Larry Doby vs Nellie Fox: Career Stats Comparison
Larry Doby and Nellie Fox are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Larry Doby played 1947–1959 as a hitter; Nellie Fox played 1947–1965 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
Larry Doby (1947–1959) and Nellie Fox (1947–1965) — both broke in during the 1940s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Larry Doby finished with 1,697 hits and 273 home runs; Nellie Fox finished with 2,663 hits and 35 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Larry Doby, with 273 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS? Larry Doby, with .888 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average? Neither — both are at .288.
- Who had more hits? Nellie Fox, with 2,663 to Larry Doby's 1,697.
- Who drove in more runs? Larry Doby, with 1,093 to Nellie Fox's 790.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Larry Doby, with 28,857 career PIV to Nellie Fox's 1,100.
- Who won more championships? Larry Doby, with 2 World Series titles to Nellie Fox's 0.
Larry Doby
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Larry Doby and Nellie Fox. 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 | Larry Doby | Nellie Fox |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,674 | Leads: 2,367 |
| At-Bats | 5,883 | Leads: 9,232 |
| Runs | 1,080 | Leads: 1,279 |
| Hits | 1,697 | Leads: 2,663 |
| Doubles | 277 | Leads: 355 |
| Triples | 72 | Leads: 112 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 273 | 35 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,093 | 790 |
| Walks | Leads: 945 | 719 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,012 | 216 |
| Stolen Bases | 64 | Leads: 76 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .288 | .288 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .499 | .363 |
| OPS | Leads: .888 | .710 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Larry Doby outpaces Nellie Fox 28,857 to 1,100 — driven by per-season impact — 1,519 PIV per season to 58 — rather than by longevity, since Larry Doby played 19 seasons to Nellie Fox's 19. 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).
Larry Doby — top 3 seasons by OPS
Nellie Fox — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Larry Doby leads in home runs, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Nellie Fox owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Larry Doby. PIV agrees: Larry Doby grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Larry Doby and Nellie Fox careers compare
Larry Doby and Nellie Fox were active at the same time between 1947 and 1959. With 1,674 games against 2,367 across 19 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Larry Doby struck out more than walked (1,012 to 945), while Nellie Fox walked more often than struck out (719 walks, 216 strikeouts). Larry Doby is the more power-leaning hitter, with 273 of 1,697 hits leaving the park. On the peak-season lists, Larry Doby's best year is 1950 at .986 OPS and Nellie Fox's is 1957 at .818 OPS; Larry Doby has the stronger single season.
Larry Doby vs Nellie Fox: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Larry Doby or Nellie Fox hit more home runs?
- Larry Doby, with 273 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Larry Doby, with .888 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Neither — both are at .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Nellie Fox, with 2,663 to Larry Doby's 1,697.