In 1922, this young man was a batboy for the New York Giants. In 1948, he starred in the role of Babe Ruth in the film, "The Babe Ruth Story." What is his name?

Long before he graced the silver screen, the actor who would portray Babe Ruth had a unique, firsthand connection to the baseball legend. In the early 1920s, a young William Bendix served as a batboy for the New York Yankees. During his time with the team, he witnessed Babe Ruth's incredible talent, claiming to have seen him hit over 100 home runs at Yankee Stadium. This early experience with the baseball icon would come full circle decades later.

In 1948, William Bendix starred as Babe Ruth in the biographical film, "The Babe Ruth Story." The film followed the life of the famous slugger, and though it received mixed reviews, Bendix's casting had a special significance. Reportedly, Babe Ruth himself approved of Bendix playing him on screen. The film was produced and released in the final year of Ruth's life, and he was able to see the movie before he passed away in August 1948.

Bendix was known for his portrayals of rough, blue-collar characters, and his role as the larger-than-life baseball player became a memorable part of his career. Beyond his famous role as the "Sultan of Swat," Bendix had a prolific career in film, radio, and television. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1942 film "Wake Island" and was also widely recognized for playing Chester A. Riley in the radio and television versions of "The Life of Riley."