Paul Waner vs Hack Wilson: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Waner 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). Paul Waner played 1926–1945 as a hitter; Hack Wilson played 1923–1934 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
Paul Waner (1926–1945) and Hack Wilson (1923–1934) — both debuted in the 1920s. Paul Waner finished with 3,152 hits and 113 home runs; Hack Wilson finished with 1,461 hits and 244 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Paul Waner, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Hack Wilson, with 244 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hack Wilson, with .940 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Hack Wilson's .307.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Hack Wilson's 1,461.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Waner, with 1,309 to Hack Wilson's 1,063.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Waner, with 40,296 career PIV to Hack Wilson's 27,235.
Paul Waner
Hack Wilson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Waner and Hack Wilson. 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 | Paul Waner | Hack Wilson |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,549 | 1,348 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,459 | 4,760 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,627 | 884 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,152 | 1,461 |
| Doubles | Leads: 605 | 266 |
| Triples | Leads: 191 | 67 |
| Home Runs | 113 | Leads: 244 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,309 | 1,063 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,091 | 674 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 376 | 713 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 104 | 52 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .333 | .307 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .404 | .395 |
| Slugging % | .473 | Leads: .545 |
| OPS | .878 | Leads: .940 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Waner outpaces Hack Wilson 40,296 to 27,235 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Waner played 20 seasons to Hack Wilson's 12, while Hack Wilson carries the higher per-season figure (2,270 to 2,015). 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).
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Hack Wilson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Paul Waner leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Hack Wilson leads 3: home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. 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 Paul Waner and Hack Wilson careers compare
Paul Waner and Hack Wilson were active at the same time between 1926 and 1934. Paul Waner has the far longer record, 2,549 games against 1,348 across 20 and 12 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Hack Wilson comes out ahead, it is in home runs (244 to 113), slugging percentage (.545 to .473), and OPS (.940 to .878). At the plate, Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts), while Hack Wilson struck out more than walked (713 to 674). Hack Wilson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 244 of 1,461 hits leaving the park.
Paul Waner vs Hack Wilson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Waner or Hack Wilson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Waner leads Hack Wilson in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Paul Waner or Hack Wilson hit more home runs?
- Hack Wilson, with 244 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hack Wilson, with .940 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Hack Wilson's .307.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Hack Wilson's 1,461.