Lou Gehrig vs Mel Ott: 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; Mel Ott played 1926–1947 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 Mel Ott (1926–1947) — both broke in during the 1920s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs; Mel Ott finished with 2,876 hits and 511 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mel Ott, with 511 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average? Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits? Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Lou Gehrig's 2,721.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Mel Ott's 1,860.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Mel Ott's 64,873.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Mel Ott's 1.
Lou Gehrig
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Gehrig and Mel Ott. 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 | Lou Gehrig | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,164 | Leads: 2,730 |
| At-Bats | 8,001 | Leads: 9,456 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,888 | 1,859 |
| Hits | 2,721 | Leads: 2,876 |
| Doubles | Leads: 534 | 488 |
| Triples | Leads: 163 | 72 |
| Home Runs | 493 | Leads: 511 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,995 | 1,860 |
| Walks | 1,508 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 790 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 102 | 89 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .340 | .304 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .447 | .414 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .632 | .533 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.080 | .947 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig leads Mel Ott 81,072 to 64,873 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 2,949 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Mel Ott'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).
Lou Gehrig — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in RBI, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Mel Ott owns hits and home runs. 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 Mel Ott careers compare
Lou Gehrig and Mel Ott were active at the same time between 1926 and 1939. The two careers are close in length, 2,164 games for Lou Gehrig and 2,730 for Mel Ott across 17 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Lou Gehrig walked more often than struck out (1,508 walks, 790 strikeouts), and Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts). On the bases, Lou Gehrig stole more often per game played (102 steals in 2,164 games for Lou Gehrig, 89 in 2,730 for Mel Ott). In slugging percentage, Lou Gehrig holds the edge, .632 to .533.
Lou Gehrig vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Gehrig or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lou Gehrig leads Mel Ott in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Gehrig or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Mel Ott, with 511 to Lou Gehrig's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Lou Gehrig, with .340 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits?
- Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Lou Gehrig's 2,721.