Mike Trout vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Waner has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Mike Trout has played 2011–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
Mike Trout (2011–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. Mike Trout has 1,878 hits and 426 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? Mike Trout, with 426 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mike Trout, with .963 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Mike Trout's .290.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Mike Trout's 1,878.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Waner, with 1,309 to Mike Trout's 1,072.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mike Trout, with 44,462 career PIV to Paul Waner's 40,296.
Mike Trout
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mike Trout 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.
Mike Trout is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Mike Trout | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,790 | Leads: 2,549 |
| At-Bats | 6,480 | Leads: 9,459 |
| Runs | 1,282 | Leads: 1,627 |
| Hits | 1,878 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 351 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 55 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 426 | 113 |
| RBI | 1,072 | Leads: 1,309 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,174 | 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,828 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 225 | 104 |
| Batting Avg | .290 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .405 | .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .558 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: .963 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Trout leads Paul Waner 44,462 to 40,296 — driven by per-season impact — 2,964 PIV per season to 1,832 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Trout played 15 seasons to Paul Waner's 22. 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).
Mike Trout — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mike Trout leads in home runs, stolen bases, OBP, and OPS, while Paul Waner owns hits, RBI, and runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mike Trout. PIV agrees: Mike Trout grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Trout and Paul Waner careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Paul Waner's ended in 1945, and Mike Trout debuted in 2011. With 1,790 games against 2,549 across 15 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Mike Trout struck out more than walked (1,828 to 1,174), but Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Mike Trout is the more power-leaning hitter, with 426 of 1,878 hits leaving the park. Mike Trout was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Mike Trout's slugging percentage of .558 tops Paul Waner's .473. Mike Trout's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Mike Trout vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Trout or Paul Waner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Waner leads Mike Trout in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mike Trout or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Mike Trout, with 426 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mike Trout, with .963 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Mike Trout's .290.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Mike Trout's 1,878.