Ginger Baker was in a whole different world and style from those two. In the world of Rock, I don’t think those two could match Baker.
Rich surely could match Baker or best him in technique but like LS says there has to be a Rock soul that comes out and I don’t think Rich had that. But back then no one would be caught dead saying anything like that :)
Listen to how Baker plays. He plays “around a song.” He’s less a standard backbeat, driving force as he is one of the “other” musical instrument with his toms. Didn’t use his hi-hat like most rockers. Used the snare on the one beat more than almost anyone.
Anything on “Wheels of Fire” was drumming at its best. Did not like “Ginger Baker’s Air Force,” and while I heard him say many times he was a “jazz drummer,” that’s crap. Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Gene Krupa, even the first Yes drummer were “jazz drummers.”