Rick Ferrell vs Joe Medwick: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Medwick has the better career line of the two, leading 12 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; Joe Medwick played 1932–1948 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 Joe Medwick (1932–1948) — 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; Joe Medwick finished with 2,471 hits and 205 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Joe Medwick, with 205 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe Medwick, with .867 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe Medwick, with .324 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits? Joe Medwick, with 2,471 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.
- Who drove in more runs? Joe Medwick, with 1,383 to Rick Ferrell's 734.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Joe Medwick, with 28,897 career PIV to Rick Ferrell's 6,474.
- Who won more championships? Joe Medwick, with 1 World Series title to Rick Ferrell's 0.
Rick Ferrell
Joe Medwick
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rick Ferrell and Joe Medwick. 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 | Joe Medwick |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,884 | Leads: 1,984 |
| At-Bats | 6,028 | Leads: 7,635 |
| Runs | 687 | Leads: 1,198 |
| Hits | 1,692 | Leads: 2,471 |
| Doubles | 324 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | 45 | Leads: 113 |
| Home Runs | 28 | Leads: 205 |
| RBI | 734 | Leads: 1,383 |
| Walks | Leads: 931 | 437 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 277 | 551 |
| Stolen Bases | 29 | Leads: 42 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .324 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .378 | .362 |
| Slugging % | .363 | Leads: .505 |
| OPS | .741 | Leads: .867 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Medwick outpaces Rick Ferrell 28,897 to 6,474 — driven by per-season impact — 1,445 PIV per season to 308 — rather than by longevity, since Joe Medwick played 20 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
Joe Medwick — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Joe Medwick leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Rick Ferrell owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joe Medwick. PIV agrees: Joe Medwick 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 Joe Medwick careers compare
Rick Ferrell and Joe Medwick were active at the same time between 1932 and 1947. With 1,884 games against 1,984 across 21 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Rick Ferrell comes out ahead, it is in walks (931 to 437) and on-base percentage (.378 to .362). At the plate, Rick Ferrell walked more often than struck out (931 walks, 277 strikeouts), while Joe Medwick struck out more than walked (551 to 437). Joe Medwick is the more power-leaning hitter, with 205 of 2,471 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Joe Medwick holds the edge, .505 to .363.
Rick Ferrell vs Joe Medwick: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Ferrell or Joe Medwick?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Medwick leads Rick Ferrell in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rick Ferrell or Joe Medwick hit more home runs?
- Joe Medwick, with 205 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe Medwick, with .867 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe Medwick, with .324 to Rick Ferrell's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Joe Medwick, with 2,471 to Rick Ferrell's 1,692.