Lou Gehrig vs Joe Medwick: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig has the better career line of the two, leading 13 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; Joe Medwick 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
Lou Gehrig (1923–1939) and Joe Medwick (1932–1948) — they broke in during the 1920s and the 1930s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs; Joe Medwick finished with 2,471 hits and 205 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Joe Medwick's .324.
- Who had more hits? Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Joe Medwick's 2,471.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Joe Medwick's 1,383.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Joe Medwick's 28,897.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Joe Medwick's 1.
Lou Gehrig
Joe Medwick
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Gehrig and Joe Medwick. 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 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lou Gehrig | Joe Medwick |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,164 | 1,984 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,001 | 7,635 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,888 | 1,198 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,721 | 2,471 |
| Doubles | 534 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | Leads: 163 | 113 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 493 | 205 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,995 | 1,383 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,508 | 437 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 790 | 551 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 102 | 42 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .340 | .324 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .447 | .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .632 | .505 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.080 | .867 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig outpaces Joe Medwick 81,072 to 28,897 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 1,445 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Joe Medwick's 20. 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
Joe Medwick — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Joe Medwick owns no headline categories. 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 Joe Medwick careers compare
From 1932 through 1939, Lou Gehrig and Joe Medwick were in the majors together. With 2,164 games against 1,984 across 17 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Joe Medwick comes out ahead, it is in doubles (540 to 534). Plate discipline differs: Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts), but Joe Medwick struck out more than walked (551 to 437). Lou Gehrig is the more power-leaning hitter, with 493 of 2,721 hits leaving the park. Lou Gehrig was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Lou Gehrig holds the edge, .632 to .505.
Lou Gehrig vs Joe Medwick: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Gehrig or Joe Medwick?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Joe Medwick in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Gehrig or Joe Medwick hit more home runs?
- Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Joe Medwick's .324.
- Who had more hits?
- Lou Gehrig, with 2,721 to Joe Medwick's 2,471.