Cap Anson vs King Kelly: Career Stats Comparison
Cap Anson has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Cap Anson played 1871–1897 as a hitter; King Kelly played 1878–1893 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 King Kelly (1878–1893) — both broke in during the 1870s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Cap Anson finished with 3,435 hits and 97 home runs; King Kelly finished with 1,813 hits and 69 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Cap Anson, with 97 to King Kelly's 69.
- Who had the higher OPS? Cap Anson, with .841 to King Kelly's .806.
- Who had the higher batting average? Cap Anson, with .334 to King Kelly's .307.
- Who had more hits? Cap Anson, with 3,435 to King Kelly's 1,813.
- Who drove in more runs? Cap Anson, with 2,075 to King Kelly's 950.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Cap Anson, with 52,242 career PIV to King Kelly's 27,425.
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Cap Anson and King Kelly. 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 | Cap Anson | King Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,524 | 1,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,281 | 5,896 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,999 | 1,357 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,435 | 1,813 |
| Doubles | Leads: 582 | 359 |
| Triples | Leads: 142 | 102 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 97 | 69 |
| RBI | Leads: 2,075 | 950 |
| Walks | Leads: 984 | 549 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 330 | 418 |
| Stolen Bases | 277 | Leads: 368 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .334 | .307 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .394 | .368 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .447 | .438 |
| OPS | Leads: .841 | .806 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cap Anson outpaces King Kelly 52,242 to 27,425 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,935 PIV per season to 1,524, across 27 seasons to 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).
Cap Anson — top 3 seasons by OPS
King Kelly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cap Anson leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while King Kelly owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cap Anson. PIV agrees: Cap Anson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cap Anson and King Kelly careers compare
Cap Anson and King Kelly were active at the same time between 1878 and 1893. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Cap Anson appeared in 2,524 games to King Kelly's 1,456. Where King Kelly comes out ahead, it is in stolen bases (368 to 277). Cap Anson walked more often than struck out (984 walks, 330 strikeouts); King Kelly walked more often than struck out (549 walks, 418 strikeouts). King Kelly is the more power-leaning hitter, with 69 of 1,813 hits leaving the park.
Cap Anson vs King Kelly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cap Anson or King Kelly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cap Anson leads King Kelly in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Cap Anson or King Kelly hit more home runs?
- Cap Anson, with 97 to King Kelly's 69.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Cap Anson, with .841 to King Kelly's .806.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Cap Anson, with .334 to King Kelly's .307.
- Who had more hits?
- Cap Anson, with 3,435 to King Kelly's 1,813.