Ty Cobb vs Aaron Judge: Career Stats Comparison
Ty Cobb 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). Ty Cobb played 1905–1928 as a hitter; Aaron Judge has played 2016–present 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
Ty Cobb (1905–1928) and Aaron Judge (2016–present) — they broke in during the 1900s and the 2010s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ty Cobb finished with 4,189 hits and 117 home runs; Aaron Judge has 1,262 hits and 386 home runs through October 6, 2026. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Aaron Judge, with 386 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS? Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Ty Cobb's .945.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ty Cobb, with .366 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits? Ty Cobb, with 4,189 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.
- Who drove in more runs? Ty Cobb, with 1,944 to Aaron Judge's 871.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ty Cobb, with 87,488 career PIV to Aaron Judge's 37,037.
Aaron Judge
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ty Cobb and Aaron Judge. 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 1900s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Aaron Judge is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Ty Cobb | Aaron Judge |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 3,035 | 1,211 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 11,436 | 4,342 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,247 | 918 |
| Hits | Leads: 4,189 | 1,262 |
| Doubles | Leads: 724 | 213 |
| Triples | Leads: 295 | 7 |
| Home Runs | 117 | Leads: 386 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,944 | 871 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,249 | 860 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 680 | 1,454 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 896 | 70 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .366 | .291 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .433 | .410 |
| Slugging % | .512 | Leads: .610 |
| OPS | .945 | Leads: 1.020 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ty Cobb outpaces Aaron Judge 87,488 to 37,037 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ty Cobb played 24 seasons to Aaron Judge's 10, while Aaron Judge carries the higher per-season figure (3,704 to 3,645). 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).
Ty Cobb — top 3 seasons by OPS
Aaron Judge — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ty Cobb leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Aaron Judge owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ty Cobb. PIV agrees: Ty Cobb grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ty Cobb and Aaron Judge careers compare
No season is shared: Ty Cobb played 1905–1928, Aaron Judge 2016–present. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Ty Cobb appeared in 3,035 games to Aaron Judge's 1,211. Where Aaron Judge comes out ahead, it is in home runs (386 to 117), slugging percentage (.610 to .512), and OPS (1.020 to .945). Plate discipline differs: Ty Cobb walked more often than struck out (1,249 walks, 680 strikeouts), but Aaron Judge struck out more than walked (1,454 to 860). Aaron Judge is the more power-leaning hitter, with 386 of 1,262 hits leaving the park. Because Aaron Judge is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Ty Cobb vs Aaron Judge: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ty Cobb or Aaron Judge?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ty Cobb leads Aaron Judge in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ty Cobb or Aaron Judge hit more home runs?
- Aaron Judge, with 386 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Ty Cobb's .945.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ty Cobb, with .366 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits?
- Ty Cobb, with 4,189 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.