Luke Appling vs Bob Elliott: Career Stats Comparison
Luke Appling has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Luke Appling played 1930–1950 as a hitter; Bob Elliott played 1939–1953 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
Luke Appling (1930–1950) and Bob Elliott (1939–1953) — both broke in during the 1930s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Luke Appling finished with 2,749 hits and 45 home runs; Bob Elliott finished with 2,061 hits and 170 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bob Elliott, with 170 to Luke Appling's 45.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bob Elliott, with .815 to Luke Appling's .798.
- Who had the higher batting average? Luke Appling, with .310 to Bob Elliott's .289.
- Who had more hits? Luke Appling, with 2,749 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.
- Who drove in more runs? Bob Elliott, with 1,195 to Luke Appling's 1,116.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Luke Appling, with 25,114 career PIV to Bob Elliott's 22,824.
Luke Appling
Bob Elliott
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Luke Appling and Bob Elliott. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Luke Appling | Bob Elliott |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,422 | 1,978 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,856 | 7,141 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,319 | 1,064 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,749 | 2,061 |
| Doubles | Leads: 440 | 382 |
| Triples | Leads: 102 | 94 |
| Home Runs | 45 | Leads: 170 |
| RBI | 1,116 | Leads: 1,195 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,302 | 967 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 528 | 604 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 179 | 60 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .310 | .289 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .399 | .375 |
| Slugging % | .398 | Leads: .440 |
| OPS | .798 | Leads: .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Luke Appling leads Bob Elliott 25,114 to 22,824 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Luke Appling played 20 seasons to Bob Elliott's 16, while Bob Elliott carries the higher per-season figure (1,427 to 1,256). 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).
Luke Appling — top 3 seasons by OPS
Bob Elliott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Luke Appling leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Bob Elliott owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Luke Appling. PIV agrees: Luke Appling grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Luke Appling and Bob Elliott careers compare
From 1939 through 1950, Luke Appling and Bob Elliott were in the majors together. With 2,422 games against 1,978 across 20 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bob Elliott's edges on the table are home runs (170 to 45), RBI (1,195 to 1,116), and slugging percentage (.440 to .398). At the plate, Luke Appling walked more often than struck out (1,302 walks, 528 strikeouts), and Bob Elliott walked more often than struck out (967 walks, 604 strikeouts). Bob Elliott is the more power-leaning hitter, with 170 of 2,061 hits leaving the park.
Luke Appling vs Bob Elliott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Luke Appling or Bob Elliott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Luke Appling leads Bob Elliott in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Luke Appling or Bob Elliott hit more home runs?
- Bob Elliott, with 170 to Luke Appling's 45.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bob Elliott, with .815 to Luke Appling's .798.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Luke Appling, with .310 to Bob Elliott's .289.
- Who had more hits?
- Luke Appling, with 2,749 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.