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Today Ron Christensen returns with an interesting account of the Babe’s disappointing last season with the 1935 Boston Braves, including details of his last at-bat. Ron proves the point that, around here, you can never get enough of the Great Bambino! Featured photo beautifully colorized by Don Stokes -GL

Babe Ruth’s Final At-Bat!

“I swing big, with everything I’ve got.  I hit big or I miss big.  I like to live as big as I can.” – Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth is arguably the most prominent figure in the history of baseball.  His legendary displays of power and athleticism singlehandedly transformed baseball into the modern game we know today, and his larger-than-life personality transcended the game to make Ruth a cultural icon that helped shape the Roaring Twenties.  His feats on the diamond are so prolific that his name has evolved to become its own descriptive term:

“Ruthian” – now a dictionary adjective meaning, in baseball usage, prodigiously accomplished with respect to batting, typically describing the flight of a long home run; and in general usage, something colossal, prodigious, dramatic, remarkably powerful or outstanding. 

Ruth was well past his prime in 1935 when he signed with the Boston Braves, his return to Boston being somewhat of a publicity stunt.  Braves owner Emil Fuchs signed Ruth as an outfielder, but also named him vice president of the club and assistant manager to Bill McKechnie, the Braves’ on-field skipper.  Knowing of Ruth’s desire to manage a ballclub, Fuchs hinted that should McKechnie step down, Ruth might replace him as manager. 

Left unsaid was how dismal the Braves’ financial circumstances were.  Fuchs, who had purchased the Braves with Christy Mathewson in 1922, was in such dire financial straits that he couldn’t afford to pay the rent on Braves Field.  His desire to bring Ruth to Boston was solely motivated by generating fan interest and reviving the team’s financial fortunes. 

Soon after arriving in Boston, Ruth came to realize that the titles he was given were meaningless, and the likelihood of him one day managing the Braves was nonexistent.  He also came to realize that he could no longer swing a bat with the power and authority he had in previous years, and that his body was betraying his ability to remain an everyday player on the field. 

Ruth played his final major league game on May 30, 1935, against the Phillies in Philadelphia.  He played only the first inning of the first game of a scheduled doubleheader, and left the field through the center field fence to a standing ovation from the 18,000 fans in attendance.  Ruth told no one of his decision to retire, and no announcement was made at the stadium. 

When the team returned to Boston, Ruth informed Fuchs of his intention to retire, news to which Fuchs did not respond favorably.  What began as a conversation over Ruth’s retirement ended as an argument over Ruth’s job with the Braves, with Ruth yelling, “I Quit!” and Fuchs yelling, “You’re Fired!” 

Ruth and his wife Claire left Boston and returned to New York, where on June 4th Ruth publicly announced his retirement from baseball.  At his press conference, Ruth stated that he was no longer associated with the Braves organization and openly expressed his anger toward Fuchs, saying that “Fuchs would double-cross a hot cross bun!”  Without Ruth, Fuchs was forced to sell his interest in the team that summer.  

Five days prior to Ruth’s final game, the Braves were in Pittsburgh for a series against the Pirates.  In his first at-bat, Ruth hit a two-run home run, the first of three he would hit that afternoon.  His third home run sailed over the right field roof of Forbes Field, the first time this was ever done in the ballpark’s twenty-six-year history.  His home run trifecta might not have been as mighty or as meaningful as his three home runs in Game Four of the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis*, but at 40 years old, it was a standout performance and the third time in Ruth’s illustrious career that he hit three home runs in a single game.

Hindsight being what it is, I’m sure Ruth would have preferred that this be his final game, a fitting career-ending tribute to the man nicknamed ‘The Sultan of Swat.’  But Ruth played the following day in Cincinnati, going 0 for 4, striking out three times, and straining a leg muscle to further hamper his already compromised mobility. 

The game against the Reds on May 28th magnified Ruth’s on-field limitations in humiliating fashion.  Aware of Ruth’s injuries, Reds hitters tried to hit the ball to left field, knowing that Ruth couldn’t field it unless it was hit directly to him.  The strategy paid off, with the Reds scoring five runs in the fifth inning.  Ruth’s performance was so poor that when the inning ended, he went directly to the clubhouse behind the left field wall rather than follow his teammates to the dugout.  As he did, he was jeered and heckled by the Cincinnati fans. 

Two days later in Philadelphia, Ruth faced Phillies right-hander Jim Bivin, pitching in his only big league season.  In an unfortunate anticlimax to a brilliant career, Ruth lamely grounded out to Dolph Camilli at first, lowering his season batting average to a paltry .181.  Fans didn’t realize it, but this would be Ruth’s final at-bat of his major league career. 

Following his retirement, Ruth’s celebrity made him a much sought-after attraction, including frequent exhibition appearances that afforded fans the opportunity to witness ‘The Great Bambino’ play on the home fields of their local teams. 

One such appearance took place on September 30, 1945, at Bulkeley Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut.  Ruth took the field wearing the uniform of the Savitt Gems for a charity exhibition game against their rivals, the New Britain Codys.  During pregame batting practice, Ruth hit several home runs, much to the delight of the 2,000 adoring fans in attendance.  But for much of the game, Ruth took the field as the Gems’ first base coach, only coming to bat as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.  To the crowd’s disappointment, Ruth grounded out to the pitcher. 

After the game, Ruth gave an interview and said of his performance, “Some days the pitches look like watermelons, and some days they look like peanuts.” 

This would be Babe Ruth’s final at-bat in an organized baseball game of any kind.  The following year, Ruth was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and would remain in deteriorating health until he passed away on August 16, 1948. 

Ron Christensen

*Ruth’s first home run left Sportsman’s Park, clearing the roof over the right field bleachers.  His second home run cleared the roof in right-center field, breaking a window on the other side of Grand Avenue.  His third home run traveled 530 feet into the never-before-reached center field bleachers, arguably the longest home run in World Series history.  This was also the game that Ruth famously made good on his pre-game promise to hit a home run for bedridden youngster, Johnny Sylvester.

REFERENCES:

1. SABR: Babe Ruth’s National League Career – 28 Games with the 1935 Boston Braves, by Saul Wisnia.
2. SABR: May 25, 1935 – Babe Ruth Smashes Three Home Runs In Final Hurrah, by Jack Zerby.
3. SABR: May 30, 1935 – Babe Ruth Plays His Final Major League Game With Boston Braves, by Thomas J. Brown, Jr.
4. Reddit: r/dirtysportshistory – May 30, 1935, Babe Ruth Plays His Final Game, by sonofabutch.
5. Today In Connecticut History – September 30, 1945, by Walt Woodward.
6. Baseball Reference: Babe Ruth
7. Baseball Almanac: 1935 Boston Braves Schedule.
8. The Baseball Buffet: October 6, 2025, by Tom Stone
9. Oxford English Dictionary.

Photo Credits: All found on Google search

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