--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm…" description: "\"That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg" --- # That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to… ![“That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do all these things and know what each guy would hit.” quote by Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg) > “That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do all these things and know what each guy would hit.” [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. He claims that deep, intuitive knowledge of the game gave him an edge, suggesting that expertise can feel effortless when built on extensive experience. **In simple terms:** Experience creates intuitive skill. Key Takeaway Leverage experience to act instinctively. Themes expertise intuition confidence sports Mood motivational practical Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - coaching - skill development - performance pressure Key Concepts pattern recognition mental models Questions to Reflect On - How can beginners develop intuition faster? - What practices turn knowledge into instinct? A Different Perspective It may overlook the role of natural talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Baseball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-player/) [Professional baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-baseball/) ## Related quotes > [I think people sometimes get my message misconstrued and believe I'm trying to brag, but I'm genuinely trying to show people that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ/i-think-people-sometimes-get-my-message-misconstrued-and-believe-i-m/) [Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ/) > [Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional Baseball player, instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/growing-up-i-actually-wanted-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [I could describe my career in two words: who knew. I was on the path to becoming a professional baseball player, but I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/i-could-describe-my-career-in-two-words-who-knew-i-was-on-the-path-to-2/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [Everybody wants to be a professional baseball player and, sure, as a kid, I wanted to do that. But once I got cut from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-buehrle/everybody-wants-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-and-sure-as-a/) [Mark Buehrle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-buehrle/) > [I kept thinking, 'this must be the coolest job - I'd like to be a professional baseball player.' They were getting paid to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/i-kept-thinking-this-must-be-the-coolest-job-i-d-like-to-be-a/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I wanted to be a professional baseball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balthazar-getty/i-wanted-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player/) [Balthazar Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balthazar-getty/) > [I'd like to be a professional baseball player that's always been a big ambition of mine. I'd also like to try my hand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-d-like-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-that-s-always-been-a/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I could describe my career in two words: who knew. I was on the path to becoming a professional baseball player, but I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/i-could-describe-my-career-in-two-words-who-knew-i-was-on-the-path-to/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [I'm not an athlete. I'm a professional baseball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kruk/i-m-not-an-athlete-i-m-a-professional-baseball-player/) [John Kruk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kruk/) > [One-third of all professional baseball players come from Latin America, and Sosa is following role models such as the late Roberto Clemente, a Puerto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/one-third-of-all-professional-baseball-players-come-from-latin/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [I had a client who was a professional baseball player once, and he would go to clubs and dance for seven, eight, nine hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-had-a-client-who-was-a-professional-baseball-player-once-and-he/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Years later he would say that when he'd decided to become a professional baseball player, it was the only time he'd done something just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/years-later-he-would-say-that-when-he-d-decided-to-become-a/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [“You can learn a lot from a professional baseball player, if you can get one, which obviously you can't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitra-ekmektsis/you-can-learn-a-lot-from-a-professional-baseball-player-if-you-can/) Dimitra Ekmektsis > [I had a life-long ambition to be a professional baseball player, but nobody would sign me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-a-life-long-ambition-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-but/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [When I went to high school, my most passionate desire was to be a professional baseball player. But something within me told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/when-i-went-to-high-school-my-most-passionate-desire-was-to-be-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## 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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-always-enjoyed-playing-ball-and-it-didn-t-matter-to-me-whether-i/) [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/) [Explore all 47 Willie Mays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I have friends in other industries but if I am training for a wrestling match, I would turn to the best wrestler to train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-have-friends-in-other-industries-but-if-i-am-training-for-a/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I competed every day as a professional football player... You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/people-say-baseball-players-should-go-out-and-have-fun-no-way-to-me/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do all these things and know what each guy would hit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Willie Mays" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m-not-trying-to-brag-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball player" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m-not-trying-to-brag-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/willie-mays-14362_ball-player_that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m_2475086.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I…” — Willie Mays", "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": "Willie Mays", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's how easy baseball was for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m-not-trying-to-brag-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/that-s-how-easy-baseball-was-for-me-i-m-not-trying-to-brag-or/#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 } } ] } ```