Hank Greenberg vs Ernie Lombardi: Career Stats Comparison
Hank Greenberg has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Hank Greenberg played 1930–1947 as a hitter; Ernie Lombardi played 1931–1947 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 Ernie Lombardi (1931–1947) — both broke in during the 1930s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Hank Greenberg finished with 1,628 hits and 331 home runs; Ernie Lombardi finished with 1,792 hits and 190 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Ernie Lombardi's 190.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Ernie Lombardi's .818.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Ernie Lombardi's .306.
- Who had more hits? Ernie Lombardi, with 1,792 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Greenberg, with 1,276 to Ernie Lombardi's 990.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Greenberg, with 43,523 career PIV to Ernie Lombardi's 15,583.
- Who won more championships? Hank Greenberg, with 2 World Series titles to Ernie Lombardi's 1.
Hank Greenberg
Ernie Lombardi
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Greenberg and Ernie Lombardi. 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 | Hank Greenberg | Ernie Lombardi |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,394 | Leads: 1,853 |
| At-Bats | 5,193 | Leads: 5,855 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,051 | 601 |
| Hits | 1,628 | Leads: 1,792 |
| Doubles | Leads: 379 | 277 |
| Triples | Leads: 71 | 27 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 331 | 190 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,276 | 990 |
| Walks | Leads: 852 | 430 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 844 | 262 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 58 | 8 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .313 | .306 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .412 | .358 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .605 | .460 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.017 | .818 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Greenberg outpaces Ernie Lombardi 43,523 to 15,583 — driven by per-season impact — 3,348 PIV per season to 917 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Greenberg played 13 seasons to Ernie Lombardi's 17. 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
Ernie Lombardi — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hank Greenberg leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Ernie Lombardi owns hits. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hank Greenberg. PIV agrees: Hank Greenberg 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 Ernie Lombardi careers compare
The careers of Hank Greenberg (1930–1947) and Ernie Lombardi (1931–1947) overlapped from 1931 to 1947, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 1,394 games against 1,853 across 13 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ernie Lombardi's edges on the table are games (1,853 to 1,394), at-bats (5,855 to 5,193), and hits (1,792 to 1,628). At the plate, Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts), and Ernie Lombardi walked more often than struck out (430 walks, 262 strikeouts). Hank Greenberg is the more power-leaning hitter, with 331 of 1,628 hits leaving the park.
Hank Greenberg vs Ernie Lombardi: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Greenberg or Ernie Lombardi?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hank Greenberg leads Ernie Lombardi in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Hank Greenberg or Ernie Lombardi hit more home runs?
- Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Ernie Lombardi's 190.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Ernie Lombardi's .818.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Ernie Lombardi's .306.
- Who had more hits?
- Ernie Lombardi, with 1,792 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.