--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always enjoyed playing ball, and it…" description: "\"I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/willie-mays-14362_black_i-always-enjoyed-playing-ball-and-it-did_632652.jpg" --- # I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me… ![“I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I played with, and I never felt comfortable, when I grew up, telling other people how to act” quote by Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/willie-mays-14362_black_i-always-enjoyed-playing-ball-and-it-did_632652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/willie-mays-14362_black_i-always-enjoyed-playing-ball-and-it-did_632652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/willie-mays-14362_black_i-always-enjoyed-playing-ball-and-it-did_632652.jpg) > “I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I played with, and I never felt comfortable, when I grew up, telling other people how to act” [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The player rejects racial segregation in sports, emphasizing that skill and enjoyment matter more than race. **In simple terms:** Play together regardless of color. Key Takeaway Focus on the game, not race. Themes equality sportsmanship inclusion Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational social When to use this quote - school teams - community leagues - professional sports Key Concepts racial integration team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to promote inclusion? - How does sport bridge cultural gaps? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic barriers that still affect opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I played at White Hart Lane against Michael Carrick and Edgar Davids when I was 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-played-at-white-hart-lane-against-michael-carrick-and-edgar-davids/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [I've always just wanted to play ball, that's all. I didn't want to do no interviews, because I didn't want to be bothered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-malone/i-ve-always-just-wanted-to-play-ball-that-s-all-i-didn-t-want-to-do/) [Moses Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-malone/) > [The no-hitter was the highlight of my career. The specialness of it, I didn't know how lasting it would be when it happened. Everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/the-no-hitter-was-the-highlight-of-my-career-the-specialness-of-it-i/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I've never met a popcorn ball I didn't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-ve-never-met-a-popcorn-ball-i-didn-t-like/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [When I played ball, I didn't play for fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-cobb/when-i-played-ball-i-didn-t-play-for-fun/) [Ty Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-cobb/) > [I've not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I have in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/i-ve-not-enjoyed-playing-anywhere-as-much-as-i-have-in-india/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I enjoyed playing around with that guy, and it was a pleasure every three, four years, coming back seeing how the wardrobe is. Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-young/i-enjoyed-playing-around-with-that-guy-and-it-was-a-pleasure-every/) Burt Young > [Whether I play five or 10 metres forward or back does not change my way of playing, to be on the ball a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/whether-i-play-five-or-10-metres-forward-or-back-does-not-change-my/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [The only real happiness a ballplayer has is when he is playing a ball game and accomplishes something he didn't think he could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ring-lardner/the-only-real-happiness-a-ballplayer-has-is-when-he-is-playing-a-ball/) [Ring Lardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ring-lardner/) > [This is one of the challenges we have: knowing that playing without the ball is just as important as when you have the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/this-is-one-of-the-challenges-we-have-knowing-that-playing-without/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [Growing up in Harlem, I was always in the parks playing ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/growing-up-in-harlem-i-was-always-in-the-parks-playing-ball/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) > [I still get excited about it. I miss playing ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-still-get-excited-about-it-i-miss-playing-ball/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I just like playing with the ball. I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-just-like-playing-with-the-ball-i-always-have/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [I'm just playing ball. Trying not to think about it too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-m-just-playing-ball-trying-not-to-think-about-it-too-much/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [The best advice I can give for playing a ball out of water is - don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-lema/the-best-advice-i-can-give-for-playing-a-ball-out-of-water-is-don-t/) [Tony Lema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-lema/) ## More by Willie Mays > [I'm not the type of guy to go out and just say, 'Hey, I'm raising my fist to do this and do that.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-m-not-the-type-of-guy-to-go-out-and-just-say-hey-i-m-raising-my/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I didn't say I was that smart, I said I went to class and I enjoyed what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-didn-t-say-i-was-that-smart-i-said-i-went-to-class-and-i-enjoyed/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I don't mean to be bashful, but I was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-don-t-mean-to-be-bashful-but-i-was/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [When I'm not hitting, I don't hit nobody. But, when I'm hitting, I hit anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/when-i-m-not-hitting-i-don-t-hit-nobody-but-when-i-m-hitting-i-hit/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [Youngsters of Little League can survive undercoaching a lot better than overcoaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/youngsters-of-little-league-can-survive-undercoaching-a-lot-better/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I was a baseball player, I taught baseball, and all of a sudden I was in the business world. Now I used the baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-was-a-baseball-player-i-taught-baseball-and-all-of-a-sudden-i-was/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [What you are thinking, what shape your mind is in, is what makes the biggest difference of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/what-you-are-thinking-what-shape-your-mind-is-in-is-what-makes-the/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-think-i-was-the-best-baseball-player-i-ever-saw/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I think I was programmed to do good things when I came into the majors. I knew how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-think-i-was-programmed-to-do-good-things-when-i-came-into-the/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [And my father didn't have money for me to go to college. And at that particular time they didn't have black quarterbacks, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/and-my-father-didn-t-have-money-for-me-to-go-to-college-and-at-that/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on his 660th home run, milestones in baseball are meant to be broken and I wish him continued success throughout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/congratulations-to-alex-rodriguez-on-his-660th-home-run-milestones-in/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [At ten I was playing against 18-year-old guys. At 15 I was playing professional ball with the Birmingham Black Barons, so I really came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/at-ten-i-was-playing-against-18-year-old-guys-at-15-i-was-playing/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I don't know what Joe (DiMaggio) wanted (in regards to being called 'the greatest living ballplayer'), but I don't have a problem, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-don-t-know-what-joe-dimaggio-wanted-in-regards-to-being-called-the/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [I didn't teach you that. Catch the ball with your glove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-didn-t-teach-you-that-catch-the-ball-with-your-glove/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [Yes, I had to learn how to live life outside, but I had so many people help me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/yes-i-had-to-learn-how-to-live-life-outside-but-i-had-so-many-people/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) [Explore all 47 Willie Mays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn't matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. 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