Great debate rages for Sox: Papi vs. Ted

Bill Russell, Bobby Orr and Tom Brady are inarguably the greatest Celtic, Bruin and Patriot of all time.

Until recently, there was no debate as to who was the greatest Red Sox player of all time — it was clearly Ted Williams.

But as David Ortiz finishes his final season, the question of who is greater — Williams or Ortiz — has begun to surface on sports talk radio.

It appears millennials favor “Big Papi,” while baby boomers prefer the “Splendid Splinter.”

But if this is a discussion purely about numbers, then there is no discussion.

Williams’ career statistics look like something out of a slow pitch softball league. A .344 batting average to go along with a .482 on base percentage and a whopping .634 slugging percentage.

His career OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.116 is surpassed only by Babe Ruth.

Williams won six batting titles, led the American League in OPS a staggering 10 times and had the league’s highest slugging percentage nine times.

A two-time MVP, “Teddy Ballgame” also won two triple crowns. In 2,292 career games, Williams hit 521 home runs and drove in 1,839 runs.

To say Ortiz doesn’t measure up to Williams is not a slight against “Big Papi.” Without question Ortiz should be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Having perhaps his best season with a .317 batting average, 38 home runs, 127 RBI and a 1.029 OPS, Ortiz is a legitimate MVP candidate.

But as great a season as Ortiz is having at age 40, it would have been run-of-the-mill for the “Splendid Splinter.”

After all, an “average” Williams season produced 37 home runs and 130 RBI to go along with a slash line of .344/.482/.634.

Despite the clear edge to Williams when comparing regular season stats, Ortiz’s postseason feats are legendary. In 82 playoff games, Ortiz has hit 17 home runs and driven in 60 runs. And in an era when players are measured by championships, Ortiz leads Williams 3-0.

But baseball is the one sport where a lack of a World Series ring can’t be used to measure a player’s greatness.

Sure, Ortiz has three rings — one more than Williams, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Ty Cobb and Ken Griffey Jr. combined.

But how can a player who was strictly a designated hitter be better than the “greatest” hitter who ever lived? John Sapochetti is co-host of Herald Drive heard weekday mornings 6-9 on Boston Herald Radio. Follow him on Twitter @johnsap25.