On June 13, 1948, an ailing Babe Ruth makes his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. 49,641 came out to see the Babe for the final time. The New York Yankees retire Ruth’s uniform No. 3 during ceremonies that also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Stadium. Many teammates from the integral team the 1923 Yankees attend the event. “I saw Ruth standing there with his uniform, No. 3 and knew that was the shot. It was a dull day and most photographers were using flash bulbs, but I slowed the shutter and took the picture without a flash”- Nat Fein, photographer of “Babe Bows Out”. Babe Bows Out won a Pulitzer Prize in 1949.

Fewer than two months later, the 53-year-old Ruth will die from throat cancer.