Hank Greenberg vs Arky Vaughan: Career Stats Comparison
Arky Vaughan 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; Arky Vaughan 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 Arky Vaughan (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; Arky Vaughan finished with 2,103 hits and 96 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 Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Arky Vaughan's .859.
- Who had the higher batting average? Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Hank Greenberg's .313.
- Who had more hits? Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Greenberg, with 1,276 to Arky Vaughan's 926.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Greenberg, with 43,523 career PIV to Arky Vaughan's 28,350.
- Who won more championships? Hank Greenberg, with 2 World Series titles to Arky Vaughan's 0.
Hank Greenberg
Arky Vaughan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Greenberg and Arky Vaughan. 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 | Arky Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,394 | Leads: 1,817 |
| At-Bats | 5,193 | Leads: 6,622 |
| Runs | 1,051 | Leads: 1,173 |
| Hits | 1,628 | Leads: 2,103 |
| Doubles | Leads: 379 | 356 |
| Triples | 71 | Leads: 128 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 331 | 96 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,276 | 926 |
| Walks | 852 | Leads: 937 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 844 | 276 |
| Stolen Bases | 58 | Leads: 118 |
| Batting Avg | .313 | Leads: .318 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .412 | .406 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .605 | .453 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.017 | .859 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Greenberg outpaces Arky Vaughan 43,523 to 28,350 — driven by per-season impact — 3,348 PIV per season to 2,025 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Greenberg played 13 seasons to Arky Vaughan's 14. 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
Arky Vaughan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hank Greenberg leads in home runs, RBI, OBP, and OPS, while Arky Vaughan owns hits, runs, and 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 Arky Vaughan careers compare
From 1932 through 1947, Hank Greenberg and Arky Vaughan were in the majors together. With 1,394 games against 1,817 across 13 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Hank Greenberg walked more often than struck out (852 walks, 844 strikeouts); Arky Vaughan walked more often than struck out (937 walks, 276 strikeouts). Hank Greenberg is the more power-leaning hitter, with 331 of 1,628 hits leaving the park. Arky Vaughan was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Hank Greenberg owns the better peak by OPS: 1.122 OPS in 1938 for Hank Greenberg against 1.098 OPS in 1935 for Arky Vaughan.
Hank Greenberg vs Arky Vaughan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Greenberg or Arky Vaughan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Arky Vaughan leads Hank Greenberg in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Hank Greenberg or Arky Vaughan hit more home runs?
- Hank Greenberg, with 331 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Greenberg, with 1.017 to Arky Vaughan's .859.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Hank Greenberg's .313.
- Who had more hits?
- Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Hank Greenberg's 1,628.