On July 26, 1948, famed New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth attended the premier
of the film The Babe Ruth Story, a biopic about his own life, William Bendix (below)
portrayed Ruth. Shortly thereafter, Ruth returned to the hospital for the final time. He
was barely able to speak. His condition gradually became worse, and in his last days, scores of reporters and photographers hovered around the hospital. On August 16,
Babe Ruth died at the age of 53 due to pneumonia.

William Bendix

An ailing Babe Ruth Addressing the Crowd at Yankee Stadium on
Babe Ruth Day.