Poll: New Yorkers pick Jeter over Ruth

Quick, who's better, Babe Ruth or Derek Jeter?

Ruth, of course.

Wrong. In a poll of 801 New York State residents conducted by Siena College, those asked to name the greatest athlete in the history of New York said Jeter was the best, better than the Great Bambino.

While some might argue that Jeter isn't even the best player on his side of the infield, 14 percent of those polled said he was the best ever. Ruth was named by 11 percent of the people polled and there was a three-way tie for third among Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Joe Namath at 4 percent.

Carmelo Anthony, who has been a New York Knick for less than a month, finished ahead of baseball legends Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson.

To be fair, 41 percent of the people polled said they were not sports fans.

Of the 801 individuals polled randomly from Feb. 22 to March 1, 106 were from Long Island, where Ruth still stands as the greatest athlete of all time. Ruth edged Jeter, 12 percent to 10 percent.

The Yankees are the favorite team on the Island, with 38 percent of the vote. They are followed by the Jets (16 percent), Mets (14), Knicks (10), Giants and Rangers (4 each). The Islanders, Long Island's only professional team, received just 2 percent of the vote from Long Island residents, tying with the Buffalo Sabres.