Roberto Alomar vs John Olerud: Career Stats Comparison
Roberto Alomar 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). Roberto Alomar played 1988–2004 as a hitter; John Olerud played 1989–2005 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
Roberto Alomar (1988–2004) and John Olerud (1989–2005) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Roberto Alomar finished with 2,724 hits and 210 home runs; John Olerud finished with 2,239 hits and 255 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? John Olerud, with 255 to Roberto Alomar's 210.
- Who had the higher OPS? John Olerud, with .863 to Roberto Alomar's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average? Roberto Alomar, with .300 to John Olerud's .295.
- Who had more hits? Roberto Alomar, with 2,724 to John Olerud's 2,239.
- Who drove in more runs? John Olerud, with 1,230 to Roberto Alomar's 1,134.
- Who has the higher career PIV? John Olerud, with 28,281 career PIV to Roberto Alomar's 20,285.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 2 World Series titles.
Roberto Alomar
John Olerud
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Roberto Alomar and John Olerud. 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 | Roberto Alomar | John Olerud |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,379 | 2,234 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,073 | 7,592 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,508 | 1,139 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,724 | 2,239 |
| Doubles | Leads: 504 | 500 |
| Triples | Leads: 80 | 13 |
| Home Runs | 210 | Leads: 255 |
| RBI | 1,134 | Leads: 1,230 |
| Walks | 1,032 | Leads: 1,275 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,140 | 1,016 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 474 | 11 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .300 | .295 |
| On-Base % | .371 | Leads: .398 |
| Slugging % | .443 | Leads: .465 |
| OPS | .814 | Leads: .863 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Olerud outpaces Roberto Alomar 28,281 to 20,285 — driven by per-season impact — 1,571 PIV per season to 1,068 — rather than by longevity, since John Olerud played 18 seasons to Roberto Alomar's 19. 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).
Roberto Alomar — top 3 seasons by OPS
John Olerud — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, John Olerud leads in home runs, RBI, OBP, and OPS, while Roberto Alomar owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to John Olerud. PIV agrees: John Olerud grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Roberto Alomar and John Olerud careers compare
From 1989 through 2004, Roberto Alomar and John Olerud were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,379 games for Roberto Alomar and 2,234 for John Olerud across 19 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Roberto Alomar struck out more than walked (1,140 to 1,032), while John Olerud walked more often than struck out (1,275 walks, 1,016 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of John Olerud's hits: 210 of 2,724 for Roberto Alomar, 255 of 2,239 for John Olerud.
Roberto Alomar vs John Olerud: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Roberto Alomar or John Olerud?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Roberto Alomar leads John Olerud in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Roberto Alomar or John Olerud hit more home runs?
- John Olerud, with 255 to Roberto Alomar's 210.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- John Olerud, with .863 to Roberto Alomar's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Roberto Alomar, with .300 to John Olerud's .295.
- Who had more hits?
- Roberto Alomar, with 2,724 to John Olerud's 2,239.