#29: Deep Respect For Baseball Legends
Mantle deeply respected the legends before him, especially Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. When he first joined the Yankees, he felt intimidated by wearing the same uniform those giants wore. Over time, though, he became part of that same lineage.
When Ruth’s number was retired in 1948, a young Mantle was in the stadium. Years later, he’d speak reverently of “The Babe,” calling him the face of baseball. Mantle even visited Ruth’s grave in New York as a quiet tribute. For him, playing for the Yankees wasn’t just a job—it was an honor.