Hank Aaron vs Rusty Staub: Career Stats Comparison
Hank Aaron has the better career line of the two, leading 12 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; Rusty Staub played 1963–1985 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 Rusty Staub (1963–1985) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 14 seasons. Hank Aaron finished with 3,771 hits and 755 home runs; Rusty Staub finished with 2,716 hits and 292 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 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Hank Aaron, with 755 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hank Aaron, with .928 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hank Aaron, with .305 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits? Hank Aaron, with 3,771 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.
- Who drove in more runs? Hank Aaron, with 2,297 to Rusty Staub's 1,466.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hank Aaron, with 78,640 career PIV to Rusty Staub's 30,346.
Hank Aaron
Rusty Staub
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hank Aaron and Rusty Staub. 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 | Rusty Staub |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 3,298 | 2,951 |
| At-Bats not scored | 12,364 | 9,720 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,174 | 1,189 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,771 | 2,716 |
| Doubles | Leads: 624 | 499 |
| Triples | Leads: 98 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 755 | 292 |
| RBI | Leads: 2,297 | 1,466 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,402 | 1,255 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,383 | 888 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 240 | 47 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .305 | .279 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .374 | .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .555 | .431 |
| OPS | Leads: .928 | .793 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hank Aaron outpaces Rusty Staub 78,640 to 30,346 — driven by per-season impact — 3,419 PIV per season to 1,319 — rather than by longevity, since Hank Aaron played 23 seasons to Rusty Staub's 23. 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
Rusty Staub — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Hank Aaron leads 12 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Rusty Staub leads 0: no scored category. 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 Rusty Staub careers compare
From 1963 through 1976, Hank Aaron and Rusty Staub were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 3,298 games for Hank Aaron and 2,951 for Rusty Staub across 23 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Hank Aaron leads every scored row of the table. Hank Aaron walked more often than struck out (1,402 walks, 1,383 strikeouts); Rusty Staub walked more often than struck out (1,255 walks, 888 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. Hank Aaron's on-base percentage of .374 tops Rusty Staub's .362.
Hank Aaron vs Rusty Staub: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hank Aaron or Rusty Staub?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hank Aaron leads Rusty Staub in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Hank Aaron or Rusty Staub hit more home runs?
- Hank Aaron, with 755 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hank Aaron, with .928 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hank Aaron, with .305 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Hank Aaron, with 3,771 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.