Counts Quote by Whitey Herzog
“What counts aren't the number of double plays, but the ones you should have had and missed.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Sports Talk, 1995
Success is measured by missed opportunities more than completed ones, highlighting the importance of recognizing what could have been done better.
In simple terms: Missed chances matter more than successes.
Key Takeaway
Focus on recognizing and learning from missed chances.
Themes
sports
reflection
performance
opportunity
learning
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- coaching decisions
- player development
- team strategy
- career retrospectives
Key Concepts
Opportunity cost
self‑assessment
growth mindset
Questions to Reflect On
- What missed opportunity could change your approach?
- How can you track and learn from near‑misses?
A Different Perspective
Even with many successes, ignoring missed chances limits improvement.
![“One time in spring training, we had the hit-and-run on, and Carl Erskine threw me a curve and I struck out into a double play. I came back to the bench and Casey [Stengel] said, 'next time, tra-la-la.' I didn't know what tra-la-la meant, but next time up, I hit a line drive, right into a double…” quote by Whitey Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/98d/whitey-herzog-28696_benches_one-time-in-spring-training-we-had-the-h_818599.jpg)
