Babe Ruth, who had spent the best years of his career with the New York Yankees, was released by them in February 1935. The Boston Braves picked him up and was led to believe it would lead to managing the team. However, most of what he was asked to do was promotional, which disappointed him. At forty, his career playing baseball was coming to an end.

On 25 May 1935 the Boston Braves were playing against the Pirates. It was a game to be long remembered. By the seventh inning, the Pirates still led 7-5 despite two home runs earlier by Ruth. Fans were excited to see Ruth and cheered him on as be came to bat. When the ball hit the bat, fans remembered that smack that indicated he had hit a home run. The ball cleared Forbes Field right field roof and the fans roared in delight. As he ran the bases, he saluted the fans with his cap. The Braves tied the game in the inning, but the Pirates would score three more times and in the eighth add one more run for a final score of 11-7. Ruth’s record of 714 home runs would not be broken for forty years.

Ruth played a few more games but retired from baseball on 4 June 1935. His dream of one day managing a baseball team would never happen. He would work briefly as a first base coach for the Dodgers in 1938 but that would be his last baseball position. He would appear at exhibition games and still drew crowds. He appeared at the Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium on 4 July 1930 to honor his former teammate forced to retire due to ALS (or also known as Lou Gehrig’s Syndrome). During World War II, he made many appearances to support the war including the 1943 exhibition game for the Army-Navy Relief Fund at Yankee Stadium. He also became a celebrity golfer often drawing crowds in charity tournaments.

He passed away from throat cancer on 16 August 1948 at Memorial Hospital in New York. Many had gathered outside holding vigil during his final hours. After his death, the casket was taken to Yankee Stadium so that fans could pay their last respects. It was there for two days and around 77,000 people paid their respects. His funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was presided by Cardinal Spellman and was filled and thousands (estimated to be 75,000 total) outside. A monument in his honor was erected at Yankee Stadium. When the stadium was renovated, it and other monuments became part of the new Monument Park that can be seen today.

Sources

“Babe Ruth Hits Last Home Run.” HISTORY. Last modified May 28, 2025. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-25/babe-ruth-hits-last-home-run.

“May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth Smashes Three Homers in Final Hurrah.” Last modified October 26, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-25-1935-ruth-smashes-3-homers-in-final-hurrah/.

Stiner, Kevin. “Ruth Adds to Legend With Three Homers for Braves.” National Baseball Hall of Fame. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/ruth-adds-to-legend-with-three-homers-for-braves.

Videos

Old Ball Game Studios. “Babe Ruth’s Final Game: A Legend Bids Goodbye.” Video. YouTube, November 15, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchmkB-e79w.