Bob Elliott vs Nellie Fox: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Elliott 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). Bob Elliott played 1939–1953 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
Bob Elliott (1939–1953) and Nellie Fox (1947–1965) — they broke in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bob Elliott finished with 2,061 hits and 170 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? Bob Elliott, with 170 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bob Elliott, with .815 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bob Elliott, with .289 to Nellie Fox's .288.
- Who had more hits? Nellie Fox, with 2,663 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.
- Who drove in more runs? Bob Elliott, with 1,195 to Nellie Fox's 790.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bob Elliott, with 22,824 career PIV to Nellie Fox's 1,100.
Bob Elliott
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bob Elliott 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, and the 1930s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Elliott | Nellie Fox |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,978 | Leads: 2,367 |
| At-Bats | 7,141 | Leads: 9,232 |
| Runs | 1,064 | Leads: 1,279 |
| Hits | 2,061 | Leads: 2,663 |
| Doubles | Leads: 382 | 355 |
| Triples | 94 | Leads: 112 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 170 | 35 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,195 | 790 |
| Walks | Leads: 967 | 719 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 604 | 216 |
| Stolen Bases | 60 | Leads: 76 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .289 | .288 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .375 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .440 | .363 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .710 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Elliott outpaces Nellie Fox 22,824 to 1,100 — driven by per-season impact — 1,427 PIV per season to 58 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Elliott played 16 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).
Bob Elliott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Nellie Fox — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Elliott 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 Bob Elliott. PIV agrees: Bob Elliott grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Elliott and Nellie Fox careers compare
Bob Elliott and Nellie Fox were active at the same time between 1947 and 1953. With 1,978 games against 2,367 across 16 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Bob Elliott walked more often than struck out (967 walks, 604 strikeouts), and Nellie Fox walked more often than struck out (719 walks, 216 strikeouts). Bob Elliott is the more power-leaning hitter, with 170 of 2,061 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Bob Elliott holds the edge, .440 to .363. Best seasons: 1947 for Bob Elliott (.927 OPS, 22 HR, 113 RBI, .317 avg) and 1957 for Nellie Fox (.818 OPS, 6 HR, 61 RBI, .317 avg).
Bob Elliott vs Nellie Fox: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Elliott or Nellie Fox?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Elliott leads Nellie Fox in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bob Elliott or Nellie Fox hit more home runs?
- Bob Elliott, with 170 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bob Elliott, with .815 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bob Elliott, with .289 to Nellie Fox's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Nellie Fox, with 2,663 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.