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Babe Ruth or Ted Williams

4for44for4 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭

Who was the better hitter ?


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daltex

Babe Ruth or Ted Williams

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  • 4for44for4 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭
    Teddy Ballgame

    I’m going to perhaps be one of the few that goes with Williams.

    I noticed Ruth hit in the 200’s against Walter Johnson and this is how Ted did against a very tough lefty.
    Didn’t search much more though.

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    Erba - coolstanley-dallasactuary-SDsportsfan
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  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,634 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Teddy Ballgame

    I'm a Homer 😏

  • 4for44for4 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭
    edited September 16, 2023 3:38AM
    Teddy Ballgame

    @perkdog said:
    I'm a Homer 😏

    Yes, but IF Ted played those extra years I feel it’s quite possible he could have surpassed Ruth in OPS.
    and OPS+

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  • stevekstevek Posts: 28,991 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    In one season, Ruth had more home runs than any other team total in the league.

    Some forget also that Ruth was a great pitcher.

    Williams was great, Ruth was greater.

    Case closed.

  • dallasactuarydallasactuary Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tie

    @stevek said:
    Some forget also that Ruth was a great pitcher.

    Williams was great, Ruth was greater.

    I agree that Ruth was the better player, but the poll asked who was the greater hitter.

    I'm voting "tie" because to credit Williams as the greatest ever, which he would be if he were greater than Ruth, depends entirely on what credit is given for his war years. I have no objection to giving credit for war years, but I don't want to let that guess become the basis for declaring anyone the GOAT. Williams may very well have been a better hitter than Ruth, and therefore the GOAT, but I'm calling it a tie.

    This is for you @thisistheshow - Jim Rice was actually a pretty good player.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 28,991 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 16, 2023 8:18AM
    The Bambino

    My greatest hitters list:
    1. Ruth
    2. Williams
    3. Mays
    4. Bonds
    5. Blanket over around seven or eight players.

    BTW - with my GOAT hitters, I have to include power in the equation. If I had to choose the GOAT hitter just for raw hitting ability, it would be Ty Cobb.

  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 11,789 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @stevek said:
    My greatest hitters list:
    1. Ruth
    2. Williams
    3. Mays
    4. Bonds
    5. Blanket over around seven or eight players.

    BTW - with my GOAT hitters, I have to include power in the equation. If I had to choose the GOAT hitter just for raw hitting ability, it would be Ty Cobb.

    Have you ever taken a good look at Rogers Hornsby? One year he batted .400 with 40+ Doubles and 40+ HR with 450 Total bases!
    I would put him at #3.

    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,977 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    As great as Williams was, Ruth had a much greater influence on baseball. The game was in deep trouble after the Black Sox scandal. Ruth generated interest in it again and changed the way the game was played. In addition to that, he was an excellent pitcher.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • stevekstevek Posts: 28,991 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    @JoeBanzai said:

    @stevek said:
    My greatest hitters list:
    1. Ruth
    2. Williams
    3. Mays
    4. Bonds
    5. Blanket over around seven or eight players.

    BTW - with my GOAT hitters, I have to include power in the equation. If I had to choose the GOAT hitter just for raw hitting ability, it would be Ty Cobb.

    Have you ever taken a good look at Rogers Hornsby? One year he batted .400 with 40+ Doubles and 40+ HR with 450 Total bases!
    I would put him at #3.

    That was a helluva season.

    Hornsby is in my blanket.

  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,061 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    As great as Williams was, Ruth had a much greater influence on baseball. The game was in deep trouble after the Black Sox scandal. Ruth generated interest in it again and changed the way the game was played. In addition to that, he was an excellent pitcher.

    What does generating interest and being an excellent pitcher have to do with greatness as a hitter?

  • Basebal21Basebal21 Posts: 3,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    @4for4 said:

    @perkdog said:
    I'm a Homer 😏

    Yes, but IF Ted played those extra years I feel it’s quite possible he could have surpassed Ruth in OPS.
    and OPS+

    And even if that were to have happened which is a big IF, he would still have 0 innings pitched

    Ruth was also hitting more homeruns than some entire teams were

    Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,977 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    @Tabe said:

    @BillJones said:
    As great as Williams was, Ruth had a much greater influence on baseball. The game was in deep trouble after the Black Sox scandal. Ruth generated interest in it again and changed the way the game was played. In addition to that, he was an excellent pitcher.

    What does generating interest and being an excellent pitcher have to do with greatness as a hitter?

    Point taken, but without Ruth, Williams' career may have been very different.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • craig44craig44 Posts: 11,238 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    I love ted, but babe slugged significantly better and got on base just slightly less than Ted. Gotta give it to babe

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,095 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tough call- Williams gets an edge as the better hitter- And that is the question asked. Overall, Ruth was the better player

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 11,789 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Anyone think having Gehrig batting behind him for several years might have helped Ruth?
    Nice to have the #3 all time OPS guy batting behind you for your last 10 years.

    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,464 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    Babe Ruth

  • 1948_Swell_Robinson1948_Swell_Robinson Posts: 1,923 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Teddy Ballgame

    @JoeBanzai said:

    @stevek said:
    My greatest hitters list:
    1. Ruth
    2. Williams
    3. Mays
    4. Bonds
    5. Blanket over around seven or eight players.

    BTW - with my GOAT hitters, I have to include power in the equation. If I had to choose the GOAT hitter just for raw hitting ability, it would be Ty Cobb.

    Have you ever taken a good look at Rogers Hornsby? One year he batted .400 with 40+ Doubles and 40+ HR with 450 Total bases!
    I would put him at > @JoeBanzai said:
    Anyone think having Gehrig batting behind him for several years might have helped Ruth?
    Nice to have the #3 all time OPS guy batting behind you for your last 10 years.

    Also helped a little that the Babe had the best pitchers in the league on his team often. Those little things like that add up in comparisons such as these.

    Helps with more baserunners in front of you as well.

  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,252 ✭✭✭✭
    The Bambino

    This is always an interesting question. I actually think Ruth was the better hitter in almost every area. I will explain. Ruth played 211 more games and 835 more plate appearances.....about a year and a half more. But look at the differences in lifetime stats:
    RUTH:
    193 more HRs.
    375 more RBIs
    .056 higher SLG %

    I understand totally saying what if Ted did not lose those seasons? Ruth also basically lost time early on due to being a pitcher. I think one thing that is very clear is that these 2 are the best hitters in history. Either one is a fantastic choice. Can Joey Gallo get added as a choice to this list?
    o RUTH
    o Williams
    o GALLO :p

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