Eye on Quotes: The pithy brilliance of Earl Weaver

Earl Weaver had a mouth and used it often. (Getty Images)

While it's too much to say the late Earl Weaver yielded as many great quips as he did victories, he certainly had a decidedly forceful way with words. Over at Baseball-Almanac, they have an excellent collection of Weaver quotes. You should drink deeply of them all, but here's a representative sampling of some of the best things ever to come out of the gaping maw of Earl Weaver ...

Weaver on his job description: "A manager's job is simple. For one hundred sixty-two games you try not to screw up all that smart stuff your organization did last December."

Weaver on baseball's calendar: "Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July."

Weaver on superstition: "Every time I fail to smoke a cigarette between innings, the opposition will score."

Weaver on the concerns of the moment: "If you know how to cheat, start now."

Weaver on that other sport: "This ain't a football game, we do this every day."

Weaver on rivalries: "I think there should be bad blood between all clubs."

Weaver again on that other sport: "You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."

And weaver on his legacy: "On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived.'"

R.I.P., Earl.

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