Lou Gehrig vs Mickey Mantle: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939 as a hitter; Mickey Mantle played 1951–1968 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
Lou Gehrig (1923–1939) and Mickey Mantle (1951–1968) — they broke in during the 1920s and the 1950s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs; Mickey Mantle finished with 2,415 hits and 536 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mickey Mantle, with 536 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Mickey Mantle's .977.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Mickey Mantle's .298.
- Who had more hits? Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Mickey Mantle's 2,415.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Mickey Mantle's 1,509.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Mickey Mantle's 67,905.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Mickey Mantle's 7.
Lou Gehrig
Mickey Mantle
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle. 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 1920s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lou Gehrig | Mickey Mantle |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,164 | Leads: 2,401 |
| At-Bats | 8,001 | Leads: 8,102 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,888 | 1,677 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,721 | 2,415 |
| Doubles | Leads: 534 | 344 |
| Triples | Leads: 163 | 72 |
| Home Runs | 493 | Leads: 536 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,995 | 1,509 |
| Walks | 1,508 | Leads: 1,733 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 790 | 1,710 |
| Stolen Bases | 102 | Leads: 153 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .340 | .298 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .447 | .421 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .632 | .557 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.080 | .977 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig leads Mickey Mantle 81,072 to 67,905 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 3,773 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Mickey Mantle's 18. 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).
Lou Gehrig — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mickey Mantle — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Mickey Mantle owns home runs and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but 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 Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle careers compare
No season is shared: Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939, Mickey Mantle 1951–1968. With 2,164 games against 2,401 across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts); Mickey Mantle walked more often than struck out (1,733 walks, 1,710 strikeouts). Mickey Mantle was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Lou Gehrig's on-base percentage of .447 tops Mickey Mantle's .421. On the peak-season lists, Lou Gehrig's best year is 1927 at 1.240 OPS and Mickey Mantle's is 1957 at 1.177 OPS; Lou Gehrig has the stronger single season.
Lou Gehrig vs Mickey Mantle: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Gehrig or Mickey Mantle?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Mickey Mantle in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Gehrig or Mickey Mantle hit more home runs?
- Mickey Mantle, with 536 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Mickey Mantle's .977.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Mickey Mantle's .298.
- Who had more hits?
- Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Mickey Mantle's 2,415.