How would anyone know if he was a tall tale or not if by the time anyone ever heard his name he was already dead for 60 years?

Because that's not how it happened. As already mentioned, there were people who were alive to remember. There were testimonies. People have been hearing His name all around the civilized world in the years after His resurrection. There were Churches established in major cities founded by the apostles in that period.

It's all been said and argued already. Both positions are presented here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacitus_on_Jesus