Cap Anson vs Roger Connor: Career Stats Comparison
Cap Anson and Roger Connor are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Cap Anson played 1871–1897 as a hitter; Roger Connor played 1880–1897 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
Cap Anson (1871–1897) and Roger Connor (1880–1897) — they debuted in the 1870s and the 1880s respectively and share 18 seasons. Cap Anson finished with 3,435 hits and 97 home runs; Roger Connor finished with 2,467 hits and 138 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Who hit more home runs? Roger Connor, with 138 to Cap Anson's 97.
- Who had the higher OPS? Roger Connor, with .883 to Cap Anson's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Cap Anson, with .334 to Roger Connor's .316.
- Who had more hits? Cap Anson, with 3,435 to Roger Connor's 2,467.
- Who drove in more runs? Cap Anson, with 2,075 to Roger Connor's 1,323.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Cap Anson, with 52,242 career PIV to Roger Connor's 46,736.
Roger Connor
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Cap Anson and Roger Connor. 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 | Cap Anson | Roger Connor |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,524 | 1,998 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,281 | 7,797 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,999 | 1,620 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,435 | 2,467 |
| Doubles | Leads: 582 | 441 |
| Triples | 142 | Leads: 233 |
| Home Runs | 97 | Leads: 138 |
| RBI | Leads: 2,075 | 1,323 |
| Walks | 984 | Leads: 1,002 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 330 | 455 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 277 | 244 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .334 | .316 |
| On-Base % | .394 | Leads: .397 |
| Slugging % | .447 | Leads: .486 |
| OPS | .841 | Leads: .883 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cap Anson leads Roger Connor 52,242 to 46,736 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Cap Anson played 27 seasons to Roger Connor's 18, while Roger Connor carries the higher per-season figure (2,596 to 1,935). 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).
Cap Anson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Roger Connor — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Cap Anson and Roger Connor split the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card 6-6. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Cap Anson higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cap Anson and Roger Connor careers compare
From 1880 through 1897, Cap Anson and Roger Connor were in the majors together. With 2,524 games against 1,998 across 27 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Cap Anson walked more often than struck out (984 walks, 330 strikeouts); Roger Connor walked more often than struck out (1,002 walks, 455 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Roger Connor's hits: 97 of 3,435 for Cap Anson, 138 of 2,467 for Roger Connor. On the bases, Roger Connor stole more often per game played (277 steals in 2,524 games for Cap Anson, 244 in 1,998 for Roger Connor). Roger Connor's slugging percentage of .486 tops Cap Anson's .447.
Cap Anson vs Roger Connor: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cap Anson or Roger Connor?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Did Cap Anson or Roger Connor hit more home runs?
- Roger Connor, with 138 to Cap Anson's 97.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Roger Connor, with .883 to Cap Anson's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Cap Anson, with .334 to Roger Connor's .316.
- Who had more hits?
- Cap Anson, with 3,435 to Roger Connor's 2,467.