Jose Altuve vs Lou Gehrig: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jose Altuve has played 2011–present as a hitter; Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Jose Altuve (2011–present) and Lou Gehrig (1923–1939) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jose Altuve has 2,519 hits and 271 home runs through October 12, 2026; Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Jose Altuve's 271.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Jose Altuve's .818.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Jose Altuve's .300.
- Who had more hits? Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Jose Altuve's 2,519.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Jose Altuve's 939.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Jose Altuve's 22,947.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Jose Altuve's 2.
Jose Altuve
Lou Gehrig
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jose Altuve and Lou Gehrig. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 14 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other one is a counting total on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded it. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 2010s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Jose Altuve is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Jose Altuve | Lou Gehrig |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,110 | Leads: 2,164 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,405 | 8,001 |
| Runs | 1,306 | Leads: 1,888 |
| Hits | 2,519 | Leads: 2,721 |
| Doubles | 479 | Leads: 534 |
| Triples | 34 | Leads: 163 |
| Home Runs | 271 | Leads: 493 |
| RBI | 939 | Leads: 1,995 |
| Walks | 696 | Leads: 1,508 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,253 | 790 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 330 | 102 |
| Batting Avg | .300 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .357 | Leads: .447 |
| Slugging % | .462 | Leads: .632 |
| OPS | .818 | Leads: 1.080 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig outpaces Jose Altuve 81,072 to 22,947 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,769 PIV per season to 1,530, across 17 seasons to 15. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Jose Altuve — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lou Gehrig — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Jose Altuve owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lou Gehrig. PIV agrees: Lou Gehrig grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jose Altuve and Lou Gehrig careers compare
No season is shared: Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939, Jose Altuve 2011–present. The two careers are close in length, 2,110 games for Jose Altuve and 2,164 for Lou Gehrig across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Jose Altuve's edges on the table are at-bats (8,405 to 8,001) and stolen bases (330 to 102). Plate discipline differs: Jose Altuve struck out more than walked (1,253 to 696), but Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts). Lou Gehrig is the more power-leaning hitter, with 493 of 2,721 hits leaving the park. Jose Altuve's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Jose Altuve vs Lou Gehrig: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jose Altuve or Lou Gehrig?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Jose Altuve in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jose Altuve or Lou Gehrig hit more home runs?
- Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Jose Altuve's 271.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Jose Altuve's .818.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Jose Altuve's .300.
- Who had more hits?
- Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Jose Altuve's 2,519.