Dick Allen vs Lee May: Career Stats Comparison
Dick Allen 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). Dick Allen played 1963–1977 as a hitter; Lee May played 1965–1982 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
Dick Allen (1963–1977) and Lee May (1965–1982) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Dick Allen finished with 1,848 hits and 351 home runs; Lee May finished with 2,031 hits and 354 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lee May, with 354 to Dick Allen's 351.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dick Allen, with .912 to Lee May's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dick Allen, with .292 to Lee May's .267.
- Who had more hits? Lee May, with 2,031 to Dick Allen's 1,848.
- Who drove in more runs? Lee May, with 1,244 to Dick Allen's 1,119.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dick Allen, with 40,487 career PIV to Lee May's 14,353.
Dick Allen
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dick Allen and Lee May. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dick Allen | Lee May |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,749 | Leads: 2,071 |
| At-Bats | 6,332 | Leads: 7,609 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,099 | 959 |
| Hits | 1,848 | Leads: 2,031 |
| Doubles | 320 | Leads: 340 |
| Triples | Leads: 79 | 31 |
| Home Runs | 351 | Leads: 354 |
| RBI | 1,119 | Leads: 1,244 |
| Walks | Leads: 894 | 487 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,556 | 1,570 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 133 | 39 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .292 | .267 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .378 | .313 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .534 | .459 |
| OPS | Leads: .912 | .772 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dick Allen outpaces Lee May 40,487 to 14,353 — driven by per-season impact — 2,699 PIV per season to 797 — rather than by longevity, since Dick Allen played 15 seasons to Lee May's 18. 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).
Dick Allen — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lee May — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dick Allen leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Lee May owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dick Allen. PIV agrees: Dick Allen grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dick Allen and Lee May careers compare
From 1965 through 1977, Dick Allen and Lee May were in the majors together. With 1,749 games against 2,071 across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Dick Allen struck out more than walked (1,556 to 894), and Lee May struck out more than walked (1,570 to 487). Dick Allen was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Dick Allen's on-base percentage of .378 tops Lee May's .313. On the peak-season lists, Dick Allen's best year is 1966 at 1.027 OPS and Lee May's is 1971 at .864 OPS; Dick Allen has the stronger single season.
Dick Allen vs Lee May: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dick Allen or Lee May?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dick Allen leads Lee May in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Dick Allen or Lee May hit more home runs?
- Lee May, with 354 to Dick Allen's 351.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dick Allen, with .912 to Lee May's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dick Allen, with .292 to Lee May's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Lee May, with 2,031 to Dick Allen's 1,848.