Charlie Gehringer vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Charlie Gehringer 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). Charlie Gehringer played 1924–1942 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
Charlie Gehringer (1924–1942) and Paul Waner (1926–1945) — both broke in during the 1920s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Charlie Gehringer finished with 2,839 hits and 184 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? Charlie Gehringer, with 184 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Charlie Gehringer, with .884 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Charlie Gehringer's .320.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Charlie Gehringer's 2,839.
- Who drove in more runs? Charlie Gehringer, with 1,427 to Paul Waner's 1,309.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Waner, with 40,296 career PIV to Charlie Gehringer's 39,288.
- Who won more championships? Charlie Gehringer, with 1 World Series title to Paul Waner's 0.
Charlie Gehringer
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Charlie Gehringer 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 | Charlie Gehringer | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,323 | Leads: 2,549 |
| At-Bats | 8,860 | Leads: 9,459 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,774 | 1,627 |
| Hits | 2,839 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 574 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 146 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 184 | 113 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,427 | 1,309 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,186 | 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 372 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 181 | 104 |
| Batting Avg | .320 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | .404 | Leads: .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .480 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: .884 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Waner edges Charlie Gehringer 40,296 to 39,288 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Waner played 22 seasons to Charlie Gehringer's 19, while Charlie Gehringer carries the higher per-season figure (2,068 to 1,832). 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).
Charlie Gehringer — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Charlie Gehringer leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Paul Waner owns hits, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Charlie Gehringer. Note that PIV actually grades Paul Waner ahead, which means Charlie Gehringer's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Charlie Gehringer and Paul Waner careers compare
From 1926 through 1942, Charlie Gehringer and Paul Waner were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,323 games for Charlie Gehringer and 2,549 for Paul Waner across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Charlie Gehringer walked more often than struck out (1,186 walks, 372 strikeouts); Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Charlie Gehringer's hits: 184 of 2,839 for Charlie Gehringer, 113 of 3,152 for Paul Waner. Charlie Gehringer was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Charlie Gehringer vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Charlie Gehringer or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Charlie Gehringer, with 184 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Charlie Gehringer, with .884 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Charlie Gehringer's .320.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Charlie Gehringer's 2,839.