Jimmie Foxx vs Lou Gehrig: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jimmie Foxx played 1925–1945 as a hitter; Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939 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
Jimmie Foxx (1925–1945) and Lou Gehrig (1923–1939) — both debuted in the 1920s. Jimmie Foxx finished with 2,646 hits and 534 home runs; Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Lou Gehrig, in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jimmie Foxx, with 534 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Jimmie Foxx's 1.038.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Jimmie Foxx's .325.
- Who had more hits? Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Jimmie Foxx's 2,646.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Jimmie Foxx's 1,922.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Jimmie Foxx's 72,872.
Jimmie Foxx
Lou Gehrig
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jimmie Foxx and Lou Gehrig. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Jimmie Foxx | Lou Gehrig |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,317 | 2,164 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,134 | 8,001 |
| Runs | 1,751 | Leads: 1,888 |
| Hits | 2,646 | Leads: 2,721 |
| Doubles | 458 | Leads: 534 |
| Triples | 125 | Leads: 163 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 534 | 493 |
| RBI | 1,922 | Leads: 1,995 |
| Walks | 1,452 | Leads: 1,508 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,311 | 790 |
| Stolen Bases | 87 | Leads: 102 |
| Batting Avg | .325 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .428 | Leads: .447 |
| Slugging % | .609 | Leads: .632 |
| OPS | 1.038 | Leads: 1.080 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig leads Jimmie Foxx 81,072 to 72,872 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 3,644 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Jimmie Foxx's 20. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Jimmie Foxx — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lou Gehrig — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Lou Gehrig leads 11 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Jimmie Foxx leads 1: home runs. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lou Gehrig. PIV agrees: Lou Gehrig grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jimmie Foxx and Lou Gehrig careers compare
From 1925 through 1939, Jimmie Foxx and Lou Gehrig were in the majors together. With 2,317 games against 2,164 across 20 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jimmie Foxx comes out ahead, it is in home runs (534 to 493). At the plate, Jimmie Foxx walked more often than struck out (1,452 walks, 1,311 strikeouts), and Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts). Lou Gehrig was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Lou Gehrig owns the better peak by OPS: 1.218 OPS in 1932 for Jimmie Foxx against 1.240 OPS in 1927 for Lou Gehrig.
Jimmie Foxx vs Lou Gehrig: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jimmie Foxx or Lou Gehrig?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Jimmie Foxx in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jimmie Foxx or Lou Gehrig hit more home runs?
- Jimmie Foxx, with 534 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Jimmie Foxx's 1.038.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Jimmie Foxx's .325.
- Who had more hits?
- Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Jimmie Foxx's 2,646.