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Babe Ruth vs Lou Gehrig Comparison
Head-to-head comparison of MLB Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig that includes stats, World Series, and awards. Go to our Player Comparison page to check out other comparisons.
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Position and Height
Teams
Babe Ruth – 3 (Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves)
Lou Gehrig – 1 (New York Yankees)
Position
Babe Ruth – Outfielder
Lou Gehrig – First Baseman
Height
Babe Ruth – 6’2″
Lou Gehrig – 6’0″
Bat
Babe Ruth – Left
Lou Gehrig – Left
World Series and Seasons Played
World Series
Babe Ruth – 7 (1915-1916, 1918, 1923, 1927-1928, 1932) 
Lou Gehrig – 6 (1927-1928, 1932, 1936–1938)
World Series Appearances
Babe Ruth – 10 (1915-1916, 1918, 1921-1923, 1926-1928, 1932)
Lou Gehrig – 7 (1926-1928, 1932, 1936–1938)
Seasons Played
Babe Ruth – 22 (1914-1935)
Lou Gehrig – 17 (1923-1939)
Awards and Honors
Hall of Fame
Babe Ruth – Yes (95.13% in 1936)
Lou Gehrig – Yes (1939 in Special Election)
Number Retired
Babe Ruth – Yes (Yankees #3)
Lou Gehrig – Yes (Yankees #4)
MVP
Babe Ruth – 1 (1923)
Lou Gehrig – 2 (1927, 1936)
All Star Games
Babe Ruth – 2 (1933, 1934)
Lou Gehrig – 7 (1933–1939)
Triple Crown
Babe Ruth – 0
Lou Gehrig – 1 (1934)
League Batting Champion
Babe Ruth – 1 (1924)
Lou Gehrig – 1 (1934)
Home Run Champion
Babe Ruth – 12 (1918–1921, 1923, 1924, 1926–1931)
Lou Gehrig – 3 (1931, 1934, 1936)
Four Home Run Games
Babe Ruth – 0
Lou Gehrig – 1 (June 3, 1932)
League RBI champion
Babe Ruth – 6 (1919–1921, 1923, 1926, 1928)
Lou Gehrig – 5 (1927-1928, 1930-1931, 1934)
League Leader in Runs
Babe Ruth – 8 (1919-1921, 1923-1924, 1926-1928)
Lou Gehrig – 4 (1931, 1933, 1935-1936)
League Leader in Hits
Babe Ruth – 0
Lou Gehrig – 1 (1931)
League Leader in Doubles
Babe Ruth – 0
Lou Gehrig – 2 (1927-1928)
League Leader in Triples
Babe Ruth – 0
Lou Gehrig – 1 (1926)
League Leader in Walks
Babe Ruth – 11 (1920-1921, 1923-1924, 1926-1928, 1930-1933)
Lou Gehrig – 3 (1935-1937)
League Leader in OBP (On-Base Percentage)
Babe Ruth – 10 (1919-1921, 1923-1924, 1926-1927, 1930-1932)
Lou Gehrig – 5 (1928, 1934-1937)
League Leader in Slugging Percentage
Babe Ruth – 13 (1918-1924, 1926-1931)
Lou Gehrig -2 (1934, 1936)
Regular Season Career Stats (Offense)
A baseball next to the player represents the winner of the comparison. A baseball next to both players means a tie.
Games
Babe Ruth – 2,503
Lou Gehrig – 2,164
At Bats
Babe Ruth – 8,399
Lou Gehrig – 8,001
Plate Appearances
Babe Ruth – 10,622
Lou Gehrig – 9,663
Batting Average
Babe Ruth – .342
Lou Gehrig – .340
Home Runs
Babe Ruth – 714
Lou Gehrig – 493
Career Grand Slams
Babe Ruth – 16
Lou Gehrig – 23
RBIs
Babe Ruth – 2,214
Lou Gehrig – 1,995
Hits
Babe Ruth – 2,873
Lou Gehrig – 2,721
Runs
Babe Ruth – 2,174
Lou Gehrig – 1,888
Doubles
Babe Ruth – 506
Lou Gehrig – 534
Triples
Babe Ruth – 136
Lou Gehrig – 163
Total Bases
Babe Ruth – 5,793
Lou Gehrig – 5,060
Walks
Babe Ruth – 2,062
Lou Gehrig – 1,508
Strikeouts
Babe Ruth – 1,330
Lou Gehrig – 790
Stolen Bases
Babe Ruth – 123
Lou Gehrig – 102
On Base Percentage
Babe Ruth – .474
Lou Gehrig – .447
Slugging Percentage
Babe Ruth – .690 (Record)
Lou Gehrig – .632
OPS+
Babe Ruth – 206 (Record)
Lou Gehrig – 179
WAR
Babe Ruth – 163.1
Lou Gehrig – 112.4
Regular Season Career Stats (Defense)
Games
Babe Ruth – 2,436
Lou Gehrig – 2,147
Games Started
Babe Ruth – 1,896
Lou Gehrig – 2,136
Innings
Babe Ruth – 20,357
Lou Gehrig – 18,896
Fielding Percentage
Babe Ruth – .968
Lou Gehrig – .991
Double Plays
Babe Ruth – 84
Lou Gehrig – 1,575
Putouts
Babe Ruth – 4,787
Lou Gehrig – 19,525
Assists
Babe Ruth – 569
Lou Gehrig – 1,087
Errors
Babe Ruth – 179
Lou Gehrig – 196
Playoff Career Stats
Games
Babe Ruth – 41
Lou Gehrig – 34
At Bats
Babe Ruth – 129
Lou Gehrig – 119
Plate Appearances
Babe Ruth – 167
Lou Gehrig – 150
Batting Average
Babe Ruth – .326
Lou Gehrig – .361
Home Runs
Babe Ruth – 15
Lou Gehrig – 10
RBIs
Babe Ruth – 33
Lou Gehrig – 35
Hits
Babe Ruth – 42
Lou Gehrig – 43
Runs
Babe Ruth – 37
Lou Gehrig – 30
Doubles
Babe Ruth – 5
Lou Gehrig – 8
Triples
Babe Ruth – 1
Lou Gehrig – 3
Walks
Babe Ruth – 33
Lou Gehrig – 26
Strikeouts
Babe Ruth – 30
Lou Gehrig – 17
On Base Percentage
Babe Ruth – .470
Lou Gehrig – .483
Slugging Percentage
Babe Ruth – .744
Lou Gehrig – .731
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