Reggie Jackson vs Mel Ott: Career Stats Comparison
Mel Ott has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Reggie Jackson played 1967–1987 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
Reggie Jackson (1967–1987) and Mel Ott (1926–1947) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 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? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Mel Ott's 511.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mel Ott, with .947 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average? Mel Ott, with .304 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.
- Who drove in more runs? Mel Ott, with 1,860 to Reggie Jackson's 1,702.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mel Ott, with 64,873 career PIV to Reggie Jackson's 41,801.
- Who won more championships? Reggie Jackson, with 5 World Series titles to Mel Ott's 1.
Reggie Jackson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Reggie Jackson 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 1960s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Reggie Jackson | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,820 | 2,730 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,864 | 9,456 |
| Runs | 1,551 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Hits | 2,584 | Leads: 2,876 |
| Doubles | 463 | Leads: 488 |
| Triples | 49 | Leads: 72 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 563 | 511 |
| RBI | 1,702 | Leads: 1,860 |
| Walks | 1,375 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,597 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 228 | 89 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .304 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .414 |
| Slugging % | .490 | Leads: .533 |
| OPS | .846 | Leads: .947 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mel Ott outpaces Reggie Jackson 64,873 to 41,801 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,949 PIV per season to 1,991, across 22 seasons to 21. 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).
Reggie Jackson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mel Ott leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Reggie Jackson owns home runs and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mel Ott. PIV agrees: Mel Ott grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Reggie Jackson and Mel Ott careers compare
No season is shared: Mel Ott played 1926–1947, Reggie Jackson 1967–1987. With 2,820 games against 2,730 across 21 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Reggie Jackson comes out ahead, it is in games (2,820 to 2,730), at-bats (9,864 to 9,456), and home runs (563 to 511). At the plate, Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375), while Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts). Reggie Jackson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Mel Ott holds the edge, .533 to .490.
Reggie Jackson vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Reggie Jackson or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mel Ott leads Reggie Jackson in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Reggie Jackson or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Mel Ott's 511.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mel Ott, with .947 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Mel Ott, with .304 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.