Awesome True Story: The Sultan's Enduring Popularity

[MattyC]

So my cousin's kid is in grade school. Their class apparently broke up into groups and had various questions to answer. One of these questions was, "Who are the faces on Mt. Rushmore?"

Now, I sh!t you not: one of their answers, humorously enough, was BABE RUTH.

I had to smile at hearing this. Just goes to show how Ruth's popularity endures, from so many of us who never saw him play, all the way to kids today.

Reminds me of when I was showing some cards to a friend's son, who's in the fifth grade. He said to me, as he was looking at a Cobb and Wagner, something like, "I don't know these guys, but do you have a Babe Ruth?"

What an awesome life you led, and how much you accomplished, when kids generations after you've left the earth still know your name like that. That's one of the reasons I love Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, and Joe D. Because of how their names and legends transcend the game, and have become part of the very fabric of American popular culture.

[shernan30]

Who from today do you think will have the same effect decades down the road?

The game today is more about money than devotion to a team. As a Yankees fan I see Derek Jeter having a lasting influence since he showed devotion to his team and will always be a Yankee. He can easily sit at the table with the Yankee greats such as Mantle, Ruth, Gehrig, and Joe D. The question is are there any more in the league that have had the impact on the game these greats had.

[ullmandds]

same effect...noone!

[packs]

Great topic. I'm not sure there has been someone like Ruth since Mickey Mantle retired. I'm sure Ichiro has the same status in Japan and probably will forever.

I think Mickey might be the last baseball icon in popular culture. But I wouldn't be surprised if Jeter joined him down the road.

Mariano Rivera deserves immortality but I think he was too quiet a guy for it to stick.

[yanksfan09]

As a Yankee fan, I agree Ruth is and will forever be King! Mantle was that guy for that generation and has huge lasting popularity today. I love Jeter and Mo but don't think in 50 years they will be talked about with Mantle. Mo is the best ever at what he did but he's a specialist. Jeter is the guy for this generation of Yankee fans but was never the kind of dynamic game changing hitter like a Mantle.

I also agree that in today's celebrity dirt/gossip obsessed world, it's hard for any huge celebrity player to come out looking squeaky clean. In that regard, Jeter and Mo handled themselves about as well as can be expected today. Ruth and Mantle's exploits off the field would never fly today with them being regarded as little kids idols!

The closest I can see to a guy in the future approaching some of the heralded greats celebrity status would be Mike Trout. He obviously has the talent and seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and a lot of charisma. However, he will have to get through his whole career without any scandals which is tough to do today. He'll also need to produce and not get hurt for a long time as well...

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by shernan30

Who from today do you think will have the same effect decades down the road?

Michael Jordan. Ali is also in that pantheon. But I think the absence of a modern baseball player to rival Ruth is at least somewhat reflective of a much wider sports world that goes beyond the baseball and boxing centered 1920s.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

same effect...noone!

Peter? from Herman's Hermits?

[glenv]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

Michael Jordan. Ali is also in that pantheon. But I think the absence of a modern baseball player to rival Ruth is at least somewhat reflective of a much wider sports world that goes beyond the baseball and boxing centered 1920s.

Agree with above. Maybe add Gretzky, Tiger Woods, Shawn White, and Tony Hawk, but no baseball players.

Baseball Mt. Rushmore: http://baseballwithmatt.blogspot.com...re-101512.html