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Babe Ruth is an icon, in sports and in our society.

Babe Ruth was great. I'm just lucky.

I don't want to be Babe Ruth. He was a great ballplayer. I'm not trying to replace him. The record is there and damn right I want to break it, but that isn't replacing Babe Ruth.

Ruth was probably the greatest athlete to perform in any sport. Never has there been anybody like him.

Now I've had everything except for the thrill of watching Babe Ruth play.

I'd give a year of my life if I could hit a homerun on opening day of this great new park.

Babe Ruth made a baseball fan of me. I used to go to Yankee Stadium just to see him come to bat.

Don't compare me to Babe Ruth. God gave me the opportunity and the ability to be here at the right time, at the right moment, just like he gave Babe Ruth when he was playing. I just hope I can keep doing what I've been doing - keep taking care of business.

I had no future with the Dodgers, because I was too closely identified with Branch Rickey. After the club was taken over by Walter O'Malley, you couldn't even mention Mr. Rickey's name in front of him. I considered Mr. Rickey the greatest human being I had ever known.

Don't worry about it. Babe Ruth struck out on occasion, too.