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.
For perspective:
Mickey Mantle was benched for not hustling in 1960. Tuesday, September 29, 2015
No, I don't think players back then were perfect.
I think that Aaron Judge can adapt to his injury and bat until he is healed. It's his back foot. He can pivot on his heal rather than the ball of his foot or on his injured toe. Judge can wear a shoe with steel in the toe like the home plate umpire does. Nobody is expecting Judge to run. Be the DH. Or at least pinch hit. Mantle was a weapon pinch hitting when he first started to play after missing two months in 1963.
The 2023 Yankees need Judge. They might not make the post season tournament.
Ironically, the 1963 Yankees didn't miss Mantle that much. After they won his injury game they were 27-18, half a game behind first place Baltimore (31-21). In his first pinch hitting appearance August 4, 1963 against Baltimore (62-51) at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees were 68-39, 7.5 games ahead of the second place White Sox with Baltimore third. The main reason was that lefty rookie pitcher Al Downing was called up June 7, 1963: one inning in relief. In his first start June 10, 1963 Downing threw a two hit complete game shutout. Downing pitched 175 innings in 1963: 13-5, 2.65 ERA, 138 ERA+. Unfortunately, Downing pitched poorly in the 1963 and 1964 World Series, both of which the Yankees lost despite Mantle homering in all three elimination games:
1963, game 4 against Sandy Koufax; Dodgers swept Yanks 4-0.
1964 game six against Curt Simmons and game seven against Bob Gibson. Yanks won game six but lost game seven 7-5.
Koufax and Gibson are in the Hall of Fame. While pitching for the Dodgers, Downing gave up home run 715 to Hank Aaron April 8, 1974.
1963 Yankee manager Ralph Houk used Mantle to pinch hit in the most critical time in the game, as best he could,
Mickey Mantle PH heroics following long absences: 1962 & 1963. Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 5, 1963 Memorial Stadium Baltimore: Mantle hurt trying to prevent a home run.
Mantle leaped against the chain link fence and his spikes caught in the fence. When he fell Mickey broke his foot and tore ligaments. I saw the front page of the New York Daily News the next morning as I waited for the subway to high school: "Mantle breaks foot, out season".
Brooks Robinson's HR tied the game 3-3 but Yanks won 4-3.
Sunday, August 4, 1963 Yankee Stadium: Mantle returns against Baltimore...
Second game of a doubleheader. Game one started at 2:02. So by the time Mantle PH in the 7th inning of game two it had to be at least 7 PM ...
Bottom 7th, Yanks trailed 10-9 with one out: Mickey Mantle pinch hits for Steve Hamilton (P) batting 9th; HR Mantle (12, off G Brunet; 7th inn, 0 on, 1 out to LF). Mantle tied the game.
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I suggest that you read that entire post including the comments received. One was from someone who lived in Baltimore and attended both the game when Mantle was injured and Mantle's triumphant pinch hitting return September 1, 1963:
HR: Mickey Mantle (13, off Mike McCormick, 8th inn, 1 on, 1 out to LF).
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