Ruth or Gehrig? Who would you rather have on your team? And Why?

[maveric]

Poll question: Ruth or Gehrig? Who would you rather have on your team? And Why?

The Bambino was a giant and slugged more HRs than anyone till Hammerin Hank passed him. Babe had a lifetime .342 BA, 2213 RBIs and 715 HRs.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ruthba01.shtml

Gehrig was quiet and only had 14 full seasons. In an 11 year span Gehrig averaged 153 RBIs a season, slamming 184 one year. Lou Gehrig had a career .340 BA, 493 HRs and 1995 RBIs.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gehrilo01.shtml

Gehrig was more consistent and dedicated, a real team player where the Babe was his own island.

My choice is Gehrig.

[chicagojoe]

1. Neither. They're both dead.

[StopTheMorans]

2. Ted Williams. Go Sox!

:evilgrin:

[maveric]

4. See my next poll.

One of many to come.

[StopTheMorans]

10. sounds good. and, in that case, I'd take Gehrig

[Magrittes Pipe]

3. Ruth could pitch.

[sir_captain]

5. At their peaks, you gotta go Ruth

Objectively, he was slightly superior--which is no knock on Gehrig, who may very well be the 2nd or 3rd best player even!

[underpants]

6. Gehrig-the mob protected Ruth, no one was allowed to hit to right

they didn't want him having to bend over.

Have you ever seen footage of the Babe fielding? I ask you.

-this is part of routine by Billy Crystal.

[sir_captain]

7. Heh

believe it or not, except at the very end of his career, Ruth was a fine defensive player who even played a little CF. He obviously had a great arm, and he was a lot quicker than one might have thought...take a look at his career SB totals...

[JVS]

8. Who was a better fielder?

[Magrittes Pipe]

9. Gehrig played first.

Therefore, Ruth was the better fielder. :P

[maveric]

11. The Yanks had great outfielders through the years.

Gehrig was "Wally Pipp'd", into 1st base and stayed there.
he was a left handed thrower so he could only play OF and 1B.
He would have done fine in the OF.

[JohnKleeb]

12. Ruth

remember that he could hit for average too and pitch. He was not a one dimensional player.

[kick-ass-bob]

13. if they were playing today? Gehrig.

Ruth would be one of those asses that everyone hates.
Actually, I think he was back then too!

[sir_captain]

15. Are you kidding?

He was probably the most popular person in the country. There were newspaper columns *every* day that detailed what time he woke up, what he ate for breakfast, etc. I'm not sure *anyone* hated him, and by all accounts, there wasn't a ton of reason. He was a big kid...

[denverbill]

14. Ruth. Cause he was an all star caliber pitcher as well.

94-46 with a lifetime 2.28 ERA. I don't understand why the Yankees took him off the mound almost entirely. Why not let him pitch every fourth day and hit on the other days?

[tsakshaug]

16. Ruth

the pitching.
also a someone to have several beers with after the game

[CubsFan1982]

17. Gehrig.

A team player, a class act all the way. Too often in the Babe's shadow, another reason I picked him. Gehrig doesn't seem to get enough love, then or now.