On June 2, 1935, the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, officially retired from baseball, closing the chapter on one of the most legendary careers the game has ever seen. At 40 years old, Ruth was no longer the powerhouse he used to be, and after a short and rocky stint with the Boston Braves, he knew it was time. His body was slow, the hits weren’t coming like they used to, and even Babe knew you can’t outrun time — not even with a bat like his.

Ruth had spent most of his career with the New York Yankees, where he became a household name — smashing 714 home runs, setting records, and turning baseball into a national obsession. But by 1935, after being traded to the Braves with hopes he might eventually manage the team, he realized that dream wasn't in the cards. Just a week before his retirement, on May 25, he hit three home runs in one game — a final flash of greatness — but it would be his last hurrah.

The announcement came quiet and somber: “I’m through, boys,” he told reporters. No farewell tour, no long speeches — just a living legend walking off the field with the same larger-than-life presence he brought to it. Fans across the country mourned the end of an era, because Babe Ruth wasn’t just a player — he was baseball. He changed the game with his swagger, his power, and his raw charisma.

So on June 2, 1935, when Babe hung up his cleats for good, it wasn’t just the end of a career — it was the closing of baseball’s golden age. The stadiums would still fill, the bats would still crack, but there’d never be another like the Babe. Not before. Not since.

On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was officially crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. She’d already become queen the year before, when her father, King George VI, passed away in February 1952. But this was the formal ceremony — the one that made it official in the eyes of the country and the world. At just 27 years old, she was stepping into a role few people ever fully understand.

What made this coronation different was the reach. It was the first one ever televised, and over 20 million people in the UK watched it live — a huge deal at the time. Families gathered around their TVs, and some folks even bought one just for the occasion. The ceremony itself followed centuries of tradition: she took her oath, was anointed with holy oil, and crowned with the heavy St. Edward’s Crown.

About 8,000 people packed into the Abbey — foreign leaders, heads of state, Commonwealth reps, you name it. The whole thing was steeped in pageantry, but it also marked a shift. Britain was coming out of the shadow of World War II, and this young queen, broadcast into homes around the world, felt like the start of something new.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation didn’t try to reinvent the monarchy — but it did bring it into the modern age. And looking back, it was the first big moment in a reign that would last over 70 years, longer than any other in British history.

A Fascist Teacher👨‍🏫
Before he became the face of Italian fascism, Benito Mussolini was a schoolteacher. In the early 1900s, after earning a teaching certificate, he took jobs in elementary schools in northern Italy, where he was known for being strict, short-tempered, and often clashing with both students and parents. His time in the classroom was short-lived, though — Mussolini was more drawn to politics, socialist activism, and eventually journalism, which paved the way for his rise to power. Still, it’s a strange twist of history that one of Europe’s most infamous dictators once handed out homework before propaganda. 🏫📚🇮🇹

Ancient Bone Flute🪈
The oldest known musical instrument is a bone flute dating back over 40,000 years, discovered in a cave in Germany. Carved from the wing bone of a griffon vulture, the flute has five finger holes and still plays recognizable notes, showing that early humans already had a sense of tone, rhythm, and creativity. Found alongside tools and early art, it’s a powerful reminder that music was part of human culture long before writing or farming — likely used in rituals, storytelling, or simply for joy. Long before Spotify, our ancestors were jamming in the caves. 🎶🦴

Mind Reading Machine🧠
In 1932, a British man named Hugo Gernsback patented a device he claimed could read thoughts — a headgear contraption fitted with electrodes, wires, and amplifiers designed to detect the brain’s electric impulses. The invention, dubbed the “Isolator” or “Psychograph” in some reports, was supposed to turn thoughts into visible patterns on a chart, offering a window into the mind. Despite the excitement around early brainwave research, the machine never actually worked, and no real data was ever produced. Still, it showed just how early the dream of mind-reading technology began — even if it looked more like a sci-fi helmet than a breakthrough. 🧠📡

Cricket Fight🥊
In ancient China, especially during the Tang and Song dynasties, nobles and scholars kept pet crickets not just for their soothing chirps, but for competitive fighting. These tiny insects were housed in ornate jade or ceramic cages, fed special diets, and even trained for cricket-fighting tournaments, which became a popular pastime among the elite. Some crickets were so prized they were given names and treated like miniature gladiators, with bets placed on matches and manuals written on breeding and training techniques. What started as simple entertainment evolved into a full-blown sporting obsession, proving that even in ancient times, people loved a good underdog fight — no matter how small. 🦗🥊

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.