Greatest hitter?; Williams, Ruth, Cobb, or who else?

Answer 1

So why didn't you mention Hammerin Hank, or Willie Mays?

Out of the ones you mentioned, I'd say Cobb or Ruth. Ruth has 193 HR on Williams, and only gives up 2 points in average. A lot of people forget that about Ruth. Ruth has more R, H, Williams has 19 more doubles, Ruth has 136 3B to Ted's 71, more RBI, more total bases, more walks, Williams is all time leader in OBP by 13 points (Ruth is second), but Ruth is all time leader in slugging by 56 points (Williams is second). Ted does blow Ruth away in Ks though. Ted was that rare blend of power and not striking out all the time. Ruth still walked far more often that he struck out, a ratio of 1.56 BB / K. His 1330 K still don't put him in the top 50 of all time though (83rd all time). Williams gave up years to his country twice, which is amazing, but Ruth also played his first few years in the deadball era, and also pitched, so he lost several years to that. Ted was good. Ruth was better.

Now, comparing him to Cobb is tough, simply b/c they played in different eras. Cobb's lifetime avg is unbelievable. It is hard to compare, but purely on stats, you gotta give it to Ruth. My gut instinct says that Cobb was the best hitter of all time though. Rose has a few more hits than him, but Cobb also quit when he was still good. Rose hung on too long just to pass Cobb by less than 100 hits. Cobb could have played another year and had more than that easily. Cobb also has 64 points in average on Rose to back it up. It took Cobb almost 3000 at bats more than Cobb to pass him.

Now, let's look at Aaron. #1 in RBI (Ruth is 2nd), #3 in hits (Ruth is 38th), #10 in doubles (Ruth is 40th), #1 in HR (Ruth is 2nd, and yes I know what I'm saying), #1 in total bases (Ruth is 1000 behind in 6th), tied for 4th in runs. Ruth has more triples (136 to 98), BB (2062 to 1402) less Ks (1330 to 1383). Ruth's OBP is way better, as is his slugging and average. 5 categories to Aaron, 1 tie, 6 categories to Ruth. Aaron is probably the most underrated player of all time, and definitely the most underrated hitter of all time.

Now, Ruth said he patterened his swing after Joe Jackson, and just as The Splendid Splinter is considered the greatest scientific hitter, Shoeless joe is considered the greatest natural hitter.

Here's a name to throw out there though. Roger Hornsby. Look across the board, he's got it all. How about Stan Musial? Yaz is probably the greatest bad hitter of all time (3419 hits and 475 HR but a .285 avg).

There are lots of guys you could say, but I'd say Ruth edges them all out by a hair, but I'd still have liked to see Cobb play in the same era.

Answer 2

Depends on what you want to pack into "greatest".

Basic ability to produce safe hits -- probably either Cobb or Gwynn. I'd take Cobb here, but I have seen analysis which puts Gwynn at the top, though I didn't think the methodology was very good.

Ability to inflict damage on the opposition, though, requires power -- homers hurt much more than singles -- coupled with the ability to not make outs. And here we find, as usual, Ruth and Williams and Bonds.

Pete Rose benefited greatly from having a manager willing to continue writing him into the lineup well after he was no longer the best choice to be a starting player.

Answer 3

Ty Cobb is the best batting average hitter, Babe Ruth is of course the sultan of swat, and Ted Williams is Mr. Clutch. I am going to say Ty Cobb was the best pure hitter. Somebody you left off that list though was Pete Rose, who has the most hits of all time.

Answer 4

Williams may have been the most complete hitter - both power and average. Cobb with the highest average could be considered the best also. They both played in a different era than today. Relief pitchers weren't used nearly as much back then as they are now.
This should get some attention - I think Bonds should be considered one of the greatest hitters as well. I definitely think he is the best hitter of our time.

Answer 5

Taking into account that pitching has evolved over the years, considering that speeds have rached 100+ and the cut finger fastball and slider...I have to say that a more recent hitter would be the greatest....really tough though...maybe Ichiro..Wade Boggs, ....as far as power...no doubt in my mind that was Mickey Mantle, He hit 550 ft homers with two bum legs........Ruth was inhuman for his time, hitting more homers than full teams would hit...It was said that Ted Williams and Joe diMaggio could see the "seams" on the ball which indicated fastball or curve. I would think that someone speedy and lefty would have an advantage on reaching base safely. Thats why I go with Ichiro, reluctantly.

Answer 6

Cobb was statistically but Williams was a true student at the art of hitting the baseball.

Answer 7

Ty Cobb hands down, and i give mad props to Pete Rose too, he does have the most hits all time

Answer 8

Mr. 406 Teddy Ballgame

Answer 9

williams because he was a dead pull 400 hitter thats why we have the williams shift by the way thell his grandswon stop moving around his body

Answer 10

Pete Rose!