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Marc S.the difference between Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth was that Ty Cobb averaged one extra hit per forty at-bats.
Babe Ruth got on base one more time than Ty Cobb per 25 plate appearances.
Cobb was definitely much faster than Ruth...
And the power aspect -- it is without comparison. Babe Ruth fundamentally transformed the game of baseball, whereas Cobb was "merely" the best hitter of all-time (although some here may argue that). Plus -- Ruth gave up a promising pitching career to play offense every day, and independent of their relative offenseive performances...you can look at Babe Ruth as being an integral part of the beginning of the NYY / Boston Red Sox rivalry, the oldest sports rivalry in this nation.
Finally, Cobb has (whether deservedly or not) a sometimes unsavory reputation for his actions both on-and-off the field, including the Chalmers controversy, relentless mind games, and accusations of racism.
Controversies are great -- but this is one of those topics where most of us can talk until we are blue in the face, but we will not persuade those on the other side of the fence....