Joe DiMaggio vs Mel Ott: Career Stats Comparison
Mel Ott has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Joe DiMaggio played 1936–1951 as a hitter; Mel Ott played 1926–1947 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
Joe DiMaggio (1936–1951) and Mel Ott (1926–1947) — they debuted in the 1930s and the 1920s respectively and share 12 seasons. Joe DiMaggio finished with 2,214 hits and 361 home runs; Mel Ott finished with 2,876 hits and 511 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Mel Ott, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Mel Ott, with 511 to Joe DiMaggio's 361.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe DiMaggio, with .977 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe DiMaggio, with .325 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits? Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Joe DiMaggio's 2,214.
- Who drove in more runs? Mel Ott, with 1,860 to Joe DiMaggio's 1,537.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mel Ott, with 64,873 career PIV to Joe DiMaggio's 47,427.
Joe DiMaggio
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Joe DiMaggio | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,736 | 2,730 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,821 | 9,456 |
| Runs | 1,390 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Hits | 2,214 | Leads: 2,876 |
| Doubles | 389 | Leads: 488 |
| Triples | Leads: 131 | 72 |
| Home Runs | 361 | Leads: 511 |
| RBI | 1,537 | Leads: 1,860 |
| Walks | 790 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 369 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | 30 | Leads: 89 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .325 | .304 |
| On-Base % | .398 | Leads: .414 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .579 | .533 |
| OPS | Leads: .977 | .947 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mel Ott outpaces Joe DiMaggio 64,873 to 47,427 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Mel Ott played 22 seasons to Joe DiMaggio's 13, while Joe DiMaggio carries the higher per-season figure (3,648 to 2,949). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Joe DiMaggio — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Mel Ott leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and others. Joe DiMaggio leads 4: triples, batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mel Ott. PIV agrees: Mel Ott grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott careers compare
From 1936 through 1947, Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Joe DiMaggio appeared in 1,736 games to Mel Ott's 2,730. Where Joe DiMaggio comes out ahead, it is in triples (131 to 72), batting average (.325 to .304), and slugging percentage (.579 to .533). At the plate, Joe DiMaggio walked more often than struck out (790 walks, 369 strikeouts), and Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts). In slugging percentage, Joe DiMaggio holds the edge, .579 to .533.
Joe DiMaggio vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe DiMaggio or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mel Ott leads Joe DiMaggio in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Joe DiMaggio or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Mel Ott, with 511 to Joe DiMaggio's 361.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe DiMaggio, with .977 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe DiMaggio, with .325 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits?
- Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Joe DiMaggio's 2,214.