Jimmie Foxx vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Jimmie Foxx and Paul Waner are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jimmie Foxx played 1925–1945 as a hitter; Paul Waner played 1926–1945 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 Paul Waner (1926–1945) — both broke in during the 1920s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Jimmie Foxx finished with 2,646 hits and 534 home runs; Paul Waner finished with 3,152 hits and 113 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jimmie Foxx, with 534 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jimmie Foxx, with 1.038 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Jimmie Foxx's .325.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Jimmie Foxx's 2,646.
- Who drove in more runs? Jimmie Foxx, with 1,922 to Paul Waner's 1,309.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jimmie Foxx, with 72,872 career PIV to Paul Waner's 40,296.
- Who won more championships? Jimmie Foxx, with 2 World Series titles to Paul Waner's 0.
Jimmie Foxx
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jimmie Foxx and Paul Waner. 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 | Jimmie Foxx | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,317 | Leads: 2,549 |
| At-Bats | 8,134 | Leads: 9,459 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,751 | 1,627 |
| Hits | 2,646 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 458 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 125 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 534 | 113 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,922 | 1,309 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,452 | 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,311 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | 87 | Leads: 104 |
| Batting Avg | .325 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .428 | .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .609 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.038 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jimmie Foxx outpaces Paul Waner 72,872 to 40,296 — driven by per-season impact — 3,470 PIV per season to 1,832 — rather than by longevity, since Jimmie Foxx played 21 seasons to Paul Waner's 22. 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).
Jimmie Foxx — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jimmie Foxx leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and OBP, while Paul Waner owns hits, stolen bases, and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jimmie Foxx. PIV agrees: Jimmie Foxx 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 Paul Waner careers compare
Jimmie Foxx and Paul Waner were active at the same time between 1926 and 1945. The two careers are close in length, 2,317 games for Jimmie Foxx and 2,549 for Paul Waner across 21 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Jimmie Foxx walked more often than struck out (1,452 walks, 1,311 strikeouts), and Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Jimmie Foxx is the more power-leaning hitter, with 534 of 2,646 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Paul Waner stole more often per game played (87 steals in 2,317 games for Jimmie Foxx, 104 in 2,549 for Paul Waner).
Jimmie Foxx vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Jimmie Foxx or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Jimmie Foxx, with 534 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jimmie Foxx, with 1.038 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Jimmie Foxx's .325.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Jimmie Foxx's 2,646.