Baseball wasn't easy for me.

If you played the game the right way, played the game for the team, good things would happen.

There's not too many guys that spend their whole career with one team and I think it's very fortunate and a blessing for me.

I had too much respect for the game to leave it behind or to make it my second or third sport in college.

A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation.

I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do - play it right and with respect.

There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years.

I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.

It didn't happen, but I feel fortunate for the two chances we had and it's just a shame we didn't go to a World Series for Cub fans.

I've been proud to be a lifelong Chicago Cub and still be with the Cubs. That's always been important to me and I think it's always been special.

If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera.

I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel.

I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn't leave many scraps for the writers.

In baseball, there's always the next day.

Baseball wasn't easy for me.

When did it - When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?

I struggled many times when maybe it didn't look like I was struggling, and I had to work hard every day.

I was in the postseason twice and I'm thankful for that.

The fourth major league game I ever saw in person, I was in uniform.

My mom was at every single game I played as a kid, rain or shine.

I was in awe every time I walked on to the field.

No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's the best I've ever seen.

Hit a home run - put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases, because the name on the front is more - a lot more important than the name on the back.

The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played.

My wife Margaret is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am.

'The Sandberg Game' comes up all the time. Fans tell me where they were. They were driving down the highway, they were in the bleachers, they were downtown listening on the radio, they were on the farm on a tractor. I've heard all the stories where people have been. They're just amazed by the ending of the game and the thrill of it.

All it takes to play baseball is a strong arm, good speed, and the coordination to hit the ball. That's it.

Am I impressed by myself? Nah, not really.

Any time you're in the coaching business or managing in the minor leagues, when you see a player who has made it to the major leagues, you get a thrill out of that.

As great a public speaker as I am, I don't know have - I don't - I don't have the words to describe Cub fans who welcomed me as a rookie, were patient through my 1-for-32 start, and took me into their homes and into their hearts and treated me like a member of their family. You picked me up when I was down.

At my growing years of 18 to 21 years old in the Minor Leagues, I dreamed of being a Philadelphia Phillie.

Even if we're in fifth place in September, I get butterflies before a game. I'm nervous.

Football, I thought, would be a tough sport to make a living in. There is no minor league. You either make it to the NFL or you don't.

For me, the game starts with starting pitching.

Get your work in. Work hard at it. Give it your best effort. And if you get an opportunity, be ready for it. That's respect for the game.

I am not the type of person who can leave my game at the ballpark and feel comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance.

I came up under the wing of Larry Bowa, and one thing I did not do was ever take a day off from taking pregame groundballs or batting practice. Then the games were just having fun.

I defend my players and coaches.

I do my homework. I come to the ballpark, and I relay any message that I need to relay to the players. I get that off my chest.

I don't expect any red carpet to the big leagues. If the opportunity comes, then it comes. But I don't think I'm owed anything.

I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.

I have great memories of being a Cub, and I'm happy building new ones with the Phillies.

I have to do what I have to do, and you have to go where the opportunities are.

I just appreciated so much the contract they gave me, and I wanted to give something back to the Cubs' organization.

I knew nothing about managing when I started.

I know I'm appreciated by how fans treat me, and the best way to treat them is play every day, hard. I sign autographs, but if I'm with someone I don't know who doesn't start the conversation, there won't be a conversation. That's just me, living my life. But I'll loosen up after baseball.

I learned a lot in the Minor Leagues, spending six years there. I honed my skills, as far as coaching goes. I was able to work with the players in a lot of facets of the game.

I let the players use their abilities and what they're capable of doing. If they're capable of stealing bases, I'm going to give them the green light. I'm going to teach them to pick their spots and to get a base when they can get a base.