--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just wanted to go play in the big…" description: "\"I just wanted to go play in the big leagues. But possibly playing for the Yankees is very special.\" — Nick Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/nick-johnson-29192_baseball_i-just-wanted-to-go-play-in-the-big-leag_1987732.png" --- # I just wanted to go play in the big leagues. But possibly… ![“I just wanted to go play in the big leagues. But possibly playing for the Yankees is very special.” quote by Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/nick-johnson-29192_baseball_i-just-wanted-to-go-play-in-the-big-leag_1987732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/nick-johnson-29192_baseball_i-just-wanted-to-go-play-in-the-big-leag_1987732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/nick-johnson-29192_baseball_i-just-wanted-to-go-play-in-the-big-leag_1987732.png) > “I just wanted to go play in the big leagues. But possibly playing for the Yankees is very special.” [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses excitement about playing for a prestigious team while acknowledging its unique significance. **In simple terms:** Playing for the Yankees is special. Key Takeaway Value the privilege of elite opportunities. Themes sports career ambition prestige team loyalty personal growth Mood motivational aspirational Type personal career When to use this quote - contract signing - first game - media interview Key Concepts professional sports career milestones team culture Questions to Reflect On - What does playing for a top team mean to you? - How do you handle added scrutiny? A Different Perspective May create pressure to meet high expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Big leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-leagues/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Yankees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yankees/) ## Related quotes > [You have to hit the fastball to play in the big leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-williams/you-have-to-hit-the-fastball-to-play-in-the-big-leagues/) [Ted Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-williams/) > [Playing against the Yankees is really cool, to hear the noise and just shut it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/playing-against-the-yankees-is-really-cool-to-hear-the-noise-and-just/) [Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/) > [I don't miss playing for the Yankees. I miss my friends, my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-soriano/i-don-t-miss-playing-for-the-yankees-i-miss-my-friends-my-teammates/) [Rafael Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-soriano/) > [Being in Silicon Valley is like playing for the Yankees. You get knocked around more than anywhere else, the glare of the media spotlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/being-in-silicon-valley-is-like-playing-for-the-yankees-you-get/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [My experience over 17 years playing with the Yankees, these are a few of the things that I've learned. You've got to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-williams/my-experience-over-17-years-playing-with-the-yankees-these-are-a-few/) [Bernie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-williams/) > [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/) > [I take a lot of pride in playing for the Yankees, and trying to do things the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gardner/i-take-a-lot-of-pride-in-playing-for-the-yankees-and-trying-to-do/) Brett Gardner > [I wish there was a bar I could send opposing teams to and get them hammered or something - I could tell my buddies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-clemens/i-wish-there-was-a-bar-i-could-send-opposing-teams-to-and-get-them/) [Roger Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-clemens/) > [I took a huge risk leaving baseball, because I was predicted to play in the big leagues. I'm kind of a prototypical second baseman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-wilson/i-took-a-huge-risk-leaving-baseball-because-i-was-predicted-to-play/) [Russell Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-wilson/) > [I think I can play in the big leagues 10 or 15 years. But more important to me is winning-win, make the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beltran/i-think-i-can-play-in-the-big-leagues-10-or-15-years-but-more/) [Carlos Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beltran/) > [Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/anybody-with-ability-can-play-in-the-big-leagues-but-to-be-able-to/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [How do you want to live your life? How do you want to play the game? Do you want to play in the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/how-do-you-want-to-live-your-life-how-do-you-want-to-play-the-game-do/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [I wasn't sure I was ever going to get the opportunity to play in the big leagues. So when I got it, I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-fried/i-wasn-t-sure-i-was-ever-going-to-get-the-opportunity-to-play-in-the/) [Max Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-fried/) > [It was a dream of mine to play in all the big leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-perisic/it-was-a-dream-of-mine-to-play-in-all-the-big-leagues/) [Ivan Perisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-perisic/) > [The more innings you play in the big leagues, the better you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/the-more-innings-you-play-in-the-big-leagues-the-better-you-get/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) ## More by Nick Johnson > [I'll get mine in a few years, when I get up there and when the time comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-ll-get-mine-in-a-few-years-when-i-get-up-there-and-when-the-time/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I think maybe L.A. or San Francisco could be rushed, but Sacramento is just laid back!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-think-maybe-l-a-or-san-francisco-could-be-rushed-but-sacramento-is/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [It doesn't matter how deep you fall in love as long as the one you love is right there with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/it-doesn-t-matter-how-deep-you-fall-in-love-as-long-as-the-one-you/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [The concept of industry domination of regulatory agencies was well known and documented in the literature by the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/the-concept-of-industry-domination-of-regulatory-agencies-was-well/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [The further you get into technology, the further you go into gaming. That's the general rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/the-further-you-get-into-technology-the-further-you-go-into-gaming/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I dont plan on going back to legal work. I wanted an international career, and finance seemed to be where some interesting career opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-dont-plan-on-going-back-to-legal-work-i-wanted-an-international/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [No matter what kind of day I've had at school, I always look forward to golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/no-matter-what-kind-of-day-i-ve-had-at-school-i-always-look-forward/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [When you get on base, holes open up and things happen and you're able to find a way to score runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/when-you-get-on-base-holes-open-up-and-things-happen-and-you-re-able/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I was happy that I was drafted, and then it was the Yankees and that just made it even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-was-happy-that-i-was-drafted-and-then-it-was-the-yankees-and-that/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I just try to get on anyway that I can, hit, hit-by-pitch, walk, home runs, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-just-try-to-get-on-anyway-that-i-can-hit-hit-by-pitch-walk-home/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [A lot of the things that until now seemed unthinkable are starting to be thinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/a-lot-of-the-things-that-until-now-seemed-unthinkable-are-starting-to/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I had a great time with baseball growing up. I was lucky to grow up with it and to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-had-a-great-time-with-baseball-growing-up-i-was-lucky-to-grow-up/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [Everything will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/everything-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [Bitches wants attention, womans wants respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/bitches-wants-attention-womans-wants-respect/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) > [I don't plan on going back to legal work. I wanted an international career, and finance seemed to be where some interesting career opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-johnson/i-don-t-plan-on-going-back-to-legal-work-i-wanted-an-international/) [Nick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) [Explore all 18 Nick Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-johnson/) ## 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": "I just wanted to go play in the big leagues. 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