Hank Greenberg vs Phil Rizzuto: 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; Phil Rizzuto played 1941–1956 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 Phil Rizzuto (1941–1956) — they broke in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Hank Greenberg finished with 1,628 hits and 331 home runs; Phil Rizzuto finished with 1,588 hits and 38 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 Phil Rizzuto's 38.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Phil Rizzuto's .706.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Phil Rizzuto's .273.
- Who had more hits? Hank Greenberg, with 1,628 to Phil Rizzuto's 1,588.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Greenberg, with 1,276 to Phil Rizzuto's 563.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Greenberg, with 43,523 career PIV to Phil Rizzuto's 662.
- Who won more championships? Phil Rizzuto, with 8 World Series titles to Hank Greenberg's 2.
Hank Greenberg
Phil Rizzuto
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Greenberg and Phil Rizzuto. 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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Hank Greenberg | Phil Rizzuto |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,394 | Leads: 1,661 |
| At-Bats | 5,193 | Leads: 5,816 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,051 | 877 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,628 | 1,588 |
| Doubles | Leads: 379 | 239 |
| Triples | Leads: 71 | 62 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 331 | 38 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,276 | 563 |
| Walks | Leads: 852 | 651 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 844 | 398 |
| Stolen Bases | 58 | Leads: 149 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .313 | .273 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .412 | .351 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .605 | .355 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.017 | .706 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Greenberg outpaces Phil Rizzuto 43,523 to 662 — driven by per-season impact — 3,348 PIV per season to 51 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Greenberg played 13 seasons to Phil Rizzuto's 13. 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
Phil Rizzuto — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hank Greenberg leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Phil Rizzuto owns stolen bases. 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 Phil Rizzuto careers compare
From 1941 through 1947, Hank Greenberg and Phil Rizzuto were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,394 games for Hank Greenberg and 1,661 for Phil Rizzuto across 13 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Phil Rizzuto's edges on the table are games (1,661 to 1,394), at-bats (5,816 to 5,193), and stolen bases (149 to 58). At the plate, Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts), and Phil Rizzuto walked more often than struck out (651 walks, 398 strikeouts). Hank Greenberg is the more power-leaning hitter, with 331 of 1,628 hits leaving the park.
Hank Greenberg vs Phil Rizzuto: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Greenberg or Phil Rizzuto?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hank Greenberg leads Phil Rizzuto in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Hank Greenberg or Phil Rizzuto hit more home runs?
- Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Phil Rizzuto's 38.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Phil Rizzuto's .706.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Greenberg, with .313 to Phil Rizzuto's .273.
- Who had more hits?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1,628 to Phil Rizzuto's 1,588.