June 13, 1948. It was a gray, overcast Sunday in the Bronx. Nearly 50,000 fans packed into the concrete cathedral known as "The House That Ruth Built" to celebrate its 25th anniversary. But everyone knew why they were really there. They came for George Herman Ruth.
He was dying. Everyone could see it. The man who had once been a barrel-chested force of nature, a titan who swatted home runs that seemed to touch the clouds, was now a ghost of his former self. He had lost 80 pounds. His voice, once a booming baritone, was a raspy whisper thanks to the cancer eating away at his throat and neck. When he finally emerged from the dugout, the stadium didn't just cheer—it roared with a sound that felt like a collective heartbreak.
The Story Behind the Iconic Babe Ruth Last Photo
Most people think of one specific image when they search for the babe ruth last photo. It’s the Pulitzer Prize-winning shot by Nat Fein, titled "The Babe Bows Out." You’ve seen it: Ruth, viewed from behind, leaning on a baseball bat as he stares out at the crowd.
There's something haunting about seeing that famous number 3 on his back. It was the day the Yankees retired his jersey. Fein wasn’t even supposed to be there. He was a human-interest photographer for the New York Herald Tribune, filling in for a sports guy who called out sick.
👉 See also: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
While every other photographer huddled in front of Ruth to catch his face, Fein did something different. He went behind him. He later said he saw the number 3 and realized that was the story. He didn't use a flash—despite the gloomy sky—because he wanted to capture the natural, somber mood of the stadium.
Why he was leaning on that bat
Ruth wasn't just posing. He was physically unable to stand without support. He used the bat—which actually belonged to Bob Feller—as a cane. It's a detail that adds a layer of grit to the image. He was a warrior taking his final bow, even though he could barely hold himself up.
The Actual Final Photograph of the Babe
While the "Babe Bows Out" image is the most famous, it wasn't actually the very last photo ever taken of him. That honor usually goes to a much more private, tragic set of images.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
About six weeks after that ceremony, Ruth was back in Memorial Hospital. On July 29, 1948, he was photographed in his hospital room with Steve Broidy of Allied Artists. They were there to discuss the premiere of The Babe Ruth Story, a movie about his life. In the photo, Ruth is emaciated. He’s wearing a bathrobe, holding a check for his foundation for underprivileged children.
He looks nothing like the Sultan of Swat. Honestly, it’s hard to look at. He died just over two weeks later, on August 16.
The controversy of the "deathbed" images
There are also photos of Ruth lying in state at Yankee Stadium. After he passed, his casket was placed in the rotunda of the stadium so fans could pay their respects. Over 100,000 people showed up. Some historians count these as the "final" photos, but for most fans, the hospital photo with Broidy is the final image of him alive.
🔗 Read more: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
Why These Photos Still Hit Hard Today
We’re obsessed with the babe ruth last photo because it represents the mortality of an American myth. Ruth wasn't just a baseball player; he was a symbol of the roaring twenties, of excess, and of impossible talent. Seeing him reduced to a frail man leaning on a borrowed bat is a reminder that time catches up to everyone, even the giants.
Medical context we didn't know then
In 1948, cancer was a "death sentence" word. Doctors often didn't even tell patients they had it. Ruth was never explicitly told he had terminal cancer, though he certainly knew he was dying. He actually became a pioneer for modern medicine, being one of the first humans to receive a combination of radiation and an early form of chemotherapy. His struggle helped pave the way for the treatments we have now.
- The Date: June 13, 1948 (The Yankee Stadium farewell)
- The Photographer: Nat Fein (Who won the first-ever sports Pulitzer for it)
- The Equipment: A Speed Graphic camera, no flash, 1/25 shutter speed.
- The Location: The third-base line, looking toward the dugout.
Insights for Collectors and Historians
If you're looking for copies of these photos, the market is huge but tricky. Original silver gelatin prints of the Fein photo can fetch thousands of dollars at auction.
- Check the stamp: Look for the New York Herald Tribune or Nat Fein's personal stamp on the back of vintage prints.
- Condition matters: Many prints from the late 40s suffer from "silvering" or yellowing.
- Modern reprints: The National Baseball Hall of Fame sells high-quality authorized reprints, which are great for framing but don't hold the same investment value as originals.
The babe ruth last photo isn't just a piece of sports memorabilia. It's a study in dignity. Despite the pain and the weakness, Ruth put on that heavy wool uniform one last time for the fans. He gave the crowd what they wanted, even when he had nothing left to give himself.
To truly understand the impact of Ruth’s final days, visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, where the original Fein photograph is displayed alongside the actual uniform he wore that day. You can also research the "Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum" in Baltimore for more personal archives of his life outside the stadium. These resources provide a deeper look at the man behind the pinstripes and the legacy he left behind long after the camera shutter closed for the last time.