The Babe’s last show

Babe Ruth, left, with actor and Babe Ruth wannabe William Bendix

Babe Ruth, dying of esophageal cancer, leaves his hospital bed long enough to make his final public appearance 76 years ago today at the New York City premiere of The Babe Ruth Story, starring William Bendix in the 1948 movie’s lead role.

Ruth dies less than three weeks later at the age of 53.

Turns out that Bendix, as a teenager in the early 1920s, is a bat boy for the Yankees and endears himself to Ruth.

Could be because Bendix’s duties with the Yankees include fetching who-knows-how-many hot dogs and drinks for the Babe.

Shortly after its release in 1948, The Babe Ruth Story is critically panned by pundits for its campiness, overacting and casual use of facts pertaining to Ruth’s larger-than-life persona.

The critics never let up over the years as the movie continues today to be one of the worst – if not, the worst – baseball movie ever made.