Sam Ewing

Here’s a biographical article on Sam Ewing (the American baseball player born April 9, 1949) + some of the well-known quotations attributed to him.

Sam Ewing – Life, Career & Famous Quotes

Sam Ewing (born April 9, 1949) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Learn about his early life, baseball journey, post-playing career, and memorable aphorisms.

Introduction

Samuel James Ewing is a former professional baseball player whose career spanned Major League Baseball (MLB) and a stint in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Though he never became a household name like some stars, his journey from collegiate standout to international pro, and his witty sayings, offer an interesting narrative of perseverance, adaptation, and perspective.

Early Life & Education

• Ewing was born on April 9, 1949 in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

• He attended John Overton Comprehensive High School, graduating in 1966.

• He then went on to the University of Tennessee, where he became an All-American baseball player.

• Academically, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Tennessee, then pursued advanced studies: a master’s in Exercise Physiology, and worked toward a doctorate in Sports Psychology / Physiology at Michigan State.

His strong academic grounding alongside athletic ability is an interesting dimension to his life—not just a ballplayer but someone with serious scholarly interests.

Baseball Career

Entry & Major League Stints

• Ewing was drafted in the first round by both the Montreal Expos and Chicago White Sox (in different years) before eventually signing with the White Sox.

• He made his MLB debut on September 11, 1973, for the Chicago White Sox.

• He played parts of seasons with the White Sox and later was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft.

• In 1977, in 97 games, he hit .287, playing as outfielder, designated hitter, and occasionally first base.

His overall MLB batting average was .255, with 6 home runs and 47 RBIs. He was often used as a pinch hitter, especially in his later season(s), and was sometimes strategically deployed (e.g. against right-handed pitchers).

Japanese League & Later Roles

• In 1979, Ewing went to Japan to play for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he had a season with a .287 average, 15 home runs, and 65 RBIs.

• After returning from Japan, he even took a managerial role in minor league baseball: in one instance he managed the Appleton Foxes (Midwest League) to a fourth-place finish.

Thus his career reflects versatility: shifting from starter to pinch hitter, domestic to international, and even stepping into managing.

Personality & Post-Playing Contributions

Ewing’s academic pursuits—especially in sports physiology and psychology—suggest a deeper interest in the mechanics, mind, and science behind athletic performance.

While there is less public information about his later life compared to more prominent players, his blend of athlete + scholar + coach gives him a unique place in the narrative of players whose careers extend beyond the playing field.

Famous Quotes

Sam Ewing is also known for a number of witty aphorisms and motivational lines. Here are some of his more popular quotations:

• “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”

• “It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours.”

• “Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it.”

• “Nothing is as frustrating as arguing with someone who knows what he’s talking about.”

• “When you finally go back to your old home, you find it wasn’t the old home you missed but your childhood.”

• “Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.”

• “Computers will never take the place of books. You can’t stand on a floppy disk to reach a high shelf.”

These lines are often shared in motivational, business, or humorous quote collections.

A caveat: while many of these are widely attributed to “Sam Ewing,” it’s worth noting that attribution in popular quotation collections is sometimes imprecise, and Ewing is better known from his sports career than as a writer or philosopher. Some quote-sites classify him simply as “American – Athlete.”

Lessons & Insights

• Versatility and adaptation: Ewing’s shift from MLB to Japanese league, and then into managing, shows that athletes often reinvent themselves.

• Integration of mind and body: His pursuit of graduate studies in physiology and psychology underscores that elite sport involves both mental and physical discipline.

• Persistence despite obstacles: His use as pinch hitter and relative lack of star status did not deter him from contributing meaningfully.

• Words matter beyond the field: His memorable sayings reflect a reflective side—not just a baseball player but a thinker on character, effort, and life.