September

Okay, so this month it's a no-brainer. No need for clues. Is there any mug more well known in the world of sport than the Babe's?

It's a curiously round face, with a flat nose and thick eyebrows. And (in this picture, at least) reflective eyes, perhaps even a little sad.

Perhaps he just had a bad batch of his favorite dessert: eels and ice cream.

Of course, the stories about Babe Ruth -- on and off the field -- are legion. I won't even begin to recount them here. In describing the Babe, one of his roommates probably summed it up best when he said, "I roomed with his suitcase."

In honor of him appearing on my calendar, I believe I will read Robert Creamer's biography of the Babe sometime this month. Published in 1974, it is considered the authoritative work on the legendary ballplayer's colorful life.

It was a relatively short life, ending at 53 in 1948. But, considering the way he lived, a surprise to nobody.

He was one of the first five to go into the Hall of Fame in 1936, and with a career batting average of .342 (with 714 homers) and a career ERA of 2.28 (with a record of 94-46), he was probably the most versatile player ever to don a major league uniform.