Joe Gordon vs Tony Lazzeri: Career Stats Comparison
Tony Lazzeri 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). Joe Gordon played 1938–1950 as a hitter; Tony Lazzeri played 1926–1939 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
Joe Gordon (1938–1950) and Tony Lazzeri (1926–1939) — they broke in during the 1930s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Joe Gordon finished with 1,530 hits and 253 home runs; Tony Lazzeri finished with 1,840 hits and 178 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Joe Gordon, with 253 to Tony Lazzeri's 178.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tony Lazzeri, with .846 to Joe Gordon's .822.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tony Lazzeri, with .292 to Joe Gordon's .268.
- Who had more hits? Tony Lazzeri, with 1,840 to Joe Gordon's 1,530.
- Who drove in more runs? Tony Lazzeri, with 1,191 to Joe Gordon's 975.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tony Lazzeri, with 19,403 career PIV to Joe Gordon's 18,128.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 5 World Series titles.
Joe Gordon
Tony Lazzeri
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe Gordon and Tony Lazzeri. 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 1930s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Joe Gordon | Tony Lazzeri |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,566 | Leads: 1,740 |
| At-Bats | 5,707 | Leads: 6,297 |
| Runs | 914 | Leads: 986 |
| Hits | 1,530 | Leads: 1,840 |
| Doubles | 264 | Leads: 334 |
| Triples | 52 | Leads: 115 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 253 | 178 |
| RBI | 975 | Leads: 1,191 |
| Walks | 759 | Leads: 869 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 702 | 864 |
| Stolen Bases | 89 | Leads: 148 |
| Batting Avg | .268 | Leads: .292 |
| On-Base % | .357 | Leads: .380 |
| Slugging % | .466 | Leads: .467 |
| OPS | .822 | Leads: .846 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tony Lazzeri edges Joe Gordon 19,403 to 18,128 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Tony Lazzeri played 15 seasons to Joe Gordon's 11, while Joe Gordon carries the higher per-season figure (1,648 to 1,294). 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).
Joe Gordon — top 3 seasons by OPS
Tony Lazzeri — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tony Lazzeri leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Joe Gordon owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tony Lazzeri. PIV agrees: Tony Lazzeri grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe Gordon and Tony Lazzeri careers compare
Joe Gordon and Tony Lazzeri were active at the same time between 1938 and 1939. The two careers are close in length, 1,566 games for Joe Gordon and 1,740 for Tony Lazzeri across 11 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Joe Gordon comes out ahead, it is in home runs (253 to 178). Joe Gordon walked more often than struck out (759 walks, 702 strikeouts); Tony Lazzeri walked more often than struck out (869 walks, 864 strikeouts). Joe Gordon is the more power-leaning hitter, with 253 of 1,530 hits leaving the park. Tony Lazzeri was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Joe Gordon vs Tony Lazzeri: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Gordon or Tony Lazzeri?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tony Lazzeri leads Joe Gordon in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Joe Gordon or Tony Lazzeri hit more home runs?
- Joe Gordon, with 253 to Tony Lazzeri's 178.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tony Lazzeri, with .846 to Joe Gordon's .822.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tony Lazzeri, with .292 to Joe Gordon's .268.
- Who had more hits?
- Tony Lazzeri, with 1,840 to Joe Gordon's 1,530.