Hank Aaron vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Hank Aaron has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Hank Aaron played 1954–1976 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
Hank Aaron (1954–1976) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 14 seasons. Hank Aaron finished with 3,771 hits and 755 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Hank Aaron, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Hank Aaron, with 755 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Aaron, with .928 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Aaron, with .305 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Hank Aaron's 3,771.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Aaron, with 2,297 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Aaron, with 78,640 career PIV to Pete Rose's 40,772.
Hank Aaron
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Aaron and Pete Rose. 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 | Hank Aaron | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 3,298 | 3,562 |
| At-Bats not scored | 12,364 | 14,053 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,174 | 2,165 |
| Hits | 3,771 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 624 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 98 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 755 | 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 2,297 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,402 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,383 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 240 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .305 | .303 |
| On-Base % | .374 | Leads: .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .555 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .928 | .784 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Aaron outpaces Pete Rose 78,640 to 40,772 — driven by per-season impact — 3,419 PIV per season to 1,699 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Aaron played 23 seasons to Pete Rose's 24. 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).
Hank Aaron — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Hank Aaron leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and others. Pete Rose leads 5: hits, doubles, triples, walks, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hank Aaron. PIV agrees: Hank Aaron grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Hank Aaron and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1963 through 1976, Hank Aaron and Pete Rose were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 3,298 games for Hank Aaron and 3,562 for Pete Rose across 23 and 24 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Hank Aaron walked more often than struck out (1,402 walks, 1,383 strikeouts); Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Hank Aaron is the more power-leaning hitter, with 755 of 3,771 hits leaving the park. Hank Aaron was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Pete Rose's on-base percentage of .375 tops Hank Aaron's .374.
Hank Aaron vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Aaron or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hank Aaron leads Pete Rose in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Hank Aaron or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Hank Aaron, with 755 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Aaron, with .928 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Aaron, with .305 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Hank Aaron's 3,771.