#18: An American Hero

Mantle’s fame extended far beyond the ballpark. During the height of his career in the 1950s and ’60s, he became a national celebrity, appearing in commercials, magazines, and even on television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show.

Kids collected his baseball cards with awe, and he was a frequent guest on sports talk programs. His face appeared on cereal boxes, shaving cream ads, and pinball machines. He wasn’t just a Yankee—he was an American icon.