The Yankees retired Ruth’s No. 3 on June 13, 1948. For the final time, the Sultan of Swat donned the pinstripes and entwined “NY.” He needed a bat to support himself as he waited to address the crowd, which had gathered more to say good-bye to the Bambino than to celebrate 25 years of Yankee Stadium. Even as terminal cancer slowed and bowed the Caliph of Crash, Ruth maintained his unbridled exuberance with those he continued to meet. His death, on August 16, 1948, lowered the curtain too soon on baseball’s greatest ambassador. Offered is what might be one of the last baseballs ever signed by “The Babe”. Ruth signed his name on the side panel, which is unique in of itself as Ruth’s signatures are often found directly on the sweet spot. Ruth signed and inscribed in blue steel-tip fountain pen “To Bob from Babe Ruth 1948”. An interesting note about the inscription. The inscription was made to Robert Taft, the then-Senator from Ohio, who was a prominent member of the Republican Party in the late 1930s and 1940s, and also ran for President, losing out to Thomas Dewey in 1948 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 in the Republican races. The signature and inscriptions are faded but still readable and the baseball displays toning and wear given its age, but still a must have for any Babe Ruth collector! This baseball comes with a full LOA from JSA (B71958).