Aaron Judge vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Waner 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). Aaron Judge has played 2016–present as a hitter; Paul Waner played 1926–1945 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 Paul Waner (1926–1945) — 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; Paul Waner finished with 3,152 hits and 113 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Aaron Judge, with 386 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Waner, with 1,309 to Aaron Judge's 871.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Waner, with 40,296 career PIV to Aaron Judge's 37,037.
Aaron Judge
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Aaron Judge and Paul Waner. 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 | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,211 | Leads: 2,549 |
| At-Bats | 4,342 | Leads: 9,459 |
| Runs | 918 | Leads: 1,627 |
| Hits | 1,262 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 213 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 7 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 386 | 113 |
| RBI | 871 | Leads: 1,309 |
| Walks | 860 | Leads: 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,454 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | 70 | Leads: 104 |
| Batting Avg | .291 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .410 | .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .610 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: 1.020 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Waner leads Aaron Judge 40,296 to 37,037 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Waner played 22 seasons to Aaron Judge's 10, while Aaron Judge carries the higher per-season figure (3,704 to 1,832). 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
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Waner leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Aaron Judge owns home runs, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Waner. PIV agrees: Paul Waner 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 Paul Waner careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Paul Waner's ended in 1945, and Aaron Judge debuted in 2016. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Aaron Judge has appeared in 1,211 games to Paul Waner's 2,549. Where Aaron Judge comes out ahead, it is in home runs (386 to 113), on-base percentage (.410 to .404), and slugging percentage (.610 to .473). At the plate, Aaron Judge struck out more than walked (1,454 to 860), while Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Aaron Judge is the more power-leaning hitter, with 386 of 1,262 hits leaving the park. Because Aaron Judge is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Aaron Judge vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Aaron Judge or Paul Waner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Waner leads Aaron Judge in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Aaron Judge or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Aaron Judge, with 386 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Aaron Judge, with 1.020 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Aaron Judge's .291.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Aaron Judge's 1,262.