Thought this was pretty cool...
Ruth's first start as a position player occurred on Monday May 6th, 1918 when he replaced slumping 1B Dick Hoblitzell who had also injured his finger the game before on Saturday May 4th, 1918. During that Saturday game, Ruth took a tough loss against his future team when he pitched 8 innings giving up 2 earned runs but also smacked his first homerun of the season.
In the following game on Monday the 6th (no Sunday game) Ruth replaced Hoblitzell at 1B making his first career start at a position other than pitcher. He hit his second homerun of the year in another loss to the Yankees. He would hit yet another homerun in the next game as well on May 7th and go on to finish tied for the league lead in homeruns that year.
I have this handwritten letter from Dick Hoblitzell to his wife where he talks about a number of things like the war but also his slump at the plate and his confidence in overcoming these struggles. Was written and sent the morning before that May 4th game where he would go 0-4 again, injure his hand, and pave the way for Ruth's historic ascension.
