Has Babe Ruth been overtaken as the greatest hitter in baseball history?

Babe Ruth is the first name that comes to mind when it comes to legendary performers at the plate. It’s not uncommon to hear modern feats described as “Ruthian” whenever an accomplishment feels like it will withstand the test of time. However, it’s possible that Babe Ruth might not be the standard by which immaculate hitting should be judged by anymore.

Major League Baseball announced in May 2024 that statistics accumulated by Negro League seasons played from 1920-1948 would be included as part of baseball’s historic records. According to MLB’s website, roughly 3,400 players can now be considered as official “major leaguers”.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, “All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice. We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong; as Major Leaguers within the official historical record.”

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With the introduction/re-introduction of Negro League statistics into the baseball consciousness, some have posited that Josh Gibson, and not Babe Ruth, should be considered as the greatest hitter in baseball history.

Although it can be difficult to establish a link or an interest in an era of the sport that happened so long ago, the Washington Nationals took a big step towards presenting Gibson as a pillar of baseball’s storied history. Outside of Nationals Park, a statue of Gibson appears next to statues of MLB greats like Walter Johnson and Frank Howard.

Since Gibson’s Negro League statistics are now widely available on platforms like Baseball Reference, his noted career home run total stands at 194. However, Gibson’s plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame reads completely differently on that front. The MLB’s website noted that it says he “hit almost 800 home runs in league and independent baseball during his 17-year career.”

The nickname has made its rounds in pieces covering Gibson’s remarkable career, including one written by Sporting News. While that speaks to just how dangerous Gibson was as a player, he might have eclipsed Ruth in a few areas of the sport.

With the incorporation of Negro League statistics, Gibson becomes baseball’s all-time leader in single-season batting average (.466), slugging percentage (.974) and OPS (1.474). He achieved the latter two totals in 1937, and set the batting average mark in 1943.

Josh Gibson played 14 seasons in the Negro Leagues. Nine came with the Homestead Grays, four with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and one with the Memphis Red Sox. He finished his career with an eye-popping .373 average, and numerous other hitting accolades to his name. He was a 12-time All-Star.

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Even if Gibson is not viewed as the best hitter of all-time in light of recent developments, his inclusion in the conversation shines a light on the Negro Leagues. Even with the new bit of information, CNN wrote in June 2024 that Willie Mays, and not Gibson or Babe Ruth, is the greatest player of all time.

“Wille Mays was the player who did everything better than anybody else,” sportswriter Joe Posnanski told CNN. The argument made in the piece is that Mays may not have been the best at any particular thing, but he was one of the best in nearly each aspect of the game.

Those who argue against the accomplishments of Ruth or Gibson point to a potentially watered-down product of baseball in the 1920s and 1930s. For example, even though there were still 31 teams in MLB in 1927, teams didn’t use pitchers then the way they do now. Ruth would see the same hurlers over and over again, as teams rarely went to the bullpen.

Of course, players back then didn’t have the same medical advancements or legion of trainers that MLB staffs employ today. This is one argument that supports their longevity more than that of a modern player, who has numerous advantages in this regard.

The Atlantic wrote a piece back in 2012 likening Babe Ruth’s impact in baseball to Wilt Chamberlain’s monumental production in basketball. Both men put up hard-to-fathom statistics, as they were head and shoulders better than anyone else in their respective leagues.

Bleacher Report wrote a detailed case in 2008 as to why Babe Ruth is far and away the greatest baseball player, without a shadow of a doubt. They point out that Ruth’s 714 career home runs were hit in far fewer at-bats than the likes of fellow historic power hitters like Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron.

Who do you think the greatest hitter of all-time is? Should Babe Ruth’s prodigious accomplishments serve as the flag bearer, or should Josh Gibson’s production be considered more impressive? Is there another hitter that was better than both of them? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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