Rick Ferrell vs Lou Gehrig: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig has the better career line of the two, leading 14 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Rick Ferrell played 1929–1947 as a hitter; Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Rick Ferrell (1929–1947) and Lou Gehrig (1923–1939) — both broke in during the 1920s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Rick Ferrell finished with 1,692 hits and 28 home runs; Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits? Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Rick Ferrell's 734.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Rick Ferrell's 6,474.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Rick Ferrell's 0.
Rick Ferrell
Lou Gehrig
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rick Ferrell and Lou Gehrig. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 14 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other one is a counting total on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded it. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rick Ferrell | Lou Gehrig |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,884 | Leads: 2,164 |
| At-Bats | 6,028 | Leads: 8,001 |
| Runs | 687 | Leads: 1,888 |
| Hits | 1,692 | Leads: 2,721 |
| Doubles | 324 | Leads: 534 |
| Triples | 45 | Leads: 163 |
| Home Runs | 28 | Leads: 493 |
| RBI | 734 | Leads: 1,995 |
| Walks | 931 | Leads: 1,508 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 277 | 790 |
| Stolen Bases | 29 | Leads: 102 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .378 | Leads: .447 |
| Slugging % | .363 | Leads: .632 |
| OPS | .741 | Leads: 1.080 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig outpaces Rick Ferrell 81,072 to 6,474 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 308 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Rick Ferrell's 21. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Rick Ferrell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lou Gehrig — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Rick Ferrell owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lou Gehrig. PIV agrees: Lou Gehrig grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rick Ferrell and Lou Gehrig careers compare
Rick Ferrell and Lou Gehrig were active at the same time between 1929 and 1939. With 1,884 games against 2,164 across 21 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Lou Gehrig leads every scored row of the table. At the plate, Rick Ferrell walked more often than struck out (931 walks, 277 strikeouts), and Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts). Lou Gehrig is the more power-leaning hitter, with 493 of 2,721 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Lou Gehrig stole more often per game played (29 steals in 1,884 games for Rick Ferrell, 102 in 2,164 for Lou Gehrig).
Rick Ferrell vs Lou Gehrig: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Ferrell or Lou Gehrig?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Rick Ferrell in 14 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rick Ferrell or Lou Gehrig hit more home runs?
- Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.