---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way I figured it, I was even with…"
description: "\"The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.\" — Jackie Robinson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg"
---

#  The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and…

![“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.” quote by Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg)

> “The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.”

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He sees a mutual relationship with baseball, each shaping the other, highlighting personal growth through sport.

**In simple terms:** Baseball shaped me, I shaped it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize reciprocal influence.

Themes

sports identity mutual impact

Mood

proud determined

Type

reflective motivational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- team dynamics
- community involvement

Key Concepts

personal development reciprocity

Questions to Reflect On

- How have you given back to the sport?
- What does reciprocity mean to you?

A Different Perspective

May ignore systemic barriers faced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Baseball Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-baseball-582343/) [Baseball game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-game/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figured/) [Figured Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figured-baseball-5999147/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-figured-5999148/)

## Related quotes

> [Baseball is baseball whether you're in last place in August or in first place in August.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/baseball-is-baseball-whether-you-re-in-last-place-in-august-or-in/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [“ Friends. Just friends. Baseball... baseball... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibylla-matilde/friends-just-friends-baseball-baseball/)

[Sibylla Matilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibylla-matilde/)

> [I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-love-to-play-baseball-i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-always-been-a/)

[Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/)

> [You can't get real happy or real depressed when you play baseball. Baseball is a great sport in that it offers a player a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-piazza/you-can-t-get-real-happy-or-real-depressed-when-you-play-baseball/)

[Mike Piazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-piazza/)

> [Baseball is baseball, whether you are playing in High A or Double-A or the Major Leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/baseball-is-baseball-whether-you-are-playing-in-high-a-or-double-a-or/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Love the game of baseball and baseball will love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/love-the-game-of-baseball-and-baseball-will-love-you/)

[Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/)

> [All the time, I think positive things about baseball. That's always how you do it. I'm a baseball player-that's all I want to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-soriano/all-the-time-i-think-positive-things-about-baseball-that-s-always-how/)

[Rafael Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-soriano/)

> [I owe baseball. Baseball don't owe me a damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-owe-baseball-baseball-don-t-owe-me-a-damn-thing/)

[Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/)

> [Where would I be without baseball? Who am I without baseball?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/where-would-i-be-without-baseball-who-am-i-without-baseball/)

[Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/)

> [I chose baseball because to me baseball is the best game of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/i-chose-baseball-because-to-me-baseball-is-the-best-game-of-all/)

[Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/)

> [Without Cooperstown, you don't have baseball: Baseball is history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kilmeade/without-cooperstown-you-don-t-have-baseball-baseball-is-history/)

[Brian Kilmeade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kilmeade/)

> [You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the youth - that means the boys. And after you've been a boy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-this-baseball-game-of-ours-comes-up-from-the-youth-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/)

[Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## More by Jackie Robinson

> [I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-had-to-fight-hard-against-loneliness-abuse-and-the-knowledge-that/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [After two years at UCLA, I decided to leave. I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/after-two-years-at-ucla-i-decided-to-leave-i-was-convinced-that-no/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-longley-he-proved-to-me-that/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/today-negroes-play-on-every-big-league-club-and-in-every-minor-league/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [In all my years of baseball, I have always expected to be traded. I never liked the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/in-all-my-years-of-baseball-i-have-always-expected-to-be-traded-i/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/pop-flies-in-a-sense-are-just-a-diversion-for-a-second-baseman/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-been-white-with-the-things-i-did-they-never-would-have/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [This ain't fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/this-ain-t-fun-but-you-watch-me-i-ll-get-it-done/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [Are you looking for a Negro who won't fight back?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/are-you-looking-for-a-negro-who-won-t-fight-back/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [If I had to choose between baseball’s Hall of Fame and first class citizenship for all of my people. I would say first-class citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-to-choose-between-baseball-s-hall-of-fame-and-first-class/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [I cannot possibly believe that I have it made while so many black brothers and sisters are hungry, inadequately housed, insufficiently clothed, denied their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-cannot-possibly-believe-that-i-have-it-made-while-so-many-black/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [I don't think that I or any other Negro, as an American citizen, should have to ask for anything that is rightfully his. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-don-t-think-that-i-or-any-other-negro-as-an-american-citizen-should/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-right-of-every-american-to-first-class-citizenship-is-the-most/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [It's not easy to be a martyr in the field of race relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-martyr-in-the-field-of-race-relations/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

> [I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-do-not-believe-that-every-person-in-every-walk-of-life-can-succeed/)

[Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/)

[Explore all 63 Jackie Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-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 &amp; 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": "The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jackie Robinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-baseball-and-baseball-with-me/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-baseball-and-baseball-with-me/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/jackie-robinson-10820_baseball_the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-bas_2398364.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I…” — Jackie Robinson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jackie Robinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The way I figured it, I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-baseball-and-baseball-with-me/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-way-i-figured-it-i-was-even-with-baseball-and-baseball-with-me/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
