Lou Boudreau vs Vern Stephens: Career Stats Comparison
Vern Stephens has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Lou Boudreau played 1938–1952 as a hitter; Vern Stephens played 1941–1955 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
Lou Boudreau (1938–1952) and Vern Stephens (1941–1955) — they broke in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Lou Boudreau finished with 1,779 hits and 68 home runs; Vern Stephens finished with 1,859 hits and 247 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Vern Stephens, with 247 to Lou Boudreau's 68.
- Who had the higher OPS? Vern Stephens, with .815 to Lou Boudreau's .795.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Boudreau, with .295 to Vern Stephens's .286.
- Who had more hits? Vern Stephens, with 1,859 to Lou Boudreau's 1,779.
- Who drove in more runs? Vern Stephens, with 1,174 to Lou Boudreau's 789.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Vern Stephens, with 19,363 career PIV to Lou Boudreau's 17,260.
- Who won more championships? Lou Boudreau, with 1 World Series title to Vern Stephens's 0.
Lou Boudreau
Vern Stephens
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Boudreau and Vern Stephens. 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 1930s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lou Boudreau | Vern Stephens |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,646 | Leads: 1,720 |
| At-Bats | 6,029 | Leads: 6,497 |
| Runs | 861 | Leads: 1,001 |
| Hits | 1,779 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Doubles | Leads: 385 | 307 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 42 |
| Home Runs | 68 | Leads: 247 |
| RBI | 789 | Leads: 1,174 |
| Walks | Leads: 796 | 692 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 309 | 685 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 51 | 25 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .286 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .380 | .355 |
| Slugging % | .415 | Leads: .460 |
| OPS | .795 | Leads: .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Vern Stephens leads Lou Boudreau 19,363 to 17,260 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Vern Stephens played 17 seasons to Lou Boudreau's 15, while Lou Boudreau carries the higher per-season figure (1,151 to 1,139). 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).
Lou Boudreau — top 3 seasons by OPS
Vern Stephens — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Vern Stephens leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Lou Boudreau owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Vern Stephens. PIV agrees: Vern Stephens grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lou Boudreau and Vern Stephens careers compare
Lou Boudreau and Vern Stephens were active at the same time between 1941 and 1952. With 1,646 games against 1,720 across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Lou Boudreau walked more often than struck out (796 walks, 309 strikeouts), and Vern Stephens walked more often than struck out (692 walks, 685 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Vern Stephens's hits: 68 of 1,779 for Lou Boudreau, 247 of 1,859 for Vern Stephens. Vern Stephens's slugging percentage of .460 tops Lou Boudreau's .415.
Lou Boudreau vs Vern Stephens: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Boudreau or Vern Stephens?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Vern Stephens leads Lou Boudreau in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Boudreau or Vern Stephens hit more home runs?
- Vern Stephens, with 247 to Lou Boudreau's 68.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Vern Stephens, with .815 to Lou Boudreau's .795.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Boudreau, with .295 to Vern Stephens's .286.
- Who had more hits?
- Vern Stephens, with 1,859 to Lou Boudreau's 1,779.