 Babe Ruth lying in state in the rotunda of the old Yankee Stadium | |
| Date | August 17–19, 1948 |
|---|---|
| Venue | |
| Location |
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| Type | Funeral |
Babe Ruth died on August 16, 1948, from a type of throat cancer. He underwent hormone therapy, and surgery in an attempt to treat his cancer. He was also one of the first cancer patients to receive sequential radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The treatments were not successful.
His funeral took place over three days, from August 17 to August 19, 1948. Ruth was a well-known Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees for fifteen years. His funeral included a two-day open casket funeral at Yankee Stadium, a mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and a burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The funeral events were attended by many prominent people. A total of 57 honorary pallbearers were appointed for his funeral.
While Ruth's body was lying in state at Yankee Stadium it was estimated that 100,000 fans came to pay their respects at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Police estimated that 80,000 people stood outside as his cortege arrived for a requiem delivered by Cardinal Francis Spellman. After the requiem, approximately 100,000 people lined the 30 mi (48 km) route to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.