Bobby Doerr vs Arky Vaughan: Career Stats Comparison
Arky Vaughan 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). Bobby Doerr played 1937–1951 as a hitter; Arky Vaughan played 1932–1948 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
Bobby Doerr (1937–1951) and Arky Vaughan (1932–1948) — both broke in during the 1930s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Bobby Doerr finished with 2,042 hits and 223 home runs; Arky Vaughan finished with 2,103 hits and 96 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bobby Doerr, with 223 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS? Arky Vaughan, with .859 to Bobby Doerr's .823.
- Who had the higher batting average? Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Bobby Doerr's .288.
- Who had more hits? Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Bobby Doerr's 2,042.
- Who drove in more runs? Bobby Doerr, with 1,247 to Arky Vaughan's 926.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Arky Vaughan, with 28,350 career PIV to Bobby Doerr's 21,613.
Bobby Doerr
Arky Vaughan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Doerr and Arky Vaughan. 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 | Bobby Doerr | Arky Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,865 | 1,817 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,093 | 6,622 |
| Runs | 1,094 | Leads: 1,173 |
| Hits | 2,042 | Leads: 2,103 |
| Doubles | Leads: 381 | 356 |
| Triples | 89 | Leads: 128 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 223 | 96 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,247 | 926 |
| Walks | 809 | Leads: 937 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 608 | 276 |
| Stolen Bases | 54 | Leads: 118 |
| Batting Avg | .288 | Leads: .318 |
| On-Base % | .362 | Leads: .406 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .461 | .453 |
| OPS | .823 | Leads: .859 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Arky Vaughan leads Bobby Doerr 28,350 to 21,613 — driven by per-season impact — 2,025 PIV per season to 1,544 — rather than by longevity, since Arky Vaughan played 14 seasons to Bobby Doerr's 14. 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).
Bobby Doerr — top 3 seasons by OPS
Arky Vaughan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Arky Vaughan leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Bobby Doerr owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Arky Vaughan. PIV agrees: Arky Vaughan grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Doerr and Arky Vaughan careers compare
From 1937 through 1948, Bobby Doerr and Arky Vaughan were in the majors together. With 1,865 games against 1,817 across 14 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bobby Doerr walked more often than struck out (809 walks, 608 strikeouts); Arky Vaughan walked more often than struck out (937 walks, 276 strikeouts). Bobby Doerr is the more power-leaning hitter, with 223 of 2,042 hits leaving the park. Arky Vaughan was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Best seasons: 1944 for Bobby Doerr (.927 OPS, 15 HR, 81 RBI, .325 avg) and 1935 for Arky Vaughan (1.098 OPS, 19 HR, 99 RBI, .385 avg).
Bobby Doerr vs Arky Vaughan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Doerr or Arky Vaughan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Arky Vaughan leads Bobby Doerr in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Doerr or Arky Vaughan hit more home runs?
- Bobby Doerr, with 223 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Arky Vaughan, with .859 to Bobby Doerr's .823.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Bobby Doerr's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Bobby Doerr's 2,042.