--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going…" description: "\"If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going to slip. You have to keep fighting to improve.\" — Nellie Fox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/nellie-fox-34203_ballplayer_if-a-ballplayer-is-satisfied-he-s-going_2282972.jpg" --- # If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going to slip. You have… ![“If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going to slip. You have to keep fighting to improve.” quote by Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/nellie-fox-34203_ballplayer_if-a-ballplayer-is-satisfied-he-s-going_2282972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/nellie-fox-34203_ballplayer_if-a-ballplayer-is-satisfied-he-s-going_2282972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/nellie-fox-34203_ballplayer_if-a-ballplayer-is-satisfied-he-s-going_2282972.jpg) > “If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going to slip. You have to keep fighting to improve.” [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complacency leads to decline; continuous effort and competition are needed to maintain performance. **In simple terms:** Never settle; keep improving. Key Takeaway Stay competitive, avoid complacency. Themes sports competition self‑improvement Mood motivational competitive Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - athletics - career development Key Concepts performance psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What areas of your life need renewed effort? - How do you guard against complacency? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [When you're not authentic to yourself, you're lying. You're going to get found out and you're going to slip up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/when-you-re-not-authentic-to-yourself-you-re-lying-you-re-going-to/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/on-two-legs-mickey-mantle-would-have-been-the-greatest-ballplayer-who/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [A pitcher is not a ballplayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-mathewson/a-pitcher-is-not-a-ballplayer/) [Christy Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-mathewson/) > [I thought I raised a ballplayer. You're nothing but a coward and a quitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/i-thought-i-raised-a-ballplayer-you-re-nothing-but-a-coward-and-a/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [The only real happiness a ballplayer has is when he is playing a ball game and accomplishes something he didn't think he could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ring-lardner/the-only-real-happiness-a-ballplayer-has-is-when-he-is-playing-a-ball/) [Ring Lardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ring-lardner/) > [“A ballplayer spends a good piece of his life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bouton/a-ballplayer-spends-a-good-piece-of-his-life-gripping-a-baseball-and/) [Jim Bouton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bouton/) > [I don't really classify myself as a scorer. I'm a ballplayer; I'm a playmaker. I like to set people up and make the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/i-don-t-really-classify-myself-as-a-scorer-i-m-a-ballplayer-i-m-a/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [I'm proud of everything that I've accomplished since I was a little boy. That was my dream - to be a ballplayer. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-alomar/i-m-proud-of-everything-that-i-ve-accomplished-since-i-was-a-little/) [Roberto Alomar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-alomar/) > [I'm a ballplayer. I know how hard the game is... and anybody that makes it in the Hall of Fame, I support. They become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/i-m-a-ballplayer-i-know-how-hard-the-game-is-and-anybody-that-makes/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [I'm a ballplayer that knows himself, and I'm patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/i-m-a-ballplayer-that-knows-himself-and-i-m-patient/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [Has he (Rickey Henderson) ever been here (Spring Training) the first day? You have to say Rickey's consistent. That's what you want in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mattingly/has-he-rickey-henderson-ever-been-here-spring-training-the-first-day/) [Don Mattingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mattingly/) > [I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-ballplayer-who-gave-all-i-had-to-give/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Baseball shaded my entire outlook on life, because that's how I first saw the world. I looked at everything, even today, through what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/baseball-shaded-my-entire-outlook-on-life-because-that-s-how-i-first/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [I think what separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-think-what-separates-a-superstar-from-the-average-ballplayer-is/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [For me, I try to look at a person's swagger and a little background on them if I already haven't liked them as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bivins/for-me-i-try-to-look-at-a-person-s-swagger-and-a-little-background-on/) [Michael Bivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bivins/) ## More by Nellie Fox > [What is the top requirement for a second baseman? A fine shortstop. I am fortunate in having the greatest shortstop in baseball, Luis Aparicio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/what-is-the-top-requirement-for-a-second-baseman-a-fine-shortstop-i/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [We really had baseball in the family. Even that little habit I've got of chewing tobacco on the ball field sort of comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/we-really-had-baseball-in-the-family-even-that-little-habit-i-ve-got/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [You don't have to be big to be a big leaguer. Look at Phil Rizzuto. He's really small and he's been one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/you-don-t-have-to-be-big-to-be-a-big-leaguer-look-at-phil-rizzuto-he/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [(Jim) Landis is such a good player because he plays every day as if he expects to be sent to the minors next week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/jim-landis-is-such-a-good-player-because-he-plays-every-day-as-if-he/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [I don't think anyone ever liked to play more than I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/i-don-t-think-anyone-ever-liked-to-play-more-than-i-did/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [Second base is anything but magic. If it's anything at all, it's speed, sureness with your hands and lots of hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/second-base-is-anything-but-magic-if-it-s-anything-at-all-it-s-speed/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [(Doc) Cramer told me I was hitting too much off the front foot and that I wasn't using the right kind of bat. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/doc-cramer-told-me-i-was-hitting-too-much-off-the-front-foot-and-that/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [All small men, all non-power hitters, must learn to bunt well. It's half your game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/all-small-men-all-non-power-hitters-must-learn-to-bunt-well-it-s-half/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/on-two-legs-mickey-mantle-would-have-been-the-greatest-ballplayer-who/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [(Al) Lopez is a great believer in speed and hustle, in the go-go style of baseball. No other manager is so determined a foe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/al-lopez-is-a-great-believer-in-speed-and-hustle-in-the-go-go-style/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [No one had to tell me I was never going to be a home run hitter. I was hitting the same ball as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/no-one-had-to-tell-me-i-was-never-going-to-be-a-home-run-hitter-i-was/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [On October 19, 1949, I got a telephone call from the Philadelphia (A's) front office informing me I had been traded to the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/on-october-19-1949-i-got-a-telephone-call-from-the-philadelphia-a-s/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [We won (the pennant) because we've got a superior ball club. Not many stars perhaps, but the kind of team that always plays well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/we-won-the-pennant-because-we-ve-got-a-superior-ball-club-not-many/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) [Explore all 14 Nellie Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) ## More Ballplayer quotes > [For me, I try to look at a person's swagger and a little background on them if I already haven't liked them as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bivins/for-me-i-try-to-look-at-a-person-s-swagger-and-a-little-background-on/) [Michael Bivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bivins/) > [I think what separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-think-what-separates-a-superstar-from-the-average-ballplayer-is/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Baseball shaded my entire outlook on life, because that's how I first saw the world. I looked at everything, even today, through what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/baseball-shaded-my-entire-outlook-on-life-because-that-s-how-i-first/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-ballplayer-who-gave-all-i-had-to-give/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Has he (Rickey Henderson) ever been here (Spring Training) the first day? You have to say Rickey's consistent. That's what you want in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mattingly/has-he-rickey-henderson-ever-been-here-spring-training-the-first-day/) [Don Mattingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mattingly/) > [I'm a ballplayer that knows himself, and I'm patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/i-m-a-ballplayer-that-knows-himself-and-i-m-patient/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [I'm a ballplayer. I know how hard the game is... and anybody that makes it in the Hall of Fame, I support. They become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/i-m-a-ballplayer-i-know-how-hard-the-game-is-and-anybody-that-makes/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [I'm proud of everything that I've accomplished since I was a little boy. That was my dream - to be a ballplayer. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-alomar/i-m-proud-of-everything-that-i-ve-accomplished-since-i-was-a-little/) [Roberto Alomar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-alomar/) > [I don't really classify myself as a scorer. I'm a ballplayer; I'm a playmaker. I like to set people up and make the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/i-don-t-really-classify-myself-as-a-scorer-i-m-a-ballplayer-i-m-a/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [“A ballplayer spends a good piece of his life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bouton/a-ballplayer-spends-a-good-piece-of-his-life-gripping-a-baseball-and/) [Jim Bouton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bouton/) > [The only real happiness a ballplayer has is when he is playing a ball game and accomplishes something he didn't think he could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ring-lardner/the-only-real-happiness-a-ballplayer-has-is-when-he-is-playing-a-ball/) [Ring Lardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ring-lardner/) > [I thought I raised a ballplayer. You're nothing but a coward and a quitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/i-thought-i-raised-a-ballplayer-you-re-nothing-but-a-coward-and-a/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [A pitcher is not a ballplayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-mathewson/a-pitcher-is-not-a-ballplayer/) [Christy Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-mathewson/) > [Any ballplayer that don't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American. He's a communist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/any-ballplayer-that-don-t-sign-autographs-for-little-kids-ain-t-an/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [My father never saw me play ball, and I was an outstanding ballplayer. I missed all that adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-aiello/my-father-never-saw-me-play-ball-and-i-was-an-outstanding-ballplayer/) [Danny Aiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-aiello/) Browse all 70 Ballplayer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a ballplayer is satisfied, he's going to slip. 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