The Babe’s last big day

Babe Ruth hits the final three of his 714 career homers 90 years ago today at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.

Ruth – playing then for the Boston Braves in his last big game – hits his homers in the first inning off Red Lucas, in the third inning against Guy Bush and another off Bush in the seventh.

Hitting homer No. 713

Ruth – seen here homering off Bush in the third inning for No. 713 and then touching the plate in the seventh inning after his final homer – also picks up a single in the fifth inning of a game the Braves lose 11-7 before a Saturday afternoon crowd of 10,000.

Ruth misses a chance to try for a fourth homer 90 years ago today as he pulls himself from the game after his third homer – a homer that clears Forbes Field’s distant roof above right field – in the top of the seventh inning.

The homer is the first over the roof in right since Forbes Field opens in 1909.

Joe Mowry takes Ruth’s place in right field in the bottom of the seventh and eventually singles in Ruth’s spot in the batting order to start the ninth inning.

Reaching home after No. 714

By then, Ruth finds refuge in the visiting clubhouse, which at Forbes Field is accessible only through the Pirates’ dugout.

On his way to the clubhouse in the bottom of the seventh, Ruth takes a seat at the end of the Pirates’ bench and chats up Pirates pitcher Mace Brown, reportedly telling the rookie that, “Boy, that last one felt good.”

Turns out the last one is, indeed, the last one as Ruth never gets another hit in a Hall of Fame career that lasts another five days before he walks away from the game at the age of 40.