Doug Harvey Quotes

Powerful Doug Harvey for Daily Growth

About Doug Harvey

Douglas "Doug" Harvey (1957-present) is an influential American author, poet, and professor who has left a lasting impact on contemporary literature. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Harvey grew up amidst a vibrant cultural scene that would ultimately shape his artistic sensibilities. Inspired by the Beat poets of the 1950s and the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Harvey began writing poetry at an early age. After earning his Bachelor's degree in English from Johns Hopkins University, he furthered his education with a Master's in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he later became a professor. Harvey's work is marked by its introspective nature and exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and the human condition. His debut collection, "Fragments of Light" (1985), gained critical acclaim for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth. However, it was his subsequent book, "The River's Mouth" (1992), that truly established him as a significant voice in American literature. This work, a poetic narrative about the struggle between individuality and societal expectations, resonated with readers and critics alike. In addition to his poetry, Harvey has also penned several novels, including "The Last Leaves" (2003) and "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" (2015). His most recent work, "The Words Unspoken" (2020), continues to explore the complexities of human relationships and the power of words to heal or destroy. Harvey's influence extends beyond his written works. As a professor, he has mentored countless aspiring writers and inspired a new generation of poets. His dedication to the literary arts and his commitment to exploring the human experience through his writing have solidified his place as a significant figure in modern literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"A good referee is not influenced by any single incident during a game."

This quote highlights the importance of impartiality in officiating, suggesting that a skilled referee maintains fairness and objectivity throughout an entire game, avoiding being swayed or biased by any specific event or action. It emphasizes consistency and neutrality, key qualities for maintaining trust and credibility among players and spectators alike.


"The referee's job is to enforce the rules and make sure the game flows smoothly."

This quote by Doug Harvey emphasizes that a referee's role in any sport or game is to ensure fairness and maintain order. They are responsible for applying the rules impartially, preventing disputes, and facilitating a smooth and enjoyable experience for both players and spectators. The referee acts as a neutral figure who upholds the integrity of the game while allowing it to progress in a fluid manner.


"You cannot referee a football match without making mistakes, but the aim is to minimize them."

This quote by Doug Harvey suggests that in any complex and dynamic system like a football match, it's inevitable that errors or mistakes will occur when officiating. However, the goal is to reduce these mistakes to a minimum, emphasizing precision and fairness while managing the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of the game. It speaks to the challenge and responsibility of being a referee, where they must strive for perfection but understand that absolute perfection may not be achievable.


"The best referees are those who are most invisible."

This quote emphasizes that the ideal referee is one whose presence and decisions go largely unnoticed during a game or event. The implication is that a truly effective referee ensures fairness, maintains order, and lets the competition unfold without undue interference or attention drawn to themselves. In essence, the best referees are those who allow the focus to remain on the contestants' skills and performance rather than their own role in it.


"I don't believe in the perfect referee, only in the more or less good one." - Doug Harvey (This quote is often attributed to Harvey but its original source is unclear.)

This quote emphasizes that perfection is an idealistic standard which may not be achievable in real-life situations, especially when it comes to officiating, like sports. Instead, the focus should be on striving for continuous improvement and excellence rather than aiming for a state of unattainable perfection. In other words, a good referee is one who consistently makes fair, intelligent, and impartial decisions during a game or competition, rather than someone who never makes mistakes or errors.


Before I joined professional baseball, I started umpiring in San Diego, California. I worked 155 games in a five-month season. For three years in a row, I was working tripleheaders on Saturday and doubleheaders on Sunday.

- Doug Harvey

San Diego, Saturday, Before, Professional Baseball

If you're a photographer, they give you a camera. If you're a writer, they give you a typewriter. If you're an umpire, they give you an unseen object and they call it a strike zone, and nobody seems to agree with you no matter what you call.

- Doug Harvey

Give, Agree, Strike, Object

When you're in between the white lines, the game face is on. I was only focused on the task at hand - out, safe, ball, strike - leaving little time to think about how special a player, moment or game happened to be.

- Doug Harvey

Game, Out, About, Little Time

I know that there are no famous 'Doug Harvey plays.' And I'm proud of that.

- Doug Harvey

Proud, Famous, Plays, Harvey

I wrestled as a 90-pounder, and I wrestled in the 107-pound class in my first year. I had something inside of me. I could not stand not to compete. And I don't know why... I don't know what that's all about. But that's deep inside of Doug Harvey.

- Doug Harvey

Deep, Year, Compete, Harvey

I'd love to stay in baseball, but I won't beg. I'd love to work with young umpires. I think I could teach them, help them develop. I can spot flaws, help them get over the hump. You're striving for perfection every game, yet you never achieve it. If baseball wants me, I'm available.

- Doug Harvey

Love, Game, Hump, Perfection

There was something special about watching a manager and umpire both convinced they were totally right, but knowing that one had to be wrong. As an ump, those moments made my job fun, and getting 'nose-to-nose' was part of my job description.

- Doug Harvey

Part, About, Description, Something Special

The part of the game that fans will soon miss: the argument between manager and umpire! There was something special about watching a manger and umpire both convinced they were totally right, but knowing that one had to be wrong. As an ump, those moments made my job fun, and getting 'nose-to-nose' was part of my job description.

- Doug Harvey

Game, Argument, Part, Something Special

I've heard it said that umpires are necessary evil. Well, we are necessary, but we are not evil. We are hard-working and dedicated people whose primary interest is to make sure the game is played fairly. We are the integrity of the game.

- Doug Harvey

Necessary Evil, Dedicated, Primary

My mom beat us until she started breaking clothes hangers. Wooden clothes hangers! Once we started laughing back at her, then your spankings were through. That's the way I was raised. So, I got to be about 13 years of age when finally she quit spanking on me. But I think that it was great way to be raised.

- Doug Harvey

Through, I Think, Great Way, Wooden

As we all know, Cooperstown is the home of baseball. One of the many duties of the home plate umpire is to make sure that the runner touches home. Well, if you're a true baseball fan, you need to visit Cooperstown. This is home.

- Doug Harvey

Need, Sure, Home Plate, Runner

I remember when replay first came to TV. I can't remember who it was now, but a manager came out to beef about a call, and I ran him. He said he was going back into the clubhouse and watch replay. I told him, 'Go ahead. I am the replay.'

- Doug Harvey

I Remember, Ahead, TV, Ran

I was a great base umpire, but I was the most mediocre plate umpire to ever come into the major leagues.

- Doug Harvey

Come, Plate, Leagues, Base

I just umpire. That's what I've done. That's all I can do. I'm one of the fortunate ones on God's earth. I found what God meant for me to do. People ask if I like working home plate best. I just want to be between the white lines. That's where I belong, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

- Doug Harvey

Other, Belong, Home Plate, Any Other Way

I was correct in every call I made, regardless of what managers, players or replay may have said. To me, that's the reason I'm in the Hall of Fame. If I didn't umpire with conviction, I wouldn't have made it for long.

- Doug Harvey

Reason, May, Correct, Managers

I want you to know that I am one of the more fortunate people in life. There aren't too many of us that somebody selects and says, 'You know, that guy ought to be an umpire.' That's what happened to me.

- Doug Harvey

Life, Guy, Too, I Want You

If you don't need umpires out there, and you can put robots out there, then why do we need ballplayers?

- Doug Harvey

Why, Need, Umpires, Robots

The integrity of the game is the umpires. Nobody else. The entire integrity of the game is the umpires.

- Doug Harvey

Integrity, Game, Nobody Else, Umpires

I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped make it better. That's what I tell young umpires: you can have fun. I never spent a day where going out on a baseball field didn't make me feel better.

- Doug Harvey

Young, Feel, Tell, Umpires

Umpires are necessary evils. That's just the nature of the beast. For years, people have looked on umpiring as a job they could get any postman to do.

- Doug Harvey

Nature, Necessary, Looked, Umpires

I always told my young umpires, 'Don't get mad. Whatever you do, don't show it. But no matter how long it takes, get even.'

- Doug Harvey

Young, Always, Show, Umpires

The one thing that all umpires have is pride, and if you don't have pride, you lose that edge.

- Doug Harvey

Pride, Lose, Edge, Umpires

Error is part of the game. I never, ever second-guessed myself on a call and don't believe good umpires ever should.

- Doug Harvey

Myself, Game, Part, Umpires

Instant replay ought to be thrown out. Period. It's a game of imperfections. Why is that so bad for the game? Really, I think they are trying to make the game perfect. I'll tell you what: It will never, ever be perfect.

- Doug Harvey

Game, Bad, I Think, Ought

I always tell my wife, 'If you're ever looking for something to put on my gravestone, put down, 'He was an honest man, and he never held a grudge.'

- Doug Harvey

Wife, Always, Held, Grudge

When asked what he was fighting for, General Washington, in writing to General Thomas, said the object was 'neither glory nor extent of territory, but a defense of all that is dear and valuable in life.' He must have been an umpire. That's what umpiring is about.

- Doug Harvey

Been, About, Extent, Object

I say to you, you want a thrill, volunteer to be an umpire. I'd like you to go just work the bases some day. Just go do that. You're going to love it. Try the slow-pitch stuff. You'll love it. Ask my son - he tried it! He said, 'I've never seen so many idiots in all my life.'

- Doug Harvey

Love, My Life, Some, All My Life

Give me 10 high school pitchers, let me spend a week with them, and I'll show you 10 pitchers who won't balk. It's not that difficult, and they better learn it.

- Doug Harvey

Week, Give, Pitchers, Give Me

Balls and strikes are the basic tenet to everything in baseball. From the perspective of hitting, pitching, offense and defense, it's all about the strike zone and how the battle is waged there between the pitcher and hitter.

- Doug Harvey

Balls, Offense, Waged, Strikes

Willie Mays was the best baseball player I ever saw. He could do anything.

- Doug Harvey

Could, Willie, Saw, Baseball Player

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