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""Nice guys finish last." Leo Durocher (1906–1991), US baseball manager."

— Misquotations

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026

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Original Language: English

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As reported in the biography, Nice Guys Finish Last, (by Leo Durocher, with Ed Linn, Simon & Schuster, 1975), Durocher's remark was his reply to being asked his opinion of the 1946 New York Giants. He actually said, "Take a look at them. All nice guys. They'll finish last. Nice guys – finish last." Elision of the relative pronoun ("who") in the final sentence turned an evaluation into a declaration that nice people are doomed to failure.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Misquotations

As reported in the biography, Nice Guys Finish Last, (by Leo Durocher, with Ed Linn, Simon & Schuster, 1975), Durocher's remark was his reply to being asked his opinion of the 1946 New York Giants. He actually said, "Take a look at them. All nice guys. They'll finish last. Nice guys – finish last." Elision of the relative pronoun ("who") in the final sentence turned an evaluation into a declaration that nice people are doomed to failure.