Bob Elliott 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). Bob Elliott played 1939–1953 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
Bob Elliott (1939–1953) and Arky Vaughan (1932–1948) — both broke in during the 1930s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Bob Elliott finished with 2,061 hits and 170 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? Bob Elliott, with 170 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS? Arky Vaughan, with .859 to Bob Elliott's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average? Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Bob Elliott's .289.
- Who had more hits? Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.
- Who drove in more runs? Bob Elliott, with 1,195 to Arky Vaughan's 926.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Arky Vaughan, with 28,350 career PIV to Bob Elliott's 22,824.
Bob Elliott
Arky Vaughan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bob Elliott 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 | Bob Elliott | Arky Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,978 | 1,817 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,141 | 6,622 |
| Runs | 1,064 | Leads: 1,173 |
| Hits | 2,061 | Leads: 2,103 |
| Doubles | Leads: 382 | 356 |
| Triples | 94 | Leads: 128 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 170 | 96 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,195 | 926 |
| Walks | Leads: 967 | 937 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 604 | 276 |
| Stolen Bases | 60 | Leads: 118 |
| Batting Avg | .289 | Leads: .318 |
| On-Base % | .375 | Leads: .406 |
| Slugging % | .440 | Leads: .453 |
| OPS | .815 | Leads: .859 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Arky Vaughan leads Bob Elliott 28,350 to 22,824 — driven by per-season impact — 2,025 PIV per season to 1,427 — rather than by longevity, since Arky Vaughan played 14 seasons to Bob Elliott's 16. 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
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 Bob Elliott 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 Bob Elliott and Arky Vaughan careers compare
Bob Elliott and Arky Vaughan were active at the same time between 1939 and 1948. With 1,978 games against 1,817 across 16 and 14 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 Arky Vaughan walked more often than struck out (937 walks, 276 strikeouts). Bob Elliott is the more power-leaning hitter, with 170 of 2,061 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Arky Vaughan stole more often per game played (60 steals in 1,978 games for Bob Elliott, 118 in 1,817 for Arky Vaughan).
Bob Elliott vs Arky Vaughan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Elliott or Arky Vaughan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Arky Vaughan leads Bob Elliott in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bob Elliott or Arky Vaughan hit more home runs?
- Bob Elliott, with 170 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Arky Vaughan, with .859 to Bob Elliott's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Bob Elliott's .289.
- Who had more hits?
- Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Bob Elliott's 2,061.