Mickey Mantle vs Eddie Mathews: Career Stats Comparison
Mickey Mantle has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Mickey Mantle played 1951–1968 as a hitter; Eddie Mathews played 1952–1968 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
Mickey Mantle (1951–1968) and Eddie Mathews (1952–1968) — both broke in during the 1950s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Mickey Mantle finished with 2,415 hits and 536 home runs; Eddie Mathews finished with 2,315 hits and 512 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mickey Mantle, with 536 to Eddie Mathews's 512.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mickey Mantle, with .977 to Eddie Mathews's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average? Mickey Mantle, with .298 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits? Mickey Mantle, with 2,415 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.
- Who drove in more runs? Mickey Mantle, with 1,509 to Eddie Mathews's 1,453.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mickey Mantle, with 67,905 career PIV to Eddie Mathews's 45,555.
- Who won more championships? Mickey Mantle, with 7 World Series titles to Eddie Mathews's 2.
Mickey Mantle
Eddie Mathews
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mickey Mantle and Eddie Mathews. 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 | Mickey Mantle | Eddie Mathews |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,401 | 2,391 |
| At-Bats | 8,102 | Leads: 8,537 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,677 | 1,509 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,415 | 2,315 |
| Doubles | 344 | Leads: 354 |
| Triples | 72 | 72 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 536 | 512 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,509 | 1,453 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,733 | 1,444 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,710 | 1,487 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 153 | 68 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .298 | .271 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .421 | .376 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .557 | .509 |
| OPS | Leads: .977 | .885 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mickey Mantle outpaces Eddie Mathews 67,905 to 45,555 — driven by per-season impact — 3,773 PIV per season to 2,531 — rather than by longevity, since Mickey Mantle played 18 seasons to Eddie Mathews's 18. 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).
Mickey Mantle — top 3 seasons by OPS
Eddie Mathews — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mickey Mantle leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Eddie Mathews owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mickey Mantle. PIV agrees: Mickey Mantle grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mickey Mantle and Eddie Mathews careers compare
From 1952 through 1968, Mickey Mantle and Eddie Mathews were in the majors together. With 2,401 games against 2,391 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Eddie Mathews comes out ahead, it is in at-bats (8,537 to 8,102) and doubles (354 to 344). At the plate, Mickey Mantle walked more often than struck out (1,733 walks, 1,710 strikeouts), while Eddie Mathews struck out more than walked (1,487 to 1,444). On the bases, Mickey Mantle stole more often per game played (153 steals in 2,401 games for Mickey Mantle, 68 in 2,391 for Eddie Mathews). In slugging percentage, Mickey Mantle holds the edge, .557 to .509.
Mickey Mantle vs Eddie Mathews: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mickey Mantle or Eddie Mathews?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mickey Mantle leads Eddie Mathews in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mickey Mantle or Eddie Mathews hit more home runs?
- Mickey Mantle, with 536 to Eddie Mathews's 512.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mickey Mantle, with .977 to Eddie Mathews's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Mickey Mantle, with .298 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Mickey Mantle, with 2,415 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.