Lou Gehrig vs Tris Speaker: Career Stats Comparison
Lou Gehrig and Tris Speaker are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Lou Gehrig played 1923–1939 as a hitter; Tris Speaker played 1907–1928 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 Tris Speaker (1907–1928) — they broke in during the 1920s and the 1900s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Lou Gehrig finished with 2,721 hits and 493 home runs; Tris Speaker finished with 3,514 hits and 117 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 Tris Speaker's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Tris Speaker's .928.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tris Speaker, with .345 to Lou Gehrig's .340.
- Who had more hits? Tris Speaker, with 3,514 to Lou Gehrig's 2,721.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Gehrig, with 1,995 to Tris Speaker's 1,529.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Lou Gehrig, with 81,072 career PIV to Tris Speaker's 73,242.
- Who won more championships? Lou Gehrig, with 8 World Series titles to Tris Speaker's 3.
Lou Gehrig
Tris Speaker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Gehrig and Tris Speaker. 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 1900s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lou Gehrig | Tris Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,164 | Leads: 2,789 |
| At-Bats | 8,001 | Leads: 10,195 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,888 | 1,882 |
| Hits | 2,721 | Leads: 3,514 |
| Doubles | 534 | Leads: 792 |
| Triples | 163 | Leads: 222 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 493 | 117 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,995 | 1,529 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,508 | 1,381 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 790 | 393 |
| Stolen Bases | 102 | Leads: 432 |
| Batting Avg | .340 | Leads: .345 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .447 | .428 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .632 | .500 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.080 | .928 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lou Gehrig leads Tris Speaker 81,072 to 73,242 — driven by per-season impact — 4,769 PIV per season to 3,329 — rather than by longevity, since Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons to Tris Speaker'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
Tris Speaker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lou Gehrig leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and OBP, while Tris Speaker owns hits, stolen bases, and batting average. 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 Tris Speaker careers compare
From 1923 through 1928, Lou Gehrig and Tris Speaker were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,164 games for Lou Gehrig and 2,789 for Tris Speaker 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 Tris Speaker walked more often than struck out (1,381 walks, 393 strikeouts). Lou Gehrig is the more power-leaning hitter, with 493 of 2,721 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Tris Speaker stole more often per game played (102 steals in 2,164 games for Lou Gehrig, 432 in 2,789 for Tris Speaker).
Lou Gehrig vs Tris Speaker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Lou Gehrig or Tris Speaker hit more home runs?
- Lou Gehrig, with 493 to Tris Speaker's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Gehrig, with 1.080 to Tris Speaker's .928.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tris Speaker, with .345 to Lou Gehrig's .340.
- Who had more hits?
- Tris Speaker, with 3,514 to Lou Gehrig's 2,721.