Both Mantle and Judge were AL MVP the year before their injuries. Both had hit at least 50 home runs twice. But unlike football and especially basketball, the best baseball player is not that important because the baseball rules are so stupid:
- doesn't bat every inning
- can be walked
- one of every 9 players to bat and waits his turn.
Mickey Mantle crashed into a fence much worse than Aaron Judge. Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Aaron Judge injured the big toe on his right foot making a catch when he crashed into the right field fence in Dodger Stadium Saturday June 3. Judge finished the game but has not played since.
Mickey Mantle crashed into the center field fence in Baltimore June 5, 1963 and suffered a broken foot and torn ligaments. There was no warning track in center field in Baltimore back then. Mantle was carried off on a stretcher. He missed 62 games.
The old American League introduced the Designated Hitter (DH) rule in 1973. Mickey Mantle's last season was 1968; he was 36.
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Mickey Mantle PH heroics following long absences: 1962 & 1963. Sunday, June 26, 2011
The R in WAR: Mickey Mantle's replacement in 1963. Monday, October 27, 2014
Five consecutive pennants: Yankees 1960,1961,1962,1963,1964. Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Mickey Mantle was still the main guy but Roger Maris joined the Yankees in 1960 and hit 100 (39 + 61) home runs in his first two Yankee seasons. Yankee AL MVP 1960-1964:
1960: Maris
1961: Maris
1962: Mantle (also 1956, 1957)
1963: Howard
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Mantle injured June 5, PH Aug. 4, 1963.
Started playing CF Sep. 2 (2).
Ave: Runs divided by total games.
With Mantle missing most of June, Yanks dropped from 5 to 4 runs scored. But in July with Mantle completely absent, Yanks improved .81 runs per game. Then with Mantle back most of September, Yanks dropped to their lowest scoring month of 1963.
Best W-L%: July without Mantle at all.
The best player doesn't have much impact in baseball.
Hector Lopez OPS:
June .721
July .846: best month in 1963 for Lopez by far.
Lopez was the primary batting replacement for Mantle in 1963 in June & July. Roger Maris was in and out. Tom Tresh moved from left to center.
Yanks also had Joe Pepitone and Elston Howard. Elston was AL MVP in 1963.
1963 Yankee batting orders.
Mantle hurt June 5
Al Downing came up June 7
Started first game June 10: complete game shutout. Went 13-5, 175 innings in less than four months. People overlook that.
ERA+, innings:
Ford 129, 269
Bouton 140, 249
Downing 138, 175
Williams 110, 146
Terry 109, 268
After Judge hurt June 3: Yanks 4-8.
After Mantle injury June 5: next 12: 7-5 after losing the first three. Downing's shutout was game 5 and the second win.
August 4 to September 1, 1963 Mantle pinch hit nine times (1963 game log): home runs in the first and last in 6 AB; 3 BB.
Can the 2023 Yankees stay competitive until Aaron Judge returns?
Mantle did not get any platelet-rich plasma injections. Judge has.
Jerry Krause revealed that Michael Jordan scored 40 points in nine straight games for the Chicago Bulls while playing on a broken toe Basketball Network - OWEN CRISAFULLI - JUNE 18, 2023
Can Judge bat with his injury? Designated Hitter (DH)? At least pinch hit? Judge is 31 years old and has had the minimal qualifying 502 Plate Appearances only three times.
How about a steel tipped shoe like the plate umpire wears? It's his right or back foot that is injured. Geez, rub it in the dirt.
Plate Appearances (PA) through age 30 season: 1. Mel Ott, ... 12. Mickey Mantle, ... 1,167. Aaron Judge. Can Judge bat with his toe injury? Sunday, June 25, 2023
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