And don't forget that sports is used and portrayed quite a lot in the movies and media that also helps to perpetuate and continue the spread of the legends and names of the past, and keeps them in front of new fans even today.
Ruth appeared in movies, especially the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper, it's an all-time classic. And there are so many others that keep the names and events alive for future generations. Field of Dreams combines fictional and historical characters, especially Moonlight Graham. How many people would know of him if it wasn't for that movie? And the girls leagues from the 1940's, collecting and knowledge of them got a huge boost when A League of Their Own came out. Eight Men Out brought additional knowledge and interest into the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, and even The Natural created a renewed interest in older players and times. Dimaggio was married to an all-time movie legend in Marilyn Monroe, and the list goes on. As long as the media and movies continue to be made, people will still see, appreciate and relate to these stars and players from prior generations. And as long as baseball and sports are popular and still around, their will always be interest in the stories and lives as well.
Hoot Gibson was a reasonably popular actor at one point in time who played characters on the screen. Ruth, Cobb, Gehrig, Mantle, Robinson and others, actually lived and performed such athletic feats and endeavors that made them popular and loved by the fans. People will always remember Babe Ruth for his legendary feats and performances, maybe one day not so many will remember William Bendix (or more recently John Goodman) who have played him in the movies.
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