Aaron Judge 2026 after long absence: can he come back like DiMaggio 1949, Mantle 1962 & 1963?

Aaron Judge

Position: Rightfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-7, 282lb (201cm, 127kg)

Team: New York Yankees (majors, 10-day IL)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=judgeaa01&t=b&year=2026

59	1204	59	2026-05-31	NYY	@	ATH	W, 13-8	GS-7	4	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	.248	.375	.533	.907	1
Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
60	1205	144	2026-09-08	NYY		COL	W, 5-3	GS-7	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.244	.370	.525	.896	0
61	1206	145	2026-09-09	NYY		COL	W, 6-1	GS-8	4	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.249	.372	.525	.897	2
62	1207	147	2026-09-11	NYY		NYM	W, 6-4	CG	4	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.250	.374	.522	.896	1
63	1208	148	2026-09-12	NYY		NYM	L, 2-12	CG	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.246	.369	.513	.882	0
64	1209	149	2026-09-13	NYY		NYM	W, 2-0	CG	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.242	.365	.506	.871	0
65	1210	150	2026-09-14	NYY	@	MIN	W, 8-3	CG	4	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	2	.243	.363	.515	.878	4
66	1211	152	2026-09-16	NYY	@	MIN	L, 4-5 (13)	GS-6	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.241	.360	.511	.871	0
							41-25		285	237	45	57	10	0	18	41	5	3	43	85	.241	.360	.511	.871	121

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/27/2026.

Judge did not play between Yankee games 59 and 144. He is currently on the injured list and won't play again in this regular season. He will have played in 66 of 162 games.

Joe DiMaggio

Position: Centerfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-2, 193lb (188cm, 87kg)

Born: November 25, 1914 in Martinez, CA us

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=dimagjo01&t=b&year=1949

Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
1	1406	66	1949-06-28	NYY	@	BOS	W, 5-4	CG	4	3	2	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	0	.667	.750	1.667	2.417	5
2	1407	67	1949-06-29	NYY	@	BOS	W, 9-7	CG	5	5	2	2	0	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	.500	.556	1.625	2.181	8
3	1408	68	1949-06-30	NYY	@	BOS	W, 6-3	CG	5	3	1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	1	0	.455	.571	1.545	2.117	4
Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
4	1409	69	1949-07-01	NYY	@	WSH	W, 5-4	CG	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.429	.556	1.286	1.841	1
5	1410	70	1949-07-02	NYY	@	WSH	W, 10-2	GS-8	5	5	1	2	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	.421	.522	1.053	1.574	2
6	1411	71	1949-07-03	NYY	@	WSH	L, 1-2 (11)	CG(11)	5	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.348	.464	.870	1.334	0
7	1412	72	1949-07-04 (1)	NYY		BOS	W, 3-2	CG	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.320	.469	.800	1.269	0
8	1413	73	1949-07-04 (2)	NYY		BOS	W, 6-4 (8)	CG(8)	4	2	3	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	.370	.528	.926	1.454	5
9	1414	74	1949-07-05	NYY		BOS	L, 2-4	CG	4	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	.414	.575	.966	1.541	3

That's right. DiMaggio's his first 1949 game was Yankee game 66 ... in Boston. Before the game:

Yankees 41-24

Red Sox 35-28

After that first DiMaggio game:

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	42	24	.636	--	366	275	.628
PHA	38	29	.567	4.5	331	287	.565
CLE	34	28	.548	6.0	266	237	.553
BOS	35	29	.547	6.0	364	322	.556
DET	36	30	.545	6.0	331	312	.527
WSH	30	34	.469	11.0	271	313	.434
CHW	27	41	.397	16.0	307	364	.423
SLB	19	46	.292	22.5	281	407	.337

The Yanks seemed to have buried the Red Sox but ...

Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
75	1480	154	1949-10-01	NYY		BOS	W, 5-4	CG	4	4	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.347	.462	.593	1.055	3
76	1481	155	1949-10-02	NYY		BOS	W, 5-3	GS-9	4	4	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.346	.459	.596	1.055	3
							50-25-1		329	272	58	94	14	6	14	67	0	1	55	18	.346	.459	.596	1.055	162

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/27/2026.

Final 1949 standings:

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	97	57	.630	--	829	637	.618
BOS	96	58	.623	1.0	896	667	.632
CLE	89	65	.578	8.0	675	574	.574
DET	87	67	.565	10.0	751	655	.562
PHA	81	73	.526	16.0	726	725	.501
CHW	63	91	.409	34.0	648	737	.441
SLB	53	101	.344	44.0	667	913	.360
WSH	50	104	.325	47.0	584	868	.326

Yanks had to win those final two in Yankee Stadium to win the pennant.

Postseason: Won 1949 World Series (4-1) over Brooklyn Dodgers

Mickey Mantle

Positions: Centerfielder and First Baseman

Bats: Both  •  Throws: Right

5-11, 195lb (180cm, 88kg)

Born: October 20, 1931 in Spavinaw, OK us

1962:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mantlmi01&t=b&year=1962

30	1582	30	1962-05-18	NYY		MIN	L, 3-4	CG	5	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.315	.523	.607	1.130	0
Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
31	1583	56	1962-06-16	NYY	@	CLE	L, 9-10	8-8	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	.322	.527	.644	1.171	4

Saturday, June 16, 1962

Attendance: 50,254

Venue: Cleveland Stadium

Game Duration: 3:05

Day Game, on grass

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
	New York Yankees	0	0	0	2	2	0	2	3	0	9	12	2
	Cleveland Indians	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	10	14	0
WP: Gary Bell (4-4) • LP: Jim Coates (5-3)
Winning Run scored with 1 out

Pinch Hit HR: Mickey Mantle (8, off Gary Bell, 8th inn, 2 on, 1 out).

Record: 96-66, Finished 1st in American League (Schedule and Results)

Postseason: Won 1962 World Series (4-3) over San Francisco Giants

1963:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mantlmi01&t=b&year=1963

36	1711	45	1963-06-05	NYY	@	BAL	W, 4-3	GS-6	3	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.310	.441	.647	1.088	3
Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
37	1712	107	1963-08-04 (2)	NYY		BAL	W, 11-10 (10)	7-7	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	.316	.445	.675	1.120	4
38	1713	113	1963-08-10	NYY	@	LAA	W, 2-1	9-9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.316	.449	.675	1.124	0
39	1714	114	1963-08-11	NYY	@	LAA	W, 6-4 (10)	8-8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.316	.453	.675	1.128	0
40	1715	116	1963-08-14 (2)	NYY	@	BOS	L, 4-5	8-8	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.314	.450	.669	1.119	0
41	1716	118	1963-08-16	NYY	@	CHW	W, 4-2	8-8	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.311	.447	.664	1.111	0
42	1717	119	1963-08-17	NYY	@	CHW	L, 0-2	8-8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.311	.450	.664	1.114	0
43	1718	125	1963-08-22	NYY		CLE	L, 4-7	5-5	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.308	.447	.658	1.106	0
44	1719	129	1963-08-25 (2)	NYY		CHW	L, 1-2 (12)	12-GF(12)	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.306	.444	.653	1.097	0
Rk	Gcar	Gtm	Date	Team		Opp	Result	Inngs	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
45	1720	136	1963-09-01	NYY	@	BAL	W, 5-4	8-8	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	.311	.448	.680	1.128	4
46	1721	137	1963-09-02 (1)	NYY	@	DET	W, 5-4	8-8	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.309	.445	.675	1.120	0
47	1722	138	1963-09-02 (2)	NYY	@	DET	L, 1-2	GS-8	4	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	.317	.453	.675	1.127	2
48	1723	139	1963-09-03	NYY	@	DET	L, 2-3 (15)	7-7	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.315	.450	.669	1.119	0
49	1724	140	1963-09-04	NYY		WSA	W, 5-4	8-8	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.320	.453	.672	1.125	1
50	1725	141	1963-09-05	NYY		WSA	W, 3-2 (12)	GS-7	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	.318	.457	.667	1.124	0

After an horrendous injury (broken foot and torn ligaments) in Baltimore, Mantle missed Yankee games between 45 and 107 before pinch hitting in Yankee Stadium ... against Baltimore.

Sunday, August 4, 1963

Start Time: 4:53 p.m. Local

Attendance: 39,432

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 3:44

Day Game, on grass

View Game Recap from the SABR Game Project

Second game of doubleheader, see First game.

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
	Baltimore Orioles	2	3	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	10	12	1
	New York Yankees	4	3	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	11	11	3
WP: Hal Reniff (3-2) • LP: Stu Miller (4-5)
Winning Run scored with 2 outs

Pinch Hit HR: Mickey Mantle (12, off George Brunet, 7th inn, 0 on, 1 out to LF).

Next, Mantle's first game back in Baltimore where he suffered the injury. He's still pinch hitting after missing the preceding team games 130-135:

Sunday, September 1, 1963

Attendance: 24,037

Venue: Memorial Stadium

Game Duration: 2:27

Day Game, on grass

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
	New York Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	5	11	1
	Baltimore Orioles	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	9	0
WP: Tom Metcalf (1-0) • LP: Dick Hall (5-5) • SV: Hal Reniff (17)

Pinch Hit HR: Mickey Mantle (13, off Mike McCormick, 8th inn, 1 on, 1 out to LF).

Record: 104-57, Finished 1st in American League (Schedule and Results)

Postseason: Lost 1963 World Series (4-0) to Los Angeles Dodgers

1963 World Series, game 4:

Sunday, October 6, 1963

Attendance: 55,912

Venue: Dodger Stadium

Game Duration: 1:50

Day Game, on grass

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
	New York Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	1
	Los Angeles Dodgers	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	X	2	2	1
WP: Sandy Koufax (2-0) • LP: Whitey Ford (0-2)

HR: Mickey Mantle (1, off Sandy Koufax, 7th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF-CF).

Mickey Mantle PH heroics following long absences: 1962 & 1963.  Sunday, June 26, 2011

***   The End   ***