--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was always just trying to move to the…" description: "\"It was always just trying to move to the next limit. I didn't think about making the major leagues - every kid has that dream, I had it, but when I was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/jim-abbott-20375_baseball_it-was-always-just-trying-to-move-to-the_3025825.jpg" --- # It was always just trying to move to the next limit. I… ![“It was always just trying to move to the next limit. I didn't think about making the major leagues - every kid has that dream, I had it, but when I was in Little League I just wanted to make the junior high team. When I was in junior high, I wanted to make the Varsity team.” quote by Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/jim-abbott-20375_baseball_it-was-always-just-trying-to-move-to-the_3025825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/jim-abbott-20375_baseball_it-was-always-just-trying-to-move-to-the_3025825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/jim-abbott-20375_baseball_it-was-always-just-trying-to-move-to-the_3025825.jpg) > “It was always just trying to move to the next limit. I didn't think about making the major leagues - every kid has that dream, I had it, but when I was in Little League I just wanted to make the junior high team. When I was in junior high, I wanted to make the Varsity team.” [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He focused on incremental progress, aiming for the next achievable goal rather than distant fame. **In simple terms:** Focus on the next step, not the ultimate dream. Key Takeaway Aim for the next achievable target. Themes goal setting incremental progress humility Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - school sports - career planning - personal growth - team selection Key Concepts sports psychology motivation development Questions to Reflect On - What small goal can you set today? - How does focusing on the next step affect motivation? A Different Perspective Neglecting long‑term vision can limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Junior high](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-high/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Little league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-league/) [Major league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-league/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a great bowler. I was in a couple of leagues as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-m-a-great-bowler-i-was-in-a-couple-of-leagues-as-a-kid/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [There was nothing to keep him (Cal Ripken, Jr.) from being a star in the Major Leagues. That was inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/there-was-nothing-to-keep-him-cal-ripken-jr-from-being-a-star-in-the/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [But baseball bounced back in the next decade to reclaim its place as the national pastime: new heroes, spirited competition, and booming prosperity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/but-baseball-bounced-back-in-the-next-decade-to-reclaim-its-place-as/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) > [There's a lot of disrespect in the major leagues. I believe that the disrespect in the major leagues is at a high rate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bengie-molina/there-s-a-lot-of-disrespect-in-the-major-leagues-i-believe-that-the/) [Bengie Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bengie-molina/) > [Dear Mr. Kuhn, After twelve years in the major leagues, I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-flood/dear-mr-kuhn-after-twelve-years-in-the-major-leagues-i-do-not-feel/) [Curt Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-flood/) > [I perform in the major leagues of what I do. It's incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-perform-in-the-major-leagues-of-what-i-do-it-s-incredible/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I had some tough times. Now that I look back on it, I'm very grateful for those times. I know now that I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-holliday/i-had-some-tough-times-now-that-i-look-back-on-it-i-m-very-grateful/) [Matt Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-holliday/) > [Not many people get to the major leagues and succeed right away. There are some struggles. Everyone seems to struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/not-many-people-get-to-the-major-leagues-and-succeed-right-away-there/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [I'd rather play in the major leagues and have some bad games than play consistently good ball in the minors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-d-rather-play-in-the-major-leagues-and-have-some-bad-games-than/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [If you got a hit every third time that you went up to bat in the major leagues, you'd be the greatest hitter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/if-you-got-a-hit-every-third-time-that-you-went-up-to-bat-in-the/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [When you start out in this business, the Hall of Fame is not what you're thinking about. You think all you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-greenwald/when-you-start-out-in-this-business-the-hall-of-fame-is-not-what-you/) Hank Greenwald > [Letting him manage in the major leagues is like sending Bo Derek through cellblock A without a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/letting-him-manage-in-the-major-leagues-is-like-sending-bo-derek/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [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/) > [Anyone with talent can play in the Major Leagues; for someone like me to stay around as long as I did, I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/anyone-with-talent-can-play-in-the-major-leagues-for-someone-like-me/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [I was very nervous, excited, and happy to be given the opportunity to even be in the major leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bengie-molina/i-was-very-nervous-excited-and-happy-to-be-given-the-opportunity-to/) [Bengie Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bengie-molina/) ## More by Jim Abbott > [I still get a lot of letters from kids and parents who face different challenges and disabilities. I share some of the lessons that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-still-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-kids-and-parents-who-face-different/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-ignoring-disabilities-and/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I believe that challenges can push us beyond what we might otherwise be able to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-believe-that-challenges-can-push-us-beyond-what-we-might-otherwise/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I benefited from tremendous encouragement as a kid. So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me even when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-benefited-from-tremendous-encouragement-as-a-kid-so-many-people/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I had an incredible experience living in New York, playing for the Yankees, to go through all of the things I did, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-had-an-incredible-experience-living-in-new-york-playing-for-the/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [Find something you love, and go after it, with all of your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/find-something-you-love-and-go-after-it-with-all-of-your-heart/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I loved throwing a baseball. It is so important to find something in life you feel crazy about. Because you are so passionate you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-loved-throwing-a-baseball-it-is-so-important-to-find-something-in/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [My advice is that you go and do something that you are really driven to do. I loved to play baseball and, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/my-advice-is-that-you-go-and-do-something-that-you-are-really-driven/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I knew how far a little boy or girl could run with 50 words of reassurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-knew-how-far-a-little-boy-or-girl-could-run-with-50-words-of/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/what-s-cool-about-baseball-is-you-don-t-have-to-see-someone-for-years/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [One of the beautiful things about baseball is the history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/one-of-the-beautiful-things-about-baseball-is-the-history/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I think you need optimism. I believe that's incredibly important that you be optimistic that you can do things different and still do them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-think-you-need-optimism-i-believe-that-s-incredibly-important-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I always wanted to be a shortstop so I could play more often!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-shortstop-so-i-could-play-more-often/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) [Explore all 31 Jim Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## 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. 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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": "It was always just trying to move to the next limit. I didn't think about making the major leagues - every kid has that dream, I had it, but when I was in Little League I just wanted to make the junior high team. 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