I try to sign for as many kids as possible. Kids come first, and I'll always sign for a kid before an adult. It's funny, because I was never big into autographs as a kid. The only player who I ever wanted an autograph from was Dave Winfield.Collection: Funny
My heroes, my dreams, and my future lay in Yankee Stadium. And they can't take that away from me.Collection: Dreams
For me, when I was a kid, volunteering was the last thing I was thinking about. When I see kids doing it now, it amazes me. It's very impressive, it gives them something productive to do as opposed to getting in trouble. For them to take time out at such a young age is remarkable. I think all kids should take a little time out to volunteer.Collection: Age
Kids are our future.Collection: Future
My office is at Yankee stadium. Yes, dreams do come true.Collection: Dreams
Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.Collection: Good
You have to assume that everything you do is public knowledge. Everything. Because now everyone is a reporter. Everyone is a photographer.Collection: Knowledge
There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do - and I believe that.Collection: Work
You gotta have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we're playing a game. It's a business, it's our job, but I don't think you can do well unless you're having fun.Collection: Business
I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong.Collection: Work
I always have tried to treat people with respect, the way I want to be treated.Collection: Respect
What kind of influence did my parents have on my life? Well, they had the most influence. These are the people who are closest to me. My parents are very positive people. They've been supportive. They're always there.Collection: Positive
I like to hit the gym early in the morning. I feel better throughout the day when I get in a workout first thing in the morning.Collection: Morning
You're playing a game, whether it's Little League or Game 7 of the Word Series. It's impossible to do well unless you're having a good time. People talk about pressure. Yeah, there's pressure. But I just look at it as fun.Collection: Time
I like to dance and sing when there's no one around, but, if I'm out, I'm really shy about it. So it takes a lot to get me going, but I enjoy being around music.Collection: Music
God, I hope I wear this jersey forever.Collection: Hope
My dad had been shortstop when he was in college, and you know, when you're a kid, you want to be just like your dad.Collection: Dad
The last thing you want to do is finish playing or doing anything and wish you would have worked harder.
I'm not perfect; no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I think you try to learn from those mistakes.
The thing that means the most to me is being remembered as a Yankee, because that's what I've always wanted to be, was to be a Yankee.
So many people are insanely busy nowadays, and it's easy to say, 'Ah, I'll workout tomorrow.' But you have to set aside a time and stick to that schedule.
Sometimes people complicate things by thinking too much about what someone might think of what they said or did.
Athletics keeps us healthy, gets us up and running around. It also gives you an opportunity to meet a lot of different people, which is very important.
You can't be sensitive, because you're going to get criticized. I don't care who you are, you're going to get criticized.
If I put my name on something, I'm going to be involved. I'm not just going to put my name on it and not pay attention.
I looked up to my parents because they were very successful in what they wanted to do. I was lucky; I didn't have to look far for role models.
I'm very, very competitive. If my grandmother asks to race me down the street, I'm going to try to beat her. And I'll probably enjoy it!
Any player that says they don't want to go to an All-Star Game is lying to you. It's something everyone wants to be a part of.
I wish I trusted people more. But when I meet someone, the first thing is, 'What does this person want?' And I put up a defense mechanism. But I've always been that way.
The draft is a crapshoot, so I've been very fortunate to be drafted by the Yankees, and to have spent my whole career here.
I remember going from rookie ball to A, to double A, then to triple A. At every level it seemed like the game was faster. The bigger the situation, the more the game speeds up. That's all mental. It messes people up.
I always appreciated the ex-players. Being a Yankee, you get spoiled. Old-Timers Day, all these guys coming back, spring training, being around them, you get a chance to get to know them. So I always think you learn a lot by listening.
I attribute much of my success in New York to my ability to understand and avoid unnecessary distractions.
I've been playing baseball since I was 5 or 6 years old. I've been on a schedule, pretty much, since I was in eighth, ninth grade. I look forward to not doing that.
If you're going to win games, you're going to have to come up with the big hits. That's the bottom line.