New on the 200 Level

These somewhat Disney-fied statues have recently found a home on Yankee Stadium's 200 level.

Always a smart move promoting franchise icons from past generations because time marches on: Mickey Mantle played his last game 51 years ago this September. Realistically, no one under age 58 will have much of a memory of him in the lineup. And it's been 85 years since Babe Ruth's last Yankee game. There's probably just a handful of spry 90-something fans who recall him batting ahead of Lou Gehrig on Joe McCarthy's squad.

I must admit being surprised that this image of the Babe appears so subdued -- hardly the gregarious larger-than-life figure from his playing days. And that's in contrast to the smiling Mick representing his Triple Crown season of 1956 -- the first time I'd seen a Stadium tribute focused on that historic achievement.

This gives us a moment to pause and reflect, as this week marks the anniversary of their passings: the Babe on August 16th in 1948, and the Mick on August 13th, 1995.

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