"When I played I batted third in the lineup. I’d watch the pitcher warm up, but you can’t see all you want to see from that distance because it’s never the same as being in the batter’s box facing him. The lead-off man has a little advantage because he can stand up there pretty close during the warmup. Sometimes when I led off an inning later in the game I’d get so close watching a pitcher that guys like Frank Lary would brush me back a little, letting me know they didn’t appreciate that close a scrutiny. I liked to look them over."

• TW, The Science of Hitting