Joe Medwick vs Mel Ott: Career Stats Comparison
Mel Ott has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Joe Medwick played 1932–1948 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
Joe Medwick (1932–1948) and Mel Ott (1926–1947) — they debuted in the 1930s and the 1920s respectively and share 16 seasons. Joe Medwick finished with 2,471 hits and 205 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 leads the career comparison? Mel Ott, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Mel Ott, with 511 to Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mel Ott, with .947 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe Medwick, with .324 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits? Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Joe Medwick's 2,471.
- Who drove in more runs? Mel Ott, with 1,860 to Joe Medwick's 1,383.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mel Ott, with 64,873 career PIV to Joe Medwick's 28,897.
Joe Medwick
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe Medwick and Mel Ott. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Joe Medwick | Mel Ott |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,984 | 2,730 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,635 | 9,456 |
| Runs | 1,198 | Leads: 1,859 |
| Hits | 2,471 | Leads: 2,876 |
| Doubles | Leads: 540 | 488 |
| Triples | Leads: 113 | 72 |
| Home Runs | 205 | Leads: 511 |
| RBI | 1,383 | Leads: 1,860 |
| Walks | 437 | Leads: 1,708 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 551 | 896 |
| Stolen Bases | 42 | Leads: 89 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .324 | .304 |
| On-Base % | .362 | Leads: .414 |
| Slugging % | .505 | Leads: .533 |
| OPS | .867 | Leads: .947 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mel Ott outpaces Joe Medwick 64,873 to 28,897 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,949 PIV per season to 1,700, across 22 seasons to 17. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Joe Medwick — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mel Ott — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Mel Ott leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, home runs, RBI, and others. Joe Medwick leads 3: doubles, triples, and batting average. 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 Joe Medwick and Mel Ott careers compare
Joe Medwick and Mel Ott were active at the same time between 1932 and 1947. The two careers are close in length, 1,984 games for Joe Medwick and 2,730 for Mel Ott across 17 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Joe Medwick's edges on the table are doubles (540 to 488), triples (113 to 72), and batting average (.324 to .304). Plate discipline differs: Joe Medwick struck out more than walked (551 to 437), but Mel Ott walked more often than struck out (1,708 walks, 896 strikeouts).
Joe Medwick vs Mel Ott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Medwick or Mel Ott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mel Ott leads Joe Medwick in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Joe Medwick or Mel Ott hit more home runs?
- Mel Ott, with 511 to Joe Medwick's 205.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mel Ott, with .947 to Joe Medwick's .867.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe Medwick, with .324 to Mel Ott's .304.
- Who had more hits?
- Mel Ott, with 2,876 to Joe Medwick's 2,471.