#24: His Funeral

Bob Costas’s funeral eulogy for Mantle became one of the most famous tributes in sports history. With emotion cracking in his voice, Costas spoke not only of Mantle’s athletic greatness but also of his human vulnerability.

He said, “In the last year of his life, Mickey Mantle became a hero again… not with a home run or a diving catch, but with a sobering lesson for his admirers.” That speech touched millions and helped cement Mantle’s legacy as a ballplayer and a man who faced his flaws head-on.