He was old. He was tired. His knees felt like they were filled with crushed glass every time he tried to round first base.
Most people picture Babe Ruth bowing out in pinstripes with a graceful tip of the cap at Yankee Stadium. That's the Hollywood version. The reality of when did babe ruth retire is actually a lot more awkward, a bit sad, and involves a team most fans forget he ever played for: the Boston Braves.
It wasn’t a planned farewell tour. There were no gold watches or month-long celebrations across the league. Instead, the greatest player to ever pick up a bat basically walked off the field in the middle of a game and never came back.
The Date That Ended an Era
If you’re looking for the hard facts, here’s the breakdown. Babe Ruth officially retired from Major League Baseball on June 2, 1935.
But his actual last game? That happened a few days earlier, on May 30, 1935. It was the first game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Ruth grounded out in the first inning. By the time the game hit the bottom of the first, he realized he couldn't even move in the outfield anymore. He walked off the field, through the center-field fence, and into the clubhouse.
He didn't even stick around for the second game of the doubleheader. He was just... done.
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Why the Yankees Let Him Go
You've probably wondered why the most famous Yankee in history didn't finish his career in the Bronx. Honestly, it came down to a power struggle.
By late 1934, Ruth was 39 years old. He was still hitting homers, but he was slow. He wanted to manage the Yankees, but the owners weren't having it. They liked Joe McCarthy, and they didn't think the Babe—with his legendary appetite for partying and lack of discipline—could handle the clipboard.
So, they cut him loose. They basically handed him over to the Boston Braves because the Braves’ owner, Judge Emil Fuchs, promised Ruth a "Vice President" title and a chance to eventually manage the team. It was a carrot on a stick.
That Final Blast in Pittsburgh
Before the wheels totally fell off, Ruth gave us one last "Ruthian" moment. It happened on May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
Despite being "fat and forty," as some papers called him back then, the Babe went 4-for-4. He hit three home runs in a single game. His final home run—No. 714—was a monster. It cleared the right-field roof at Forbes Field, a feat no one had ever accomplished in that park's 26-year history.
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For a few hours, he was the King of Baseball again.
But then came the hangover. Over the next few games, he went hitless. He was 0-for-9 in the series following his three-homer outburst. His body was screaming for him to stop.
The Argument That Sparked the Exit
The actual retirement announcement on June 2 wasn't just about his batting average, which had plummeted to a measly .181. It was about a fight.
Ruth wanted to take a few days off to attend a gala in New York for the arrival of the French ocean liner Normandie. Judge Fuchs, the Braves owner, said no. The team was in last place, and Fuchs needed the Babe in the lineup to sell tickets.
Ruth was furious. He realized he was being used as a gate attraction, not as a future manager or a serious executive. He told Fuchs he was quitting. Fuchs told him he was fired.
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He called a press conference at his hotel, and just like that, the most iconic career in American sports was over.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About 1935
A lot of people think Ruth stayed until the end of the season. He didn't. He didn't even make it to the All-Star break.
- The Stats: In 28 games with the Braves, he hit just 6 home runs.
- The Fielding: It was embarrassing. Pitchers on his own team actually complained because he couldn't get to fly balls in left field.
- The Legacy: He retired with 714 home runs, a record that would stand for nearly 40 years until Hank Aaron broke it in 1974.
The Sad Aftermath
The most heartbreaking part of the story isn't the .181 batting average. It’s what happened next.
Babe Ruth spent the rest of his life waiting for a phone call to manage a team. He was certain that his fame and knowledge of the game would earn him a spot in a dugout. But that call never came. Except for a brief stint as a coach for the Dodgers in 1938—mostly to draw crowds—he was effectively exiled from the game he built.
Key Takeaways for Baseball Fans
If you're looking to understand the timeline of the Bambino's exit, keep these specific points in mind:
- The Move to Boston: He was released by the Yankees in February 1935 and signed with the Braves the same day.
- The Last Homer: May 25, 1935, was the day he hit his final three home runs (712, 713, and 714).
- The Last Game: May 30, 1935, marked his final appearance in a Major League uniform.
- The Official Exit: June 2, 1935, is the date he officially walked away from the sport.
To truly honor the Babe’s career, take a look at the historical archives of the 1935 Boston Braves season. It’s a fascinating, albeit grim, look at how even the greatest legends are eventually humanized by time. You can also visit the Baseball Hall of Fame’s digital collection to see the actual documents from his retirement press conference.