“Winners Never
Quit and Quitters Never Win”
I brutally learned
this lesson in high school, Oceanside High School on Long Island.
It was a
pretty spring day on the Junior Varsity baseball field out back behind the
school building. Up in the corner behind home plate was the hole in the fence that
I would go through for the short cut to my family house on Fourth Street. Sorry
for the reminiscent aside. Back to the ball game. Coach Jan, as we called him,
had given us the play from the coach’s box on the third base line. “TipTop” He placed his right hand on the
top of his hat, six feet four inches off the ground. It was a commanding gesture.
The play was simple, the man on first was to run towards second base and stop. The
confused pitcher throws the ball to second, allowing the man who was on third
base, obviously invisible to the high school newbie pitcher, to run home and
score. Simple play, and back in those days on the Junior Varsity team easily
performed. But, what Coach Jan forgot was that I got a hit to get on first and
I was not going to give up my well earned spot on first base. That was my last
day as a non team member of a team. “I” did not run and the man on third was
thrown out on his way to home plate, but they didn’t get “me”! Coach Jan took
off his hat and threw it on the ground and began yelling, “cautious Clara”, “cautious
Clara”! He made me feel stupid, but I fixed him. At the end of the day I folded
my uniform and neatly placed it on his desk with a note saying, “I quit”. Coach
Jan was also my gym teacher and I had gym the next morning.
The only
communication I had from him was in the form of a note on the bulletin board
outside the gym, “Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win”. I still get
emotional just thinking about this, after all these years. I have never, ever
quit anything since that day.
No matter
how hard, no matter what the circumstances I will not quit! One of the greatest
lessons I have ever learned.
In my senior
year I wanted to play ball again. I figured because I had success in gymnastics,
captain of the TEAM and I was the senior class president, that I would have no
problem getting back on the team. Not so fast quitter! They told me no. I had
to go to the Superintendent of Athletics. Our school had produced pro baseball players;
Olympic wrestlers and National track and field Champions. A rich history of
greatness, with no room for quitters. With a sincere remorse and a new proven
track record, they allowed me to try out for the Varsity Baseball team. I made
the team, but I did not play a single inning. I paid a big price but I was glad
to pay it. I was on the team and “we” won many games. Some of the hardest
lessons in life have a great price, pay it and be Free!
Learn the
lesson sooner than later.
“Winners
Never Quit and Quitters Never Win”
