Quotes by Gary Sheffield

“I know who the leader is on the team, ... I aint going to say who it is, but I know who it is. I know who the team feeds off. I know who the opposing team comes in knowing they have to defend to stop the Yankees.”

“Im sure everybody in a family has a person in their family that has a problem ? drug related or whatever. He happens to be the one. Its just one of those things where when he hurts, I hurt.”

“They brought me in and told me they were probably going to pick the option up. You always want to earn whatever you get. I take a lot pride in that. He didnt have to bring me in today. I appreciate that. When I was a free agent, a lot of teams called and I really didnt answer. There was only one place, and that still remains the same. I dont want to play for nobody else but the Yankees.”

“Im a year at a time guy. If I have a good year, go on the next one. I want to go out on a high note.”

“I think it was needed because at this point in my career my body needs to heal. I wasnt giving it a chance to heal. I think thats why the injuries affected me late in the season. Now I get a chance to get in shape at spring training and start off fresh.”

“Its a testament to why hes been here 11 years. I think this one was a little more intense. I just felt the conviction behind it. . . . When he says it a certain way, it has some meaning behind it and today it felt different.”

“Hes going to make sure its done. Its always calm, but he had that look.”

“Ive never had an organization come to me and say, Eventually, were going to take care of you. Ive never had anyone say, Im going to take care of you. Why shouldnt I be happy? Thats a first for me in 17 years.”

“I dont want anybody to take my kindness as a weakness. Like I said before, this is where I want to be, but dont test me. It never was a done deal. It was a possibility. Im happy about that. But theres two sides to that. On one side, I trust you, but dont play me. I dont care who it is, if its the Boss, if its him, dont play me. There are plenty of other teams out there that want my services ... thats the bottom line.”

“When its done, thats the right time. When it happens, Im sure it will catch me off-guard and Ill be happy. And if it doesnt happen, Ill have to do what I have to do. I just want to put on the uniform and do what I do. Its the fans that make me play the way I play. When I get the energy out of right field, especially in the Yankees uniform, those fans make me do what I do. I couldnt have played with one arm in Colorado. You cant motivate me enough to do that. Only the Yankees fans bring that out of me.”

My dads a bodybuilder. My whole life Ive been taught to train the hard way. I believe in earning strength, not buying it. My grandfather raised me old school: In baseball, you work for whatever you get.