--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got into pro ball at 18 and played…" description: "\"I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.\" — Ryne Sandberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg" --- # I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost… ![“I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.” quote by Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg) > “I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.” [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A long athletic career requires dedication, resilience, and continual adaptation. **In simple terms:** Long sports careers need perseverance. Key Takeaway Maintain health and passion over time. Themes sports career longevity Mood inspirational realistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - coaching - mentorship - training programs - health management Key Concepts performance psychology physical conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How do athletes manage aging? - What role does mental toughness play? A Different Perspective Physical wear and tear can limit longevity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [England Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, I played centre-half. 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It was the line of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cassidy/i-did-play-semi-pro-ball-for-a-time-it-was-the-line-of-least/) [Ted Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cassidy/) > [Of course, in pro ball, they never hit the quarterback in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/of-course-in-pro-ball-they-never-hit-the-quarterback-in-practice/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [You got guys now declaring they're ready to play pro ball in their second or third year of high school. It's crazy! They're missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/you-got-guys-now-declaring-they-re-ready-to-play-pro-ball-in-their/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [“Like Dallas, Miami had experienced a brief fling with pro ball, one losing season by an AAFC team called the Seahawks in 1946.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eisenberg/like-dallas-miami-had-experienced-a-brief-fling-with-pro-ball-one/) John Eisenberg > [Sammy Sosa? Everybody knew who Sammy was, paid attention to Sammy. I had already signed in pro ball when he had the great homer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-soriano/sammy-sosa-everybody-knew-who-sammy-was-paid-attention-to-sammy-i-had/) [Alfonso Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-soriano/) > [I imagined that being someday in pro ball I would have been Kevin Costner in Bull Durham. If I had never discovered acting, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hoechlin/i-imagined-that-being-someday-in-pro-ball-i-would-have-been-kevin/) [Tyler Hoechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hoechlin/) > [I was a center in college but I was a high post guy, feeding cutters and rebounding. Going to pro ball, I clearly wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-schayes/i-was-a-center-in-college-but-i-was-a-high-post-guy-feeding-cutters/) [Dolph Schayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-schayes/) > [Cal's a place that our player alumni - we always want to come back and show the current players what we've learned in pro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/cal-s-a-place-that-our-player-alumni-we-always-want-to-come-back-and/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [I played baseball in college, and then I went to Russia to study acting and played some pro ball over there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bernthal/i-played-baseball-in-college-and-then-i-went-to-russia-to-study/) [Jon Bernthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bernthal/) > [You get into pro ball and you realize all the guys were the best players on their teams. You have to keep moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-holliday/you-get-into-pro-ball-and-you-realize-all-the-guys-were-the-best/) [Matt Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-holliday/) > [ Being a able to work with Reid \[Corneilus\] one on one those two seasons were great he taught me the ins and outs of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-taylor/being-a-able-to-work-with-reid-corneilus-one-on-one-those-two-seasons/) [Graham Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-taylor/) > [My first year of pro ball I played in the Northwest league and made the all-star team, and the next year I played I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/my-first-year-of-pro-ball-i-played-in-the-northwest-league-and-made/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [The tension in pro ball comes from the realization that any game could be your last, that an injury could end your career. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-matuszak/the-tension-in-pro-ball-comes-from-the-realization-that-any-game/) [John Matuszak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-matuszak/) ## More by Ryne Sandberg > [I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn't leave many scraps for the writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-had-to-prepare-physically-every-day-and-i-didn-t-leave-many-scraps/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [Baseball wasn't easy for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/baseball-wasn-t-easy-for-me/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I was a baseball player at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington even though I was all-city in basketball, even when I signed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-was-a-baseball-player-at-north-central-high-school-in-spokane/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/there-was-shawon-dunston-and-mark-grace-and-together-we-were-a-double/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I think sometimes Hall of Famers might get labeled as guys who aren't suited for a coaching job or to be back at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-think-sometimes-hall-of-famers-might-get-labeled-as-guys-who-aren-t/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. Hes the best Ive ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/no-player-in-baseball-history-worked-harder-suffered-more-or-did-it/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/a-lot-of-people-say-this-honor-validates-my-career-but-i-didn-t-work/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I have great memories of being a Cub, and I'm happy building new ones with the Phillies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-have-great-memories-of-being-a-cub-and-i-m-happy-building-new-ones/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [My mom was at every single game I played as a kid, rain or shine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/my-mom-was-at-every-single-game-i-played-as-a-kid-rain-or-shine/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [In baseball, there's always the next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/in-baseball-there-s-always-the-next-day/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [My wife Margaret is the best thing that's ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/my-wife-margaret-is-the-best-thing-that-s-ever-happened-to-me/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I never forgot the four years I spent with the Phillies, my September call-ups and my big league Spring Trainings. I never forgot that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-never-forgot-the-four-years-i-spent-with-the-phillies-my-september/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-was-taught-you-never-ever-disrespect-your-opponent-or-your/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I was taught coming up in the Phillies organization to be seen and not heard by people like Pete Rose, my hero growing up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-was-taught-coming-up-in-the-phillies-organization-to-be-seen-and/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do - play it right and with respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-played-it-right-because-that-s-what-you-re-supposed-to-do-play-it/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) [Explore all 38 Ryne Sandberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) ## More Ball quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/sometimes-in-midfield-it-s-nice-because-you-do-get-a-little-bit-more/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) > [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [I'm good with the ball, I can score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bergwijn/i-m-good-with-the-ball-i-can-score/) [Steven Bergwijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bergwijn/) > [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [I dislike the gym, but I'll chase a tennis ball all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-dislike-the-gym-but-i-ll-chase-a-tennis-ball-all-day/) [Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/) > [There's one ball on the field, and that ball is mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-mendoza/there-s-one-ball-on-the-field-and-that-ball-is-mine/) Salvador Mendoza Browse all 1,822 Ball quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryne Sandberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-until-i-was-almost-39-non-stop/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-until-i-was-almost-39-non-stop/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/ryne-sandberg-16870_balls_i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-unt_1559909.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.” — Ryne Sandberg", "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": "Ryne Sandberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I got into pro ball at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-until-i-was-almost-39-non-stop/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-got-into-pro-ball-at-18-and-played-until-i-was-almost-39-non-stop/#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 } } ] } ```