as-opposed-to-television-you-just/) [Missi Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missi-pyle/) > [“With shame, like horseshoes, proximity counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/with-shame-like-horseshoes-proximity-counts/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Tell Robb that I'm going to command the Night's Watch and keep him safe, so he might as well take up needlework with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-robb-that-i-m-going-to-command-the-night-s-watch-and-keep-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many authors write like amateur blacksmiths making their first horseshoe; the clank of the anvil, the stench of the scorched leather apron, the sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/many-authors-write-like-amateur-blacksmiths-making-their-first/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I would not be too surprised to see a flying horse; I would consider it as a gift of the evolution; but I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/i-would-not-be-too-surprised-to-see-a-flying-horse-i-would-consider/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-noticed-that-all-the-prayers-i-used-to-offer-to-god-and-all-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Narrative should flow as flows the brook down through the hills and the leafy woodlands...a brook that never goes straight for a minute, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/narrative-should-flow-as-flows-the-brook-down-through-the-hills-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-given-out-that-the-animals-there-practised-cannibalism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by Frank Robinson > [I haven't seen a player in this game, as long as I've been in it, that can't be pitched to... Barry is an outstanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-haven-t-seen-a-player-in-this-game-as-long-as-i-ve-been-in-it-that/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [As a black, you find you have to be two or three times better than a white even to play. And when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/as-a-black-you-find-you-have-to-be-two-or-three-times-better-than-a/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [I don't see anyone playing in the major leagues today (1982) who combines both the talent and the intensity that I had. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-don-t-see-anyone-playing-in-the-major-leagues-today-1982-who/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [Al Campanis made people finally understand what goes on behind closed doors - that there is racism in baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/al-campanis-made-people-finally-understand-what-goes-on-behind-closed/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [Pitchers did me a favor when they knocked me down. It made me more determined. I wouldn't let that pitcher get me out. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/pitchers-did-me-a-favor-when-they-knocked-me-down-it-made-me-more/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [No. 1, these guys out here on this field. They keep my energy level up. They try hard, they don't complain about things -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/no-1-these-guys-out-here-on-this-field-they-keep-my-energy-level-up/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [You have to have a short memory as a closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/you-have-to-have-a-short-memory-as-a-closer/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [If he can hit, he can hit. I don't care if he came from Class Z league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/if-he-can-hit-he-can-hit-i-don-t-care-if-he-came-from-class-z-league/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [I've never seen baseball advertise for a job, and I've never heard of whites applying for a job. I mean, there's an old boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-ve-never-seen-baseball-advertise-for-a-job-and-i-ve-never-heard-of/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [ I expect that \[trying to do the best\] of my players today and of my kids. My wife says I shouldn't expect that of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-expect-that-trying-to-do-the-best-of-my-players-today-and-of-my/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [The baselines belongs to the runner, and whenever I was running the bases, I always slid hard. I wanted infielders to have that instant's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/the-baselines-belongs-to-the-runner-and-whenever-i-was-running-the/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [Be anything you want to be, but don't be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/be-anything-you-want-to-be-but-don-t-be-dull/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [All in all, I wouldn't call it a bad outing. It was a short outing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/all-in-all-i-wouldn-t-call-it-a-bad-outing-it-was-a-short-outing/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [Listen, I was the first black manager in baseball and there was incredible pressure. I don't blame anyone else. I was too tough .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/listen-i-was-the-first-black-manager-in-baseball-and-there-was/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [I had no trouble communicating, the player's just didn't like what I had to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-had-no-trouble-communicating-the-player-s-just-didn-t-like-what-i/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) [Explore all 40 Frank Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [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/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Close don't count in baseball. 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