Aaron Judge vs Mel Ott: Career Stats Comparison
Mel Ott has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Aaron Judge has played 2016–present 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
Aaron Judge (2016–present) and Mel Ott (1926–1947) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Aaron Judge has 1,262 hits and 386 home runs through October 12, 2026; 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 Aaron Judge's 386.
- Who had the higher OPS? Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average? Mel Ott, with .304 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits? Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.
- Who drove in more runs? Mel Ott, with 1,860 to Aaron Judge's 871.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mel Ott, with 64,873 career PIV to Aaron Judge's 37,037.
- Who won more championships? Mel Ott, with 1 World Series title to Aaron Judge's 0.
Aaron Judge
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Aaron Judge 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 2010s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Aaron Judge is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Aaron Judge | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,211 | Leads: 2,730 |
| At-Bats | 4,342 | Leads: 9,456 |
| Runs | 918 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Hits | 1,262 | Leads: 2,876 |
| Doubles | 213 | Leads: 488 |
| Triples | 7 | Leads: 72 |
| Home Runs | 386 | Leads: 511 |
| RBI | 871 | Leads: 1,860 |
| Walks | 860 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,454 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | 70 | Leads: 89 |
| Batting Avg | .291 | Leads: .304 |
| On-Base % | .410 | Leads: .414 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .610 | .533 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.020 | .947 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mel Ott outpaces Aaron Judge 64,873 to 37,037 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Mel Ott played 22 seasons to Aaron Judge's 10, while Aaron Judge carries the higher per-season figure (3,704 to 2,949). 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).
Aaron Judge — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mel Ott leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Aaron Judge owns OPS. 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 Aaron Judge and Mel Ott careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Mel Ott's ended in 1947, and Aaron Judge debuted in 2016. The table compares 1,211 games of Aaron Judge with 2,730 of Mel Ott across 10 and 22 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Aaron Judge's edges on the table are slugging percentage (.610 to .533) and OPS (1.020 to .947). Plate discipline differs: Aaron Judge struck out more than walked (1,454 to 860), but Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts). Aaron Judge is the more power-leaning hitter, with 386 of 1,262 hits leaving the park. Aaron Judge's slugging percentage of .610 tops Mel Ott's .533. Because Aaron Judge is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Aaron Judge vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Aaron Judge or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mel Ott leads Aaron Judge in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Aaron Judge or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Mel Ott, with 511 to Aaron Judge's 386.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Mel Ott's .947.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Mel Ott, with .304 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits?
- Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.