Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we are willing to stand up and be counted for what we believe in. In baseball or out, we are no longer willing to wait until Judgment Day for equality - we want it here on earth as well as in Heaven.

After two years at UCLA, I decided to leave. I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a job.

I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.

Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect.

I guess you'd call me an independent, since I've never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label.

When I am playing baseball, I give it all that I have on the ball field. When the ball game is over, I certainly don't take it home. My little girl who is sitting out there wouldn't know the difference between a third strike and a foul ball. We don't talk about baseball at home.

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.