Rick Ferrell vs Ernie Lombardi: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Ferrell has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Ernie Lombardi played 1931–1947 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 Ernie Lombardi (1931–1947) — 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; Ernie Lombardi finished with 1,792 hits and 190 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ernie Lombardi, with 190 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ernie Lombardi, with .818 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ernie Lombardi, with .306 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits? Ernie Lombardi, with 1,792 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Lombardi, with 990 to Rick Ferrell's 734.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ernie Lombardi, with 15,583 career PIV to Rick Ferrell's 6,474.
- Who won more championships? Ernie Lombardi, with 1 World Series title to Rick Ferrell's 0.
Rick Ferrell
Ernie Lombardi
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rick Ferrell and Ernie Lombardi. 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 | Ernie Lombardi |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,884 | 1,853 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,028 | 5,855 |
| Runs | Leads: 687 | 601 |
| Hits | 1,692 | Leads: 1,792 |
| Doubles | Leads: 324 | 277 |
| Triples | Leads: 45 | 27 |
| Home Runs | 28 | Leads: 190 |
| RBI | 734 | Leads: 990 |
| Walks | Leads: 931 | 430 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 277 | 262 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 29 | 8 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .306 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .378 | .358 |
| Slugging % | .363 | Leads: .460 |
| OPS | .741 | Leads: .818 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ernie Lombardi outpaces Rick Ferrell 15,583 to 6,474 — driven by per-season impact — 917 PIV per season to 308 — rather than by longevity, since Ernie Lombardi 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
Ernie Lombardi — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ernie Lombardi leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and batting average, while Rick Ferrell owns runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ernie Lombardi. PIV agrees: Ernie Lombardi 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 Ernie Lombardi careers compare
From 1931 through 1947, Rick Ferrell and Ernie Lombardi were in the majors together. With 1,884 games against 1,853 across 21 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Rick Ferrell walked more often than struck out (931 walks, 277 strikeouts); Ernie Lombardi walked more often than struck out (430 walks, 262 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Ernie Lombardi's hits: 28 of 1,692 for Rick Ferrell, 190 of 1,792 for Ernie Lombardi. Ernie Lombardi's slugging percentage of .460 tops Rick Ferrell's .363.
Rick Ferrell vs Ernie Lombardi: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Ferrell or Ernie Lombardi?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Ferrell leads Ernie Lombardi in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rick Ferrell or Ernie Lombardi hit more home runs?
- Ernie Lombardi, with 190 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ernie Lombardi, with .818 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ernie Lombardi, with .306 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Ernie Lombardi, with 1,792 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.