Going Out With A Bang: Babe Ruth Hits His Last Homer

Babe Ruth in uniform for the Boston Braves on March 17, 1935. (Bettmann/Getty Images)

On May 25, 1935, the great Babe Ruth hit his 712th, 713th, and 714th career home runs and set a record that stood uncontested for the next four decades. Much has been written about the early years of Ruth's illustrious career, but its end, his final game, and his post-baseball life are just as fascinating.

The Sultan Of Swat

George "Babe" Ruth started his baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles but established himself as the best player in the league during his time with the Boston Red Sox, when he set records, took his team to the World Series, and pitched a famous 14-inning game. Ahead of the 1920 season, however, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the New York Yankees in a move that shocked and outraged baseball fans, especially those in Boston.

With the Yankees, Ruth switched from pitching to playing outfield, but it was up to bat where Ruth really shined, earning him the nickname "the Sultan of Swat." In fact, for 10 of the first 12 seasons after he was sold to the Yankees, Ruth hit more home runs himself than the entire Red Sox team combined.

Babe Ruth in his first year with the New York Yankees. (Paul Thompson/Wikimedia Commons)

Babe Ruth's Last Home Run

By 1934, Ruth's star was fading. The Yankees released him, and he was picked up by the Boston Braves for the 1935 season, culminating in a legendary game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 25, 1935. The competition was fierce, with three future Hall of Famers in the dugout for the Pirates, and the Braves lost 11–7, but Ruth hit three home runs and drove home six runs. He played five more games that season before retiring, but he didn't manage to bang out another homer, setting his career home run record at 714.