--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that the game is the game. I…" description: "\"I think that the game is the game. I think that expansion is good for the game because it gives more jobs to the people and more ballplayers can play, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/tony-oliva-51793_baseball_i-think-that-the-game-is-the-game-i-thin_1568345.png" --- # I think that the game is the game. I think that expansion… ![“I think that the game is the game. I think that expansion is good for the game because it gives more jobs to the people and more ballplayers can play, but I think the game is still the game. The ballplayers, they come into the game with one thing in mind - it's their job.” quote by Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/tony-oliva-51793_baseball_i-think-that-the-game-is-the-game-i-thin_1568345.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/tony-oliva-51793_baseball_i-think-that-the-game-is-the-game-i-thin_1568345.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/tony-oliva-51793_baseball_i-think-that-the-game-is-the-game-i-thin_1568345.png) > “I think that the game is the game. I think that expansion is good for the game because it gives more jobs to the people and more ballplayers can play, but I think the game is still the game. The ballplayers, they come into the game with one thing in mind - it's their job.” [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that the sport remains a business, where expansion creates jobs and opportunities, but players focus primarily on earning a living. **In simple terms:** Sports are a business; players play for pay. Key Takeaway Recognize the commercial nature of sports. Themes sports economics career Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - team expansion - player contracts - job creation Key Concepts labor market professional athletics Questions to Reflect On - How does commercialization affect game integrity? - What responsibilities do leagues have to players? A Different Perspective Profit motives can conflict with pure competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Many obstacles to the expansion of good will have presented themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/many-obstacles-to-the-expansion-of-good-will-have-presented-themselves/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [The people who run the game, they are the ones who want to change it and make people believe that it's different somehow. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oliva/the-people-who-run-the-game-they-are-the-ones-who-want-to-change-it/) [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) > [I let ballplayers yell back at me because I wasn't trying to prove I'm boss. I know I'm boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/i-let-ballplayers-yell-back-at-me-because-i-wasn-t-trying-to-prove-i/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [There are so few Jewish ballplayers, so you want to be a positive role model and provide an example that the Jewish community can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/there-are-so-few-jewish-ballplayers-so-you-want-to-be-a-positive-role/) [Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/) > [As a professional writer of detective stories, I string along with the ballplayers. I love a ball game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/as-a-professional-writer-of-detective-stories-i-string-along-with-the/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [Bad ballplayers make good managers, not the other way around. All I can do is help them be as good as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/bad-ballplayers-make-good-managers-not-the-other-way-around-all-i-can/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [All ballplayers should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/all-ballplayers-should-quit-when-it-starts-to-feel-as-if-all-the/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [It's the same with the ballplayers. Babe Ruth spent a lot, too and the ballplayers make a lot more money now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-gilley/it-s-the-same-with-the-ballplayers-babe-ruth-spent-a-lot-too-and-the/) [Mickey Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-gilley/) > [Conversation is the blood of baseball. It flows through the game, an invigorating system of anecdotes. Ballplayers are tale tellers who have polished their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/conversation-is-the-blood-of-baseball-it-flows-through-the-game-an/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [“On the surface, there is something peculiar about turning a portion of one's happiness over to a collection of ballplayers, and perhaps more peculiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-swift/on-the-surface-there-is-something-peculiar-about-turning-a-portion-of/) Tom Swift > [Too bad integration didn't come sooner, because there were so many ballplayers that could have made the major leagues. That's why, you look back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/too-bad-integration-didn-t-come-sooner-because-there-were-so-many/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [“If we can’t be ballplayers together, maybe I can start bein’ a Buddhist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/if-we-can-t-be-ballplayers-together-maybe-i-can-start-bein-a-buddhist/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [“Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work. —CHARLIE GEHRINGER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go-2/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-gehringer/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go/) Charlie Gehringer > [As far as actors go, you're not going to find many ballplayers better than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/as-far-as-actors-go-you-re-not-going-to-find-many-ballplayers-better/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) ## More by Tony Oliva > [They gave me a second opportunity and 45 years later I'm still here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oliva/they-gave-me-a-second-opportunity-and-45-years-later-i-m-still-here/) [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) > [The people who run the game, they are the ones who want to change it and make people believe that it's different somehow. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oliva/the-people-who-run-the-game-they-are-the-ones-who-want-to-change-it/) [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) > [I come from Cuba. Taxes for me are no big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oliva/i-come-from-cuba-taxes-for-me-are-no-big-thing/) [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) > [It's a good feeling to see the kids try to make it, try to get to the big leagues. Everyone here has an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-oliva/it-s-a-good-feeling-to-see-the-kids-try-to-make-it-try-to-get-to-the/) [Tony Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-oliva/) > [I love New York. I love to come here, to play here, the tradition here. 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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 think that the game is the game. I think that expansion is good for the game because it gives more jobs to the people and more ballplayers can play, but I think the game is still the game. 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