There is no way Capone could have regained the reins of the Outfit if he had been healthy. Warm feelings for Good Old Al, and fond memories, took a back seat to ambition and greed. While Capone was away for ll years, Prohibition was repealed, and the Outfit branched out into new businesses. Ralph Capone, his brother's only blood ally in the Outfit, was always a second-rater compared with Ricca, Nitti, Guzik and Humphreys.
According to the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Ralph was still receiving visits from the likes of Humphreys, Accardo, Aiuppa, and some of those guys well into the 60's, and was still respected. Supposedly he still kicked up as well, from his prostitution & gambling rackets in Wisconsin. Capone's other brother, Ermino John is also referred to by them as a close associate at the time, even then, of numerous Outfit leaders, and had illegal rackets in collusion with them as well, while still living in Chicago. If what they say is true or not, Capone wouldn't have regained the reins of boss, but he possibly would've still been looked on to and held in an advisory role, like many of his time went on to do.
And there are numerous accounts of Capone being assaulted in prison.
