Nothing to do with wine - The Babe's last stand

Babe Ruth in a Boston Brave uniform

George Herman Ruth (a.k.a. "Babe") was traded by the New York Yankees to the Boston Braves on February 26, 1935. The man who led the Yankees to 4 World Series Championships was shipped off to Boston for almost nothing. Ruth's numbers had begun to decline and after the 1934 season in which Ruth only hit 22 home runs, the Yankees looked to dump the slugger. While certainly unsentimental, this trade proved to be a wise baseball decision. The greatest player of this time was finished and everyone, including Ruth, knew it. In order to get Ruth to agree to the trade, the Braves had promised him the titles of club Vice President and assistant manager. Ruth, who dreamed of being a manager, agreed, but it soon became clear that he was given these titles in name only. The once mighty Babe Ruth was being used like a circus attraction to lure fans.

Ruth hitting his second home run of the game. Career# 713

Fat and totally out of shape, Ruth struggled in the field and at the plate. Then, right out of a movie script, the Babe recaptured his old swing on May 25th. The Braves were playing the Pirates at Forbes Field in Pittsburg. Ruth went 4-4, hit 3 home runs and drove in 6. The third home run that day sailed over the roof of the stadium, the only time that happened in the history of Forbes Field. Ruth, however, never hit another ball over a major league fence. Less than a week later, the Babe hobbled off the field with an injury during a game in Philadelphia. The most famous athlete in history almost wrote the perfect ending to a great career, but he missed his cue by five days.