Larry Doby vs Jackie Robinson: Career Stats Comparison
Larry Doby has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Larry Doby played 1947–1959 as a hitter; Jackie Robinson played 1947–1956 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 Jackie Robinson (1947–1956) — 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; Jackie Robinson finished with 1,568 hits and 141 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 Jackie Robinson's 141.
- Who had the higher OPS? Larry Doby, with .888 to Jackie Robinson's .887.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jackie Robinson, with .313 to Larry Doby's .288.
- Who had more hits? Larry Doby, with 1,697 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.
- Who drove in more runs? Larry Doby, with 1,093 to Jackie Robinson's 764.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Larry Doby, with 28,857 career PIV to Jackie Robinson's 25,382.
- Who won more championships? Larry Doby, with 2 World Series titles to Jackie Robinson's 1.
Larry Doby
Jackie Robinson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson. 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 | Jackie Robinson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,674 | 1,418 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 5,883 | 5,006 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,080 | 974 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,697 | 1,568 |
| Doubles | 277 | Leads: 287 |
| Triples | Leads: 72 | 55 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 273 | 141 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,093 | 764 |
| Walks | Leads: 945 | 756 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,012 | 291 |
| Stolen Bases | 64 | Leads: 203 |
| Batting Avg | .288 | Leads: .313 |
| On-Base % | .389 | Leads: .410 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .499 | .477 |
| OPS | Leads: .888 | .887 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Larry Doby leads Jackie Robinson 28,857 to 25,382 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Larry Doby played 19 seasons to Jackie Robinson's 11, while Jackie Robinson carries the higher per-season figure (2,307 to 1,519). 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
Jackie Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Larry Doby leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Jackie Robinson owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. 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 Jackie Robinson careers compare
From 1947 through 1956, Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,674 games for Larry Doby and 1,418 for Jackie Robinson across 19 and 11 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Jackie Robinson comes out ahead, it is in doubles (287 to 277), stolen bases (203 to 64), and batting average (.313 to .288). Plate discipline differs: Larry Doby struck out more than walked (1,012 to 945), but Jackie Robinson walked more often than struck out (756 walks, 291 strikeouts).
Larry Doby vs Jackie Robinson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Larry Doby or Jackie Robinson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Larry Doby leads Jackie Robinson in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Larry Doby or Jackie Robinson hit more home runs?
- Larry Doby, with 273 to Jackie Robinson's 141.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Larry Doby, with .888 to Jackie Robinson's .887.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jackie Robinson, with .313 to Larry Doby's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Larry Doby, with 1,697 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.