Bobby Doerr — American Athlete born on April 07, 1918,

Robert Pershing "Bobby" Doerr is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and coach. He played his entire 14-year baseball career for the Boston Red Sox. Doerr achieved a batting average over .300 in several seasons. He set Red Sox team records in several statistical categories. Doerr missed one season due to military service during World War II. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame... (wikipedia)

We lived near a playground that had four baseball diamonds on it, and when I got to be 11, 12 years old, I was always over at the ballpark practicing or playing or doing something pertaining to baseball. And when I wasn't doing that, I was bouncing a rubber ball off the steps of my front porch at home.
Even after I played ten years of ball, I still felt like I had to play well or somebody might take my place. They had plenty of players in the minor leagues who were good enough to come up and take your job, and I think that kept us going all of the time. I hustled and put that extra effort in all of the time.
I never did work in the off-season, and I never did play winter ball or anything else. I think it was good for me to get away after a full season... In those days, I don't think anyone ever got too complacent.
Now Joe Cronin was very good. I loved Joe Cronin, to play for.