[drcy]

I think one is comparing Spahn to an exception. Some people are, for whatever reason, unusually popular for their accomplishments-- Elvis, Mickey Mantle, James Dean, Joe Namath, etc. So you're comparing 'regular' to an exception. As with rock n roll and movies, sports is entertainment so there's always an entertainment/movie star quality involved with our heroes. A better comparison would be with, say, Steve Carleton or Greg Maddux.

Though i do think Spahn trends to the underestimated, while, for various factors including good looks and bias towards peaks, Koufax is overestimated.