I’d always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to be caught out there with anything though, it wouldn’t be professional.

Meaning of the quote

Gaylord Perry, a famous American athlete, would carry grease in two different places on his body. He did this just in case the umpires (the officials in charge of the game) asked him to wipe off the grease. Perry never wanted to be caught with anything he wasn't supposed to have because that would be unprofessional.

About Gaylord Perry

Gaylord Perry was an American right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 22 years, becoming one of the most accomplished pitchers in history. He was a five-time All-Star, won two Cy Young Awards, and was known for his controversial use of the spitball pitch, which he discussed in his autobiography ‘Me and the Spitter’.

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