--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pitching in the big leagues is a dream…" description: "\"Pitching in the big leagues is a dream. Preparing to pitch in the big leagues is a nightmare!\" — Nolan Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/nolan-ryan-16984_baseball_pitching-in-the-big-leagues-is-a-dream-p_522874.jpg" --- # Pitching in the big leagues is a dream. Preparing to pitch… ![“Pitching in the big leagues is a dream. Preparing to pitch in the big leagues is a nightmare!” quote by Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/nolan-ryan-16984_baseball_pitching-in-the-big-leagues-is-a-dream-p_522874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/nolan-ryan-16984_baseball_pitching-in-the-big-leagues-is-a-dream-p_522874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/nolan-ryan-16984_baseball_pitching-in-the-big-leagues-is-a-dream-p_522874.jpg) > “Pitching in the big leagues is a dream. Preparing to pitch in the big leagues is a nightmare!” [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dreaming of pitching at the highest level is inspiring; preparation is arduous. **In simple terms:** Dreams inspire, preparation strains. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with disciplined preparation. Themes ambition preparation dreams hard work Mood determined realistic Type sports motivational When to use this quote - training regimens - mental conditioning - career planning Key Concepts sports psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain motivation during tough preparation? - What signs indicate you need rest? A Different Perspective Over‑training can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Big leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-leagues/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) ## Related quotes > [I did dream about pitching in the big leagues, but never getting to the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-did-dream-about-pitching-in-the-big-leagues-but-never-getting-to/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Just as I'm fortunate to pitch in the big leagues, I'm also fortunate for the time I get to spend outdoors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/just-as-i-m-fortunate-to-pitch-in-the-big-leagues-i-m-also-fortunate/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [Pitching in the Olympic Games, Pan Am Games and Central American games prepared me to pitch at the big-league level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-contreras/pitching-in-the-olympic-games-pan-am-games-and-central-american-games/) [Jose Contreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-contreras/) > [I was definitely honored to be chosen, but I just didn't feel ready to be pitching in big games yet. It was a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cc-sabathia/i-was-definitely-honored-to-be-chosen-but-i-just-didn-t-feel-ready-to/) [CC Sabathia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cc-sabathia/) > [When you're out there in the heat of the moment and you're pitching, and it's a big situation, you're saying 'Don't throw a ball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/when-you-re-out-there-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-and-you-re-pitching/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I love pitching in front of big crowds and in huge stadiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-love-pitching-in-front-of-big-crowds-and-in-huge-stadiums/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [The Rays are kind of the envy of the industry based on so many good arms with so much good stuff and they seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/the-rays-are-kind-of-the-envy-of-the-industry-based-on-so-many-good/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [It depends on what your dream might be, as to whether or not it's still possible when you're, say, fifty or sixty. You won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/it-depends-on-what-your-dream-might-be-as-to-whether-or-not-it-s/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [In baseball, I don't fraternize with players when it's time to hit. I'm preparing for the game. It's the most important time of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/in-baseball-i-don-t-fraternize-with-players-when-it-s-time-to-hit-i-m/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [Put the right pitching mechanics together with good health, and there's nothing surprising about lasting a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/put-the-right-pitching-mechanics-together-with-good-health-and-there/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [A successful pitcher keeps the leadoff hitter from reaching first base and puts the first pitch over for a strike - the two most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/a-successful-pitcher-keeps-the-leadoff-hitter-from-reaching-first/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [I personally have the utmost respect for everyone and I'm attracted by the big Leagues, like the Spanish, English, Italian and French ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-felix/i-personally-have-the-utmost-respect-for-everyone-and-i-m-attracted/) [Joao Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-felix/) > [I wanted to be in the big leagues, not stuck in the minor leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aroldis-chapman/i-wanted-to-be-in-the-big-leagues-not-stuck-in-the-minor-leagues/) [Aroldis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aroldis-chapman/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) Charlie Finley > [You can only shoot small movies and documentaries for so long if you want to have a family that you support; eventually, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/you-can-only-shoot-small-movies-and-documentaries-for-so-long-if-you/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) ## More by Nolan Ryan > [Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/enjoying-success-requires-the-ability-to-adapt-only-by-being-open-to/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [And when I went to Houston, they had a conditioning coach by the name of Gene Coleman. And that was the first time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/and-when-i-went-to-houston-they-had-a-conditioning-coach-by-the-name/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [I grew up with the thought that I wanted to treat people the way I'd like to be treated, and I think if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/i-grew-up-with-the-thought-that-i-wanted-to-treat-people-the-way-i-d/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [What man in his 40s would not like to look in the mirror and find Nolan Ryan?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/what-man-in-his-40s-would-not-like-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-find/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [Maintaining concentration depends on what I call tunnel vision; nothing else in the world exists but the catcher's target, the hitter and my perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/maintaining-concentration-depends-on-what-i-call-tunnel-vision/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [And when I retired, trust me, not only did Nolan Ryan, but the entire Ryan family had withdrawals from baseball. And it was tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/and-when-i-retired-trust-me-not-only-did-nolan-ryan-but-the-entire/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [And I'm a believer that you take a negative and turn it into a positive, and as it turned out, it was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/and-i-m-a-believer-that-you-take-a-negative-and-turn-it-into-a/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [And then when I went to stay in '68, I can honestly say that I was not focused on my career and on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/and-then-when-i-went-to-stay-in-68-i-can-honestly-say-that-i-was-not/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [When I had dyslexia, they didn't diagnose it as that. It was frustrating and embarrassing. I could tell you a lot of horror stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/when-i-had-dyslexia-they-didn-t-diagnose-it-as-that-it-was/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [My ability to throw a baseball was a gift. It was a God-given gift. And I am truly appreciative of that gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/my-ability-to-throw-a-baseball-was-a-gift-it-was-a-god-given-gift-and/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [When I got traded to the California Angels, I really wasn't that excited about going to the Angels because it meant changing leagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/when-i-got-traded-to-the-california-angels-i-really-wasn-t-that/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [I am going to spend my time today just thanking the people that played a role in my career, because I truly do believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/i-am-going-to-spend-my-time-today-just-thanking-the-people-that/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [Put the right pitching mechanics together with good health, and there's nothing surprising about lasting a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/put-the-right-pitching-mechanics-together-with-good-health-and-there/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [I guess that's what Little League is all about -- trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/i-guess-that-s-what-little-league-is-all-about-trying/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [I always thought that there was going to be life after baseball, and so I designed that in my life I would have other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/i-always-thought-that-there-was-going-to-be-life-after-baseball-and/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) [Explore all 38 Nolan Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) ## 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": "Pitching in the big leagues is a dream. 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