Jackie Robinson vs Arky Vaughan: Career Stats Comparison
Arky Vaughan has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jackie Robinson played 1947–1956 as a hitter; Arky Vaughan played 1932–1948 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
Jackie Robinson (1947–1956) and Arky Vaughan (1932–1948) — they broke in during the 1940s and the 1930s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jackie Robinson finished with 1,568 hits and 141 home runs; Arky Vaughan finished with 2,103 hits and 96 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jackie Robinson, with 141 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jackie Robinson, with .887 to Arky Vaughan's .859.
- Who had the higher batting average? Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Jackie Robinson's .313.
- Who had more hits? Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.
- Who drove in more runs? Arky Vaughan, with 926 to Jackie Robinson's 764.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Arky Vaughan, with 28,350 career PIV to Jackie Robinson's 25,382.
- Who won more championships? Jackie Robinson, with 1 World Series title to Arky Vaughan's 0.
Jackie Robinson
Arky Vaughan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jackie Robinson and Arky Vaughan. 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 1940s and the 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jackie Robinson | Arky Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,418 | Leads: 1,817 |
| At-Bats | 5,006 | Leads: 6,622 |
| Runs | 974 | Leads: 1,173 |
| Hits | 1,568 | Leads: 2,103 |
| Doubles | 287 | Leads: 356 |
| Triples | 55 | Leads: 128 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 141 | 96 |
| RBI | 764 | Leads: 926 |
| Walks | 756 | Leads: 937 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 291 | 276 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 203 | 118 |
| Batting Avg | .313 | Leads: .318 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .410 | .406 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .477 | .453 |
| OPS | Leads: .887 | .859 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Arky Vaughan leads Jackie Robinson 28,350 to 25,382 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Arky Vaughan played 14 seasons to Jackie Robinson's 11, while Jackie Robinson carries the higher per-season figure (2,307 to 2,025). 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).
Jackie Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Arky Vaughan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Arky Vaughan leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Jackie Robinson owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Arky Vaughan. PIV agrees: Arky Vaughan grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jackie Robinson and Arky Vaughan careers compare
The careers of Jackie Robinson (1947–1956) and Arky Vaughan (1932–1948) overlapped from 1947 to 1948, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 1,418 games against 1,817 across 11 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jackie Robinson walked more often than struck out (756 walks, 291 strikeouts); Arky Vaughan walked more often than struck out (937 walks, 276 strikeouts). Jackie Robinson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 141 of 1,568 hits leaving the park. Jackie Robinson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Jackie Robinson vs Arky Vaughan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jackie Robinson or Arky Vaughan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Arky Vaughan leads Jackie Robinson in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jackie Robinson or Arky Vaughan hit more home runs?
- Jackie Robinson, with 141 to Arky Vaughan's 96.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jackie Robinson, with .887 to Arky Vaughan's .859.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Arky Vaughan, with .318 to Jackie Robinson's .313.
- Who had more hits?
- Arky Vaughan, with 2,103 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.