Paul Goldschmidt vs Nap Lajoie: Career Stats Comparison
Nap Lajoie has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Paul Goldschmidt has played 2011–present as a hitter; Nap Lajoie played 1896–1916 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
Paul Goldschmidt (2011–present) and Nap Lajoie (1896–1916) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1890s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Paul Goldschmidt has 2,277 hits and 390 home runs through October 12, 2026; Nap Lajoie finished with 3,243 hits and 82 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul Goldschmidt, with 390 to Nap Lajoie's 82.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Goldschmidt, with .877 to Nap Lajoie's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nap Lajoie, with .338 to Paul Goldschmidt's .286.
- Who had more hits? Nap Lajoie, with 3,243 to Paul Goldschmidt's 2,277.
- Who drove in more runs? Nap Lajoie, with 1,599 to Paul Goldschmidt's 1,284.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Nap Lajoie, with 47,526 career PIV to Paul Goldschmidt's 35,401.
Paul Goldschmidt
Nap Lajoie
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Goldschmidt and Nap Lajoie. 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 2010s and the 1890s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Goldschmidt is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Paul Goldschmidt | Nap Lajoie |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,179 | Leads: 2,480 |
| At-Bats | 7,953 | Leads: 9,590 |
| Runs | 1,324 | Leads: 1,504 |
| Hits | 2,277 | Leads: 3,243 |
| Doubles | 490 | Leads: 657 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 163 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 390 | 82 |
| RBI | 1,284 | Leads: 1,599 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,115 | 516 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,065 | 347 |
| Stolen Bases | 175 | Leads: 380 |
| Batting Avg | .286 | Leads: .338 |
| On-Base % | .375 | Leads: .380 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .501 | .466 |
| OPS | Leads: .877 | .846 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Nap Lajoie outpaces Paul Goldschmidt 47,526 to 35,401 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Nap Lajoie played 22 seasons to Paul Goldschmidt's 15, while Paul Goldschmidt carries the higher per-season figure (2,360 to 2,160). 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).
Paul Goldschmidt — top 3 seasons by OPS
Nap Lajoie — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Nap Lajoie leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Paul Goldschmidt owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Nap Lajoie. PIV agrees: Nap Lajoie grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Goldschmidt and Nap Lajoie careers compare
No season is shared: Nap Lajoie played 1896–1916, Paul Goldschmidt 2011–present. With 2,179 games against 2,480 across 15 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Paul Goldschmidt are home runs (390 to 82), walks (1,115 to 516), and slugging percentage (.501 to .466). Plate discipline differs: Paul Goldschmidt struck out more than walked (2,065 to 1,115), but Nap Lajoie walked more often than struck out (516 walks, 347 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Paul Goldschmidt's hits: 390 of 2,277 for Paul Goldschmidt, 82 of 3,243 for Nap Lajoie. Paul Goldschmidt's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Paul Goldschmidt vs Nap Lajoie: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Goldschmidt or Nap Lajoie?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Nap Lajoie leads Paul Goldschmidt in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Goldschmidt or Nap Lajoie hit more home runs?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with 390 to Nap Lajoie's 82.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with .877 to Nap Lajoie's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nap Lajoie, with .338 to Paul Goldschmidt's .286.
- Who had more hits?
- Nap Lajoie, with 3,243 to Paul Goldschmidt's 2,277.