September Pickup Thread-

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

And I agree with that too. Both Ruth and Mantle were lovable fellows who were only human. What Ruth did for kids is beyond compare to ANY celebrity at ANY time (just my opinion). Unlike many modern-day celebrities adopting little African boys and girls for what only looks like personal gain, Ruth, the superstar with the Peter Pan complex, gave freely of his time, money and heart because it did both him and the children good. It's funny how his misdeeds can be so easily overlooked as a result of the many kindnesses he extended.

I find very little that is redeeming about DiMaggio outside of his caliber of play. The fact that he turned down what was at the time the largest contract offer in baseball history because the game had lost its fun for him is also to be commended. To me, he was an abject failure in every other aspect of life. I question whether he ever made even one true friend who wasn't trying to use him or vice versa (maybe Lefty O'Doul). Perhaps the greatest travesty is that he did not appear to possess the intellectual/emotional capacity required to make such observations on his own, thereby being able to rectify his personal demons and live a fuller life.