--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's incredible because there…" description: "\"I think it's incredible because there were guys like Mays and Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years... I only had four or five go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/sandy-koufax-27928_aaron_i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-we_2445710.jpg" --- # I think it's incredible because there were guys like Mays… ![“I think it's incredible because there were guys like Mays and Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years... I only had four or five good years.” quote by Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/sandy-koufax-27928_aaron_i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-we_2445710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/sandy-koufax-27928_aaron_i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-we_2445710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/sandy-koufax-27928_aaron_i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-we_2445710.jpg) > “I think it's incredible because there were guys like Mays and Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years... I only had four or five good years.” [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on the rarity of sustained excellence compared to legendary peers. **In simple terms:** Great players often have longer careers than others. Key Takeaway Appreciate short‑term achievements. Themes sports legacy humility Mood nostalgic contemplative inspirational Type sports personal When to use this quote - career retrospectives - hall of fame discussions - personal reflection - null Key Concepts career longevity comparison achievement Questions to Reflect On - How do we value quality vs. quantity of performance? - What defines a great career? A Different Perspective Short careers can still leave lasting impact despite fewer years. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mantle/) [Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mays/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's incredible because there were guys like (Willie) Mays and (Mickey) Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-were-guys-like-willie-mays-and/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [Playing with Kip I definitely learned a lot playing with these incredible guys and hearing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/playing-with-kip-i-definitely-learned-a-lot-playing-with-these/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [I pretty much built a band out of the most incredible guys I could possibly find. I didn't really want a six-piece band, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-pretty-much-built-a-band-out-of-the-most-incredible-guys-i-could/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I will confess I am a great wingman. Since I have a girlfriend, I'll start the night with her, but then I'll help out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-tomlinson/i-will-confess-i-am-a-great-wingman-since-i-have-a-girlfriend-i-ll/) [Louis Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-tomlinson/) > [As much as I loved Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Junior Gilliam, and Don Newcombe, I loved watching Willie Mays play more than all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/as-much-as-i-loved-jackie-robinson-roy-campanella-junior-gilliam-and/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [Willie Mays was the best ever. When I was in college I once made a catch like the one Mays made over his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/willie-mays-was-the-best-ever-when-i-was-in-college-i-once-made-a/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Hi, Billy Mays here for...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mays/hi-billy-mays-here-for/) [Billy Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mays/) > [I think anybody who saw him will tell you that Willie Mays was the greatest player who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-think-anybody-who-saw-him-will-tell-you-that-willie-mays-was-the/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [I can't very well tell my batters don't hit it to him. Wherever they hit it, he's there anyway (Mays).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-hodges/i-can-t-very-well-tell-my-batters-don-t-hit-it-to-him-wherever-they/) [Gil Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-hodges/) > [Willie Mays could throw better, and Hank Aaron could hit more home runs. But I've got enthusiasm. I've got desire. I've got hustle. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/willie-mays-could-throw-better-and-hank-aaron-could-hit-more-home/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [I had some great role models along the way. My on-field heroes were the great Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Willie Mays. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-ray/i-had-some-great-role-models-along-the-way-my-on-field-heroes-were/) [Allan Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-ray/) > [When I'm up against a wall, that's when Billy Mays performs best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mays/when-i-m-up-against-a-wall-that-s-when-billy-mays-performs-best/) [Billy Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mays/) > [Willie Mays was the best baseball player I ever saw. He could do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/willie-mays-was-the-best-baseball-player-i-ever-saw-he-could-do/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Oscar Charleston was the Willie Mays of his day. Nobody ever played center field better than Willie Mays. Suppose they had never given Willie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/oscar-charleston-was-the-willie-mays-of-his-day-nobody-ever-played/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [They invented the All-Star game for Willie Mays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-williams/they-invented-the-all-star-game-for-willie-mays/) [Ted Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-williams/) ## More by Sandy Koufax > [I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/people-who-write-about-spring-training-not-being-necessary-have-never/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-there-was-any-magic-formula-it-was-getting-to-pitch-every-fourth/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/there-is-among-us-a-far-closer-relationship-than-the-purely-social/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I can't picture people talking about me 50 years from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-picture-people-talking-about-me-50-years-from-now/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don't have to ask anyone or play politics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-game-has-a-cleanness-if-you-do-a-good-job-the-numbers-say-so-you/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [A guy that throws what he intends to throw, that's the definition of a good pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/a-guy-that-throws-what-he-intends-to-throw-that-s-the-definition-of-a/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [It's better to throw a theoretically poorer pitch whole-heartedly, than to throw the so-called right pitch with feeling of doubt-doubt that's it's right, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/it-s-better-to-throw-a-theoretically-poorer-pitch-whole-heartedly/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/show-me-a-guy-who-can-t-pitch-inside-and-i-ll-show-you-a-loser/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I've got a lot of years to live after baseball and I would like to live them with the complete use of my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-ve-got-a-lot-of-years-to-live-after-baseball-and-i-would-like-to/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don't think I've ever seen anybody with quicker hands than Soriano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-anybody-with-quicker-hands-than-soriano/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don’t know if cortisone is good for you or not. But to take a shot every other ball game is more than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-know-if-cortisone-is-good-for-you-or-not-but-to-take-a-shot/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The only time I really try for a strikeout is when I'm in a jam. If the bases are loaded with none out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-only-time-i-really-try-for-a-strikeout-is-when-i-m-in-a-jam-if/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I think it's incredible because there were guys like (Willie) Mays and (Mickey) Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-were-guys-like-willie-mays-and/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) [Explore all 20 Sandy Koufax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## More Aaron quotes > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [Aaron Spelling always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, he knew what the public wanted to see. He was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/aaron-spelling-always-had-his-finger-on-the-pulse-of-pop-culture-he/) [Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/) > [“Aaron was so gay he walked with a lisp...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-d-padilla/aaron-was-so-gay-he-walked-with-a-lisp/) Edward D Padilla > [Aaron is gay so why can't you be too.. . .!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/aaron-is-gay-so-why-can-t-you-be-too/) Author Name > [My experience on 'The West Wing' was, I think, now rare in that I was pretty young, and I walked into this environment where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-graves/my-experience-on-the-west-wing-was-i-think-now-rare-in-that-i-was/) [Alex Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-graves/) > [“As they lifted off, Aaron watched the white, puffy clouds and thought, "I'm going to die here. This is it." But God had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-mankin-phelps/as-they-lifted-off-aaron-watched-the-white-puffy-clouds-and-thought-i/) Diana Mankin Phelps > [Simply, if you're working with good material, then it's right there, and you don't have to try so hard as an actor; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dule-hill/simply-if-you-re-working-with-good-material-then-it-s-right-there-and/) [Dule Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dule-hill/) > [“Most people assumed Aaron was gay just because he was on the cheerleading squad. I, on the other hand, assumed a guy who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-jay/most-people-assumed-aaron-was-gay-just-because-he-was-on-the/) [Stacey Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-jay/) > [“I think you inhaled too much lead from those scantron sheets”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-holt/i-think-you-inhaled-too-much-lead-from-those-scantron-sheets/) [Simon Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-holt/) > [Aaron, in order to die you have to live a little first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/aaron-in-order-to-die-you-have-to-live-a-little-first/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [God place Aaron Bell in heaven on Feburay 20, 2013. Any question you may ask?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bell/god-place-aaron-bell-in-heaven-on-feburay-20-2013-any-question-you/) Aaron Bell > [I feel like Aaron brings out the best in me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-feel-like-aaron-brings-out-the-best-in-me/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Aaron Spelling went further than anyone has ever gone for television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evans/aaron-spelling-went-further-than-anyone-has-ever-gone-for-television/) [Linda Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evans/) > [More than anyone else, Hank Aaron made me wish I wasn't a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/more-than-anyone-else-hank-aaron-made-me-wish-i-wasn-t-a-manager/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Aaron would be the most invested in wanting to get me better. It's not that other people can't mentor me, but to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-rodgers/aaron-would-be-the-most-invested-in-wanting-to-get-me-better-it-s-not/) [Jordan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-rodgers/) Browse all 89 Aaron quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's incredible because there were guys like Mays and Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years... 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