Rick Ferrell vs Hank Greenberg: Career Stats Comparison
Hank Greenberg has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Hank Greenberg played 1930–1947 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 Hank Greenberg (1930–1947) — they broke in during the 1920s and the 1930s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rick Ferrell finished with 1,692 hits and 28 home runs; Hank Greenberg finished with 1,628 hits and 331 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits? Rick Ferrell, with 1,692 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Greenberg, with 1,276 to Rick Ferrell's 734.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Greenberg, with 43,523 career PIV to Rick Ferrell's 6,474.
- Who won more championships? Hank Greenberg, with 2 World Series titles to Rick Ferrell's 0.
Rick Ferrell
Hank Greenberg
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rick Ferrell and Hank Greenberg. 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, and the 1920s and the 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rick Ferrell | Hank Greenberg |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,884 | 1,394 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,028 | 5,193 |
| Runs | 687 | Leads: 1,051 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,692 | 1,628 |
| Doubles | 324 | Leads: 379 |
| Triples | 45 | Leads: 71 |
| Home Runs | 28 | Leads: 331 |
| RBI | 734 | Leads: 1,276 |
| Walks | Leads: 931 | 852 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 277 | 844 |
| Stolen Bases | 29 | Leads: 58 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .313 |
| On-Base % | .378 | Leads: .412 |
| Slugging % | .363 | Leads: .605 |
| OPS | .741 | Leads: 1.017 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Greenberg outpaces Rick Ferrell 43,523 to 6,474 — driven by per-season impact — 3,348 PIV per season to 308 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Greenberg played 13 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
Hank Greenberg — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hank Greenberg leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Rick Ferrell owns hits. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hank Greenberg. PIV agrees: Hank Greenberg 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 Hank Greenberg careers compare
From 1930 through 1947, Rick Ferrell and Hank Greenberg were in the majors together. With 1,884 games against 1,394 across 21 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Rick Ferrell comes out ahead, it is in games (1,884 to 1,394), at-bats (6,028 to 5,193), and hits (1,692 to 1,628). At the plate, Rick Ferrell walked more often than struck out (931 walks, 277 strikeouts), and Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts). Hank Greenberg is the more power-leaning hitter, with 331 of 1,628 hits leaving the park. Hank Greenberg's slugging percentage of .605 tops Rick Ferrell's .363.
Rick Ferrell vs Hank Greenberg: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Ferrell or Hank Greenberg?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hank Greenberg leads Rick Ferrell in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rick Ferrell or Hank Greenberg hit more home runs?
- Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Rick Ferrell, with 1,692 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.