of the 1932 World Series, Babe gets a call from the father of a dying child and promises the father that when he goes up to bat, he will call the third shot and the ball will land at a certain spot; all of this will be for the boy. During the game, Babe does exactly that, and the boy hears the news and starts to get better. Babe retires from the Yankees at the age of 41, and takes a management position with the Boston Braves, even though they want him to play in the games despite his age. During one game, Babe gets stressed out and can't continue playing, and retires from baseball after that game. Sadly, this means he goes off contract by retiring during his time with the Braves and is fired from anything related to baseball. Later, Babe complains of neck pain and soon learns that he is dying of throat cancer. The news of this leads fans to send letters telling Babe that they care. The doctors decide to try a treatment on Babe with a chance that he'll survive. As Babe is taken to surgery, the narrator gives words of encouragement to baseball fans, crediting Babe Ruth for America's love of the sport. Cast William Bendix as George Herman Ruth Jr./Babe Ruth Robert Ellis as 11 year old George Claire Trevor as Claire Hodgson Ruth Charles Bickford as Brother Matthias William Frawley as Jack Dunn Sam Levene as Phil Conrad Matt Briggs as Col. Jacob Ruppert Fred Lightner as Miller Huggins Mark Koenig as himself Mel Allen as himself H.V. Kaltenborn as himself Frankie Darro (uncredited) as Newsboy Ralph Dunn (uncredited) as George Ruth Sr. Frank Ferguson (uncredited) as Danny's father Tommy Ivo (uncredited) as Danny Harry Tenbrook (uncredited) as Taxicab driver Production Upon learning that the first choice for the lead role, Jack Carson, would not be released from Warner Bros., the producers chose Bendix. The film was rushed to release after news of Ruth's declining health and makes no mention whatsoever of Ruth's first wife, Helen. The film was released three weeks before Ruth died. Reception and legacy Some contemporary reviews were positive, with Bendix drawing accolades from a number of critics for his performance. Variety called the film "interesting, if semi-fictional," writing that it combined "warmth, tears and chuckles into a film that will sustain audience interest," with a performance