Earl Averill vs Gabby Hartnett: Career Stats Comparison
Earl Averill has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Earl Averill played 1929–1941 as a hitter; Gabby Hartnett played 1922–1941 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
Earl Averill (1929–1941) and Gabby Hartnett (1922–1941) — both broke in during the 1920s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Earl Averill finished with 2,019 hits and 238 home runs; Gabby Hartnett finished with 1,912 hits and 236 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Earl Averill, with 238 to Gabby Hartnett's 236.
- Who had the higher OPS? Earl Averill, with .928 to Gabby Hartnett's .858.
- Who had the higher batting average? Earl Averill, with .318 to Gabby Hartnett's .297.
- Who had more hits? Earl Averill, with 2,019 to Gabby Hartnett's 1,912.
- Who drove in more runs? Gabby Hartnett, with 1,179 to Earl Averill's 1,164.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Earl Averill, with 33,953 career PIV to Gabby Hartnett's 20,627.
Earl Averill
Gabby Hartnett
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Earl Averill and Gabby Hartnett. 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 | Earl Averill | Gabby Hartnett |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,668 | Leads: 1,990 |
| At-Bats | 6,353 | Leads: 6,432 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,224 | 867 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,019 | 1,912 |
| Doubles | Leads: 401 | 396 |
| Triples | Leads: 128 | 64 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 238 | 236 |
| RBI | 1,164 | Leads: 1,179 |
| Walks | Leads: 774 | 703 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 518 | 697 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 70 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .318 | .297 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .395 | .370 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .534 | .489 |
| OPS | Leads: .928 | .858 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Earl Averill outpaces Gabby Hartnett 33,953 to 20,627 — driven by per-season impact — 2,425 PIV per season to 1,031 — rather than by longevity, since Earl Averill played 14 seasons to Gabby Hartnett's 20. 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).
Earl Averill — top 3 seasons by OPS
Gabby Hartnett — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Earl Averill leads in hits, home runs, runs, and stolen bases, while Gabby Hartnett owns RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Earl Averill. PIV agrees: Earl Averill grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Earl Averill and Gabby Hartnett careers compare
Earl Averill and Gabby Hartnett were active at the same time between 1929 and 1941. With 1,668 games against 1,990 across 14 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Gabby Hartnett comes out ahead, it is in games (1,990 to 1,668), at-bats (6,432 to 6,353), and RBI (1,179 to 1,164). At the plate, Earl Averill walked more often than struck out (774 walks, 518 strikeouts), and Gabby Hartnett walked more often than struck out (703 walks, 697 strikeouts). In slugging percentage, Earl Averill holds the edge, .534 to .489.
Earl Averill vs Gabby Hartnett: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Earl Averill or Gabby Hartnett?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Earl Averill leads Gabby Hartnett in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Earl Averill or Gabby Hartnett hit more home runs?
- Earl Averill, with 238 to Gabby Hartnett's 236.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Earl Averill, with .928 to Gabby Hartnett's .858.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Earl Averill, with .318 to Gabby Hartnett's .297.
- Who had more hits?
- Earl Averill, with 2,019 to Gabby Hartnett's 1,912.