Rogers Hornsby vs Mel Ott: Career Stats Comparison
Rogers Hornsby 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). Rogers Hornsby played 1915–1937 as a hitter; Mel Ott played 1926–1947 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
Rogers Hornsby (1915–1937) and Mel Ott (1926–1947) — they broke in during the 1910s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rogers Hornsby finished with 2,930 hits and 301 home runs; Mel Ott finished with 2,876 hits and 511 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mel Ott, with 511 to Rogers Hornsby's 301.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rogers Hornsby, with 1.010 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rogers Hornsby, with .358 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits? Rogers Hornsby, with 2,930 to Mel Ott's 2,876.
- Who drove in more runs? Mel Ott, with 1,860 to Rogers Hornsby's 1,584.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rogers Hornsby, with 68,443 career PIV to Mel Ott's 64,873.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Rogers Hornsby
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rogers Hornsby and Mel Ott. 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 1910s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rogers Hornsby | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,259 | Leads: 2,730 |
| At-Bats | 8,173 | Leads: 9,456 |
| Runs | 1,579 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,930 | 2,876 |
| Doubles | Leads: 541 | 488 |
| Triples | Leads: 169 | 72 |
| Home Runs | 301 | Leads: 511 |
| RBI | 1,584 | Leads: 1,860 |
| Walks | 1,038 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 679 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 135 | 89 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .358 | .304 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .434 | .414 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .577 | .533 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.010 | .947 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rogers Hornsby edges Mel Ott 68,443 to 64,873 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rogers Hornsby played 24 seasons to Mel Ott's 22, while Mel Ott carries the higher per-season figure (2,949 to 2,852). 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).
Rogers Hornsby — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rogers Hornsby leads in hits, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Mel Ott owns home runs, RBI, and runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rogers Hornsby. PIV agrees: Rogers Hornsby grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rogers Hornsby and Mel Ott careers compare
Rogers Hornsby and Mel Ott were active at the same time between 1926 and 1937. With 2,259 games against 2,730 across 24 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Rogers Hornsby walked more often than struck out (1,038 walks, 679 strikeouts); Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts). Mel Ott is the more power-leaning hitter, with 511 of 2,876 hits leaving the park. Rogers Hornsby was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Rogers Hornsby holds the edge, .577 to .533.
Rogers Hornsby vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rogers Hornsby or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rogers Hornsby leads Mel Ott in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rogers Hornsby or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Mel Ott, with 511 to Rogers Hornsby's 301.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rogers Hornsby, with 1.010 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rogers Hornsby, with .358 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits?
- Rogers Hornsby, with 2,930 to Mel Ott's 2,876.