Hank Greenberg vs Joe Medwick: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Medwick has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Joe Medwick played 1932–1948 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 Joe Medwick (1932–1948) — 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; Joe Medwick finished with 2,471 hits and 205 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 Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe Medwick, with .324 to Hank Greenberg's .313.
- Who had more hits? Joe Medwick, with 2,471 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.
- Who drove in more runs? Joe Medwick, with 1,383 to Hank Greenberg's 1,276.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Greenberg, with 43,523 career PIV to Joe Medwick's 28,897.
- Who won more championships? Hank Greenberg, with 2 World Series titles to Joe Medwick's 1.
Hank Greenberg
Joe Medwick
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Greenberg and Joe Medwick. 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 | Joe Medwick |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,394 | Leads: 1,984 |
| At-Bats | 5,193 | Leads: 7,635 |
| Runs | 1,051 | Leads: 1,198 |
| Hits | 1,628 | Leads: 2,471 |
| Doubles | 379 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | 71 | Leads: 113 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 331 | 205 |
| RBI | 1,276 | Leads: 1,383 |
| Walks | Leads: 852 | 437 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 844 | 551 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 58 | 42 |
| Batting Avg | .313 | Leads: .324 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .412 | .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .605 | .505 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.017 | .867 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Greenberg outpaces Joe Medwick 43,523 to 28,897 — driven by per-season impact — 3,348 PIV per season to 1,445 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Greenberg played 13 seasons to Joe Medwick's 20. 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
Joe Medwick — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hank Greenberg leads in home runs, stolen bases, OBP, and OPS, while Joe Medwick owns hits, RBI, and runs. 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 Joe Medwick careers compare
Hank Greenberg and Joe Medwick were active at the same time between 1932 and 1947. With 1,394 games against 1,984 across 13 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts), while Joe Medwick struck out more than walked (551 to 437). Hank Greenberg is the more power-leaning hitter, with 331 of 1,628 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Hank Greenberg holds the edge, .605 to .505. Hank Greenberg owns the better peak by OPS: 1.122 OPS in 1938 for Hank Greenberg against 1.056 OPS in 1937 for Joe Medwick.
Hank Greenberg vs Joe Medwick: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Greenberg or Joe Medwick?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Medwick leads Hank Greenberg in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Hank Greenberg or Joe Medwick hit more home runs?
- Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe Medwick, with .324 to Hank Greenberg's .313.
- Who had more hits?
- Joe Medwick, with 2,471 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.