Hank Greenberg vs Harmon Killebrew: Career Stats Comparison
Hank Greenberg and Harmon Killebrew are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Hank Greenberg played 1930–1947 as a hitter; Harmon Killebrew played 1954–1975 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
Hank Greenberg (1930–1947) and Harmon Killebrew (1954–1975) — they broke in during the 1930s and the 1950s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Hank Greenberg finished with 1,628 hits and 331 home runs; Harmon Killebrew finished with 2,086 hits and 573 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Harmon Killebrew, with 573 to Hank Greenberg's 331.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Harmon Killebrew's .884.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Harmon Killebrew's .256.
- Who had more hits? Harmon Killebrew, with 2,086 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.
- Who drove in more runs? Harmon Killebrew, with 1,584 to Hank Greenberg's 1,276.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Harmon Killebrew, with 48,240 career PIV to Hank Greenberg's 43,523.
- Who won more championships? Hank Greenberg, with 2 World Series titles to Harmon Killebrew's 0.
Hank Greenberg
Harmon Killebrew
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Greenberg and Harmon Killebrew. 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 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Hank Greenberg | Harmon Killebrew |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,394 | Leads: 2,435 |
| At-Bats | 5,193 | Leads: 8,147 |
| Runs | 1,051 | Leads: 1,283 |
| Hits | 1,628 | Leads: 2,086 |
| Doubles | Leads: 379 | 290 |
| Triples | Leads: 71 | 24 |
| Home Runs | 331 | Leads: 573 |
| RBI | 1,276 | Leads: 1,584 |
| Walks | 852 | Leads: 1,559 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 844 | 1,699 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 58 | 19 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .313 | .256 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .412 | .376 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .605 | .509 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.017 | .884 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Harmon Killebrew leads Hank Greenberg 48,240 to 43,523 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Harmon Killebrew played 22 seasons to Hank Greenberg's 13, while Hank Greenberg carries the higher per-season figure (3,348 to 2,193). 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).
Hank Greenberg — top 3 seasons by OPS
Harmon Killebrew — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Harmon Killebrew leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Hank Greenberg owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Harmon Killebrew. PIV agrees: Harmon Killebrew grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Hank Greenberg and Harmon Killebrew careers compare
No season is shared: Hank Greenberg played 1930–1947, Harmon Killebrew 1954–1975. Harmon Killebrew has the far longer record, 2,435 games against 1,394 across 13 and 22 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Plate discipline differs: Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts), but Harmon Killebrew struck out more than walked (1,699 to 1,559). Harmon Killebrew is the more power-leaning hitter, with 573 of 2,086 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Hank Greenberg holds the edge, .605 to .509. Hank Greenberg owns the better peak by OPS: 1.122 OPS in 1938 for Hank Greenberg against 1.012 OPS in 1961 for Harmon Killebrew.
Hank Greenberg vs Harmon Killebrew: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Hank Greenberg or Harmon Killebrew hit more home runs?
- Harmon Killebrew, with 573 to Hank Greenberg's 331.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Harmon Killebrew's .884.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Harmon Killebrew's .256.
- Who had more hits?
- Harmon Killebrew, with 2,086 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.