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Cross-Sport · Career Twins

Career Twins

Two men, two different games, two different centuries — and almost exactly the same answer to the only question that transfers across sports: how far above the people you actually played against did you stay, for how long? These pairs finished level on careerZ. The curves show they did not get there the same way.

A pairing is never within one sport — the whole claim is cross-sport — and each career appears at most once, with the strongest anchoring first. The curves are aligned by career year, not calendar year: twins are almost never contemporaries, so plotting real dates would put them in different halves of the chart and compare nothing. Each man's actual span is printed beside his name. Zero on the chart is the era median — the reason a long average career accumulates nothing — and a missing point is a season too thinly-peered to measure, not a zero.

  1. Pair 1careerZ gap 0.84
    Wayne GretzkyNHL · 1980–1999 · SKATER59.2
    Babe RuthMLB · 1915–1934 · BAT58.4
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Wayne Gretzky (NHL) vs Babe Ruth (MLB)era med+5.3Wayne Gretzky — career year 1 (1980): z 3.48Wayne Gretzky — career year 2 (1981): z 3.21Wayne Gretzky — career year 3 (1982): z 4.24Wayne Gretzky — career year 4 (1983): z 4.03Wayne Gretzky — career year 5 (1984): z 3.52Wayne Gretzky — career year 6 (1985): z 4.06Wayne Gretzky — career year 7 (1986): z 3.92Wayne Gretzky — career year 8 (1987): z 3.89Wayne Gretzky — career year 9 (1988): z 2.72Wayne Gretzky — career year 10 (1989): z 3.54Wayne Gretzky — career year 11 (1990): z 3.08Wayne Gretzky — career year 12 (1991): z 3.40Wayne Gretzky — career year 13 (1992): z 2.68Wayne Gretzky — career year 14 (1993): z 1.13Wayne Gretzky — career year 15 (1994): z 2.97Wayne Gretzky — career year 16 (1995): z 2.15Wayne Gretzky — career year 17 (1996): z -0.33Wayne Gretzky — career year 18 (1997): z 3.21Wayne Gretzky — career year 19 (1998): z 2.87Wayne Gretzky — career year 20 (1999): z 1.45Babe Ruth — career year 1 (1915): z -0.26Babe Ruth — career year 2 (1916): z -0.02Babe Ruth — career year 3 (1917): z -0.21Babe Ruth — career year 4 (1918): z 1.82Babe Ruth — career year 5 (1919): z 3.26Babe Ruth — career year 6 (1920): z 3.75Babe Ruth — career year 7 (1921): z 4.27Babe Ruth — career year 8 (1922): z 2.41Babe Ruth — career year 9 (1923): z 4.90Babe Ruth — career year 10 (1924): z 5.27Babe Ruth — career year 11 (1925): z 1.44Babe Ruth — career year 12 (1926): z 4.50Babe Ruth — career year 13 (1927): z 4.52Babe Ruth — career year 14 (1928): z 4.25Babe Ruth — career year 15 (1929): z 3.14Babe Ruth — career year 16 (1930): z 4.12Babe Ruth — career year 17 (1931): z 3.70Babe Ruth — career year 18 (1932): z 3.12Babe Ruth — career year 19 (1933): z 2.48Babe Ruth — career year 20 (1934): z 1.91career year 120
  2. Pair 2careerZ gap 0.91
    Alex OvechkinNHL · 2006–2026 · SKATER53.5
    Ty CobbMLB · 1905–1928 · BAT52.6
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Alex Ovechkin (NHL) vs Ty Cobb (MLB)era med+4.1Alex Ovechkin — career year 1 (2006): z 3.10Alex Ovechkin — career year 2 (2007): z 2.64Alex Ovechkin — career year 3 (2008): z 3.75Alex Ovechkin — career year 4 (2009): z 3.42Alex Ovechkin — career year 5 (2010): z 3.37Alex Ovechkin — career year 6 (2011): z 2.96Alex Ovechkin — career year 7 (2012): z 2.00Alex Ovechkin — career year 8 (2013): z 3.25Alex Ovechkin — career year 9 (2014): z 2.22Alex Ovechkin — career year 10 (2015): z 2.70Alex Ovechkin — career year 11 (2016): z 2.35Alex Ovechkin — career year 12 (2017): z 2.24Alex Ovechkin — career year 13 (2018): z 2.81Alex Ovechkin — career year 14 (2019): z 2.83Alex Ovechkin — career year 15 (2020): z 2.06Alex Ovechkin — career year 16 (2021): z 1.69Alex Ovechkin — career year 17 (2022): z 2.62Alex Ovechkin — career year 18 (2023): z 2.17Alex Ovechkin — career year 19 (2024): z 1.65Alex Ovechkin — career year 20 (2025): z 2.00Alex Ovechkin — career year 21 (2026): z 1.64Ty Cobb — career year 1 (1905): z -0.86Ty Cobb — career year 2 (1906): z 0.57Ty Cobb — career year 3 (1907): z 2.96Ty Cobb — career year 4 (1908): z 2.87Ty Cobb — career year 5 (1909): z 4.06Ty Cobb — career year 6 (1910): z 2.79Ty Cobb — career year 7 (1911): z 3.44Ty Cobb — career year 8 (1912): z 2.95Ty Cobb — career year 9 (1913): z 1.98Ty Cobb — career year 10 (1914): z 1.35Ty Cobb — career year 11 (1915): z 2.86Ty Cobb — career year 12 (1916): z 2.88Ty Cobb — career year 13 (1917): z 3.42Ty Cobb — career year 14 (1918): z 2.51Ty Cobb — career year 15 (1919): z 2.05Ty Cobb — career year 16 (1920): z 1.26Ty Cobb — career year 17 (1921): z 2.61Ty Cobb — career year 18 (1922): z 2.32Ty Cobb — career year 19 (1923): z 2.12Ty Cobb — career year 20 (1924): z 2.59Ty Cobb — career year 21 (1925): z 2.36Ty Cobb — career year 22 (1926): z 0.72Ty Cobb — career year 23 (1927): z 2.26Ty Cobb — career year 24 (1928): z 0.55career year 124
  3. Pair 3careerZ gap 0.93
    Sidney CrosbyNHL · 2006–2026 · SKATER51.5
    Hank AaronMLB · 1954–1976 · BAT50.6
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Sidney Crosby (NHL) vs Hank Aaron (MLB)era med+3.5Sidney Crosby — career year 1 (2006): z 2.86Sidney Crosby — career year 2 (2007): z 2.99Sidney Crosby — career year 3 (2008): z 2.02Sidney Crosby — career year 4 (2009): z 2.99Sidney Crosby — career year 5 (2010): z 3.52Sidney Crosby — career year 6 (2011): z 1.34Sidney Crosby — career year 7 (2012): z 0.11Sidney Crosby — career year 8 (2013): z 2.47Sidney Crosby — career year 9 (2014): z 3.21Sidney Crosby — career year 10 (2015): z 2.66Sidney Crosby — career year 11 (2016): z 2.79Sidney Crosby — career year 12 (2017): z 2.79Sidney Crosby — career year 13 (2018): z 2.74Sidney Crosby — career year 14 (2019): z 3.02Sidney Crosby — career year 15 (2020): z 0.96Sidney Crosby — career year 16 (2021): z 2.84Sidney Crosby — career year 17 (2022): z 2.37Sidney Crosby — career year 18 (2023): z 2.80Sidney Crosby — career year 19 (2024): z 2.86Sidney Crosby — career year 20 (2025): z 2.44Sidney Crosby — career year 21 (2026): z 1.78Hank Aaron — career year 1 (1954): z 0.73Hank Aaron — career year 2 (1955): z 1.92Hank Aaron — career year 3 (1956): z 1.87Hank Aaron — career year 4 (1957): z 2.98Hank Aaron — career year 5 (1958): z 2.40Hank Aaron — career year 6 (1959): z 2.91Hank Aaron — career year 7 (1960): z 2.80Hank Aaron — career year 8 (1961): z 2.51Hank Aaron — career year 9 (1962): z 2.92Hank Aaron — career year 10 (1963): z 3.23Hank Aaron — career year 11 (1964): z 2.27Hank Aaron — career year 12 (1965): z 2.42Hank Aaron — career year 13 (1966): z 2.66Hank Aaron — career year 14 (1967): z 2.73Hank Aaron — career year 15 (1968): z 2.56Hank Aaron — career year 16 (1969): z 2.68Hank Aaron — career year 17 (1970): z 2.49Hank Aaron — career year 18 (1971): z 2.96Hank Aaron — career year 19 (1972): z 2.16Hank Aaron — career year 20 (1973): z 2.00Hank Aaron — career year 21 (1974): z 0.86Hank Aaron — career year 22 (1975): z 0.56Hank Aaron — career year 23 (1976): z -0.03career year 123

    Sidney Crosby got higher (peak z 3.52 vs 3.23); Hank Aaron stayed above his era longer (23 rated seasons vs 21).

  4. Pair 4careerZ gap 1.15
    Barry BondsMLB · 1986–2007 · BAT50.5
    LeBron JamesNBA · 2004–2026 · F49.4
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Barry Bonds (MLB) vs LeBron James (NBA)era med+3.6Barry Bonds — career year 1 (1986): z 0.72Barry Bonds — career year 2 (1987): z 1.19Barry Bonds — career year 3 (1988): z 1.80Barry Bonds — career year 4 (1989): z 1.67Barry Bonds — career year 5 (1990): z 2.87Barry Bonds — career year 6 (1991): z 2.33Barry Bonds — career year 7 (1992): z 3.26Barry Bonds — career year 8 (1993): z 3.53Barry Bonds — career year 9 (1994): z 2.97Barry Bonds — career year 10 (1995): z 2.76Barry Bonds — career year 11 (1996): z 2.60Barry Bonds — career year 12 (1997): z 2.86Barry Bonds — career year 13 (1998): z 2.62Barry Bonds — career year 14 (1999): z 1.33Barry Bonds — career year 15 (2000): z 2.68Barry Bonds — career year 16 (2001): z 3.60Barry Bonds — career year 17 (2002): z 3.22Barry Bonds — career year 18 (2003): z 2.69Barry Bonds — career year 19 (2004): z 2.84Barry Bonds — career year 20 (2006): z 1.49Barry Bonds — career year 21 (2007): z 1.53LeBron James — career year 1 (2004): z 1.67LeBron James — career year 2 (2005): z 2.82LeBron James — career year 3 (2006): z 2.54LeBron James — career year 4 (2007): z 2.34LeBron James — career year 5 (2008): z 2.11LeBron James — career year 6 (2009): z 2.47LeBron James — career year 7 (2010): z 2.15LeBron James — career year 8 (2011): z 2.36LeBron James — career year 9 (2012): z 2.50LeBron James — career year 10 (2013): z 2.38LeBron James — career year 11 (2014): z 2.13LeBron James — career year 12 (2015): z 2.04LeBron James — career year 13 (2016): z 2.35LeBron James — career year 14 (2017): z 2.31LeBron James — career year 15 (2018): z 2.87LeBron James — career year 16 (2019): z 1.45LeBron James — career year 17 (2020): z 2.23LeBron James — career year 18 (2021): z 1.17LeBron James — career year 19 (2022): z 1.91LeBron James — career year 20 (2023): z 1.36LeBron James — career year 21 (2024): z 2.20LeBron James — career year 22 (2025): z 2.59LeBron James — career year 23 (2026): z 1.45career year 123

    Barry Bonds got higher (peak z 3.60 vs 2.87); LeBron James stayed above his era longer (23 rated seasons vs 21).

  5. Pair 5careerZ gap 0.35
    Tony GonzalezNFL · 1997–2013 · TE48.8
    Ted WilliamsMLB · 1939–1960 · BAT48.4
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Tony Gonzalez (NFL) vs Ted Williams (MLB)era med+5.2Tony Gonzalez — career year 1 (1997): z 0.94Tony Gonzalez — career year 2 (1998): z 1.47Tony Gonzalez — career year 3 (1999): z 4.09Tony Gonzalez — career year 4 (2000): z 3.72Tony Gonzalez — career year 5 (2001): z 3.12Tony Gonzalez — career year 6 (2002): z 3.21Tony Gonzalez — career year 7 (2003): z 4.62Tony Gonzalez — career year 8 (2004): z 4.49Tony Gonzalez — career year 9 (2005): z 1.99Tony Gonzalez — career year 10 (2006): z 3.31Tony Gonzalez — career year 11 (2007): z 3.66Tony Gonzalez — career year 12 (2008): z 3.69Tony Gonzalez — career year 13 (2009): z 2.67Tony Gonzalez — career year 14 (2010): z 1.68Tony Gonzalez — career year 15 (2011): z 1.97Tony Gonzalez — career year 16 (2012): z 1.99Tony Gonzalez — career year 17 (2013): z 2.17Ted Williams — career year 1 (1939): z 3.41Ted Williams — career year 2 (1940): z 2.84Ted Williams — career year 3 (1941): z 3.71Ted Williams — career year 4 (1942): z 4.60Ted Williams — career year 5 (1946): z 5.16Ted Williams — career year 6 (1947): z 3.60Ted Williams — career year 7 (1948): z 4.01Ted Williams — career year 8 (1949): z 4.19Ted Williams — career year 9 (1950): z 1.42Ted Williams — career year 10 (1951): z 2.64Ted Williams — career year 11 (1953): z -0.04Ted Williams — career year 12 (1954): z 2.17Ted Williams — career year 13 (1955): z 1.75Ted Williams — career year 14 (1956): z 1.93Ted Williams — career year 15 (1957): z 2.74Ted Williams — career year 16 (1958): z 2.18Ted Williams — career year 17 (1959): z 0.25Ted Williams — career year 18 (1960): z 1.89career year 118
  6. Pair 6careerZ gap 0.30
    Lou GehrigMLB · 1925–1938 · BAT48.4
    Mark MessierNHL · 1980–2004 · SKATER48.1
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Lou Gehrig (MLB) vs Mark Messier (NHL)era med+4.5Lou Gehrig — career year 1 (1925): z 1.67Lou Gehrig — career year 2 (1926): z 2.97Lou Gehrig — career year 3 (1927): z 4.47Lou Gehrig — career year 4 (1928): z 4.12Lou Gehrig — career year 5 (1929): z 2.95Lou Gehrig — career year 6 (1930): z 4.24Lou Gehrig — career year 7 (1931): z 3.79Lou Gehrig — career year 8 (1932): z 3.39Lou Gehrig — career year 9 (1933): z 3.24Lou Gehrig — career year 10 (1934): z 3.72Lou Gehrig — career year 11 (1935): z 3.72Lou Gehrig — career year 12 (1936): z 3.72Lou Gehrig — career year 13 (1937): z 3.58Lou Gehrig — career year 14 (1938): z 2.84Mark Messier — career year 1 (1980): z 0.27Mark Messier — career year 2 (1981): z 0.91Mark Messier — career year 3 (1982): z 2.09Mark Messier — career year 4 (1983): z 2.79Mark Messier — career year 5 (1984): z 2.53Mark Messier — career year 6 (1985): z 0.87Mark Messier — career year 7 (1986): z 1.95Mark Messier — career year 8 (1987): z 2.79Mark Messier — career year 9 (1988): z 2.74Mark Messier — career year 10 (1989): z 2.08Mark Messier — career year 11 (1990): z 3.50Mark Messier — career year 12 (1991): z 1.35Mark Messier — career year 13 (1992): z 2.97Mark Messier — career year 14 (1993): z 2.12Mark Messier — career year 15 (1994): z 2.31Mark Messier — career year 16 (1995): z 2.63Mark Messier — career year 17 (1996): z 3.27Mark Messier — career year 18 (1997): z 2.87Mark Messier — career year 19 (1998): z 1.81Mark Messier — career year 20 (1999): z 1.02Mark Messier — career year 21 (2000): z 1.25Mark Messier — career year 22 (2001): z 1.79Mark Messier — career year 23 (2002): z 0.00Mark Messier — career year 24 (2003): z 1.03Mark Messier — career year 25 (2004): z 1.17career year 125

    Lou Gehrig got higher (peak z 4.47 vs 3.50); Mark Messier stayed above his era longer (25 rated seasons vs 14).

  7. Pair 7careerZ gap 1.05
    Stan MusialMLB · 1942–1963 · BAT48.4
    Joe SakicNHL · 1989–2009 · SKATER47.3
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Stan Musial (MLB) vs Joe Sakic (NHL)era med+4.3Stan Musial — career year 1 (1942): z 2.27Stan Musial — career year 2 (1943): z 3.48Stan Musial — career year 3 (1944): z 3.08Stan Musial — career year 4 (1946): z 4.24Stan Musial — career year 5 (1947): z 2.40Stan Musial — career year 6 (1948): z 4.31Stan Musial — career year 7 (1949): z 3.70Stan Musial — career year 8 (1950): z 2.27Stan Musial — career year 9 (1951): z 2.84Stan Musial — career year 10 (1952): z 2.47Stan Musial — career year 11 (1953): z 2.56Stan Musial — career year 12 (1954): z 2.85Stan Musial — career year 13 (1955): z 2.24Stan Musial — career year 14 (1956): z 1.85Stan Musial — career year 15 (1957): z 2.39Stan Musial — career year 16 (1958): z 1.58Stan Musial — career year 17 (1959): z 0.46Stan Musial — career year 18 (1960): z 0.85Stan Musial — career year 19 (1961): z 0.72Stan Musial — career year 20 (1962): z 1.40Stan Musial — career year 21 (1963): z 0.41Joe Sakic — career year 1 (1989): z 0.98Joe Sakic — career year 2 (1990): z 2.29Joe Sakic — career year 3 (1991): z 3.03Joe Sakic — career year 4 (1992): z 2.36Joe Sakic — career year 5 (1993): z 2.78Joe Sakic — career year 6 (1994): z 2.35Joe Sakic — career year 7 (1995): z 3.17Joe Sakic — career year 8 (1996): z 4.00Joe Sakic — career year 9 (1997): z 2.21Joe Sakic — career year 10 (1998): z 2.09Joe Sakic — career year 11 (1999): z 3.27Joe Sakic — career year 12 (2000): z 2.44Joe Sakic — career year 13 (2001): z 3.78Joe Sakic — career year 14 (2002): z 2.50Joe Sakic — career year 15 (2003): z 1.65Joe Sakic — career year 16 (2004): z 3.11Joe Sakic — career year 17 (2006): z 2.46Joe Sakic — career year 18 (2007): z 2.89Joe Sakic — career year 19 (2008): z 0.70Joe Sakic — career year 20 (2009): z -0.73career year 121
  8. Pair 8careerZ gap 0.56
    Steve YzermanNHL · 1984–2006 · SKATER46.9
    Mel OttMLB · 1926–1946 · BAT46.4
    Per-season dominance aligned by career year: Steve Yzerman (NHL) vs Mel Ott (MLB)era med+3.8Steve Yzerman — career year 1 (1984): z 1.82Steve Yzerman — career year 2 (1985): z 1.93Steve Yzerman — career year 3 (1986): z 0.24Steve Yzerman — career year 4 (1987): z 2.14Steve Yzerman — career year 5 (1988): z 2.54Steve Yzerman — career year 6 (1989): z 3.80Steve Yzerman — career year 7 (1990): z 3.46Steve Yzerman — career year 8 (1991): z 3.30Steve Yzerman — career year 9 (1992): z 2.99Steve Yzerman — career year 10 (1993): z 3.69Steve Yzerman — career year 11 (1994): z 1.95Steve Yzerman — career year 12 (1995): z 1.86Steve Yzerman — career year 13 (1996): z 3.14Steve Yzerman — career year 14 (1997): z 2.91Steve Yzerman — career year 15 (1998): z 2.28Steve Yzerman — career year 16 (1999): z 2.49Steve Yzerman — career year 17 (2000): z 2.72Steve Yzerman — career year 18 (2001): z 1.33Steve Yzerman — career year 19 (2002): z 1.03Steve Yzerman — career year 20 (2003): z -0.66Steve Yzerman — career year 21 (2004): z 1.54Steve Yzerman — career year 22 (2006): z 0.42Mel Ott — career year 1 (1926): z -0.72Mel Ott — career year 2 (1927): z -0.33Mel Ott — career year 3 (1928): z 2.05Mel Ott — career year 4 (1929): z 3.44Mel Ott — career year 5 (1930): z 3.15Mel Ott — career year 6 (1931): z 2.46Mel Ott — career year 7 (1932): z 2.96Mel Ott — career year 8 (1933): z 1.99Mel Ott — career year 9 (1934): z 2.98Mel Ott — career year 10 (1935): z 3.25Mel Ott — career year 11 (1936): z 3.09Mel Ott — career year 12 (1937): z 2.47Mel Ott — career year 13 (1938): z 3.37Mel Ott — career year 14 (1939): z 2.26Mel Ott — career year 15 (1940): z 1.88Mel Ott — career year 16 (1941): z 2.52Mel Ott — career year 17 (1942): z 3.46Mel Ott — career year 18 (1943): z 2.00Mel Ott — career year 19 (1944): z 2.52Mel Ott — career year 20 (1945): z 2.72Mel Ott — career year 21 (1946): z -1.16career year 122

Built from StatVault's in-house VAL metric. Related: the full career board · season Dominance Twins.