Jeff Bagwell vs Cal Ripken: Career Stats Comparison
Jeff Bagwell and Cal Ripken are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jeff Bagwell played 1991–2005 as a hitter; Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 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
Jeff Bagwell (1991–2005) and Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — they broke in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jeff Bagwell finished with 2,314 hits and 449 home runs; Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jeff Bagwell, with 449 to Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jeff Bagwell, with .948 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Jeff Bagwell's 2,314.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Jeff Bagwell's 1,529.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jeff Bagwell, with 47,120 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Cal Ripken, with 1 World Series title to Jeff Bagwell's 0.
Jeff Bagwell
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jeff Bagwell and Cal Ripken. 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, and the 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jeff Bagwell | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,150 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 7,797 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | 1,517 | Leads: 1,647 |
| Hits | 2,314 | Leads: 3,184 |
| Doubles | 488 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | 32 | Leads: 44 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 449 | 431 |
| RBI | 1,529 | Leads: 1,695 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,401 | 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,558 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 202 | 36 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .408 | .340 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .540 | .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .948 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jeff Bagwell outpaces Cal Ripken 47,120 to 19,199 — driven by per-season impact — 3,141 PIV per season to 914 — rather than by longevity, since Jeff Bagwell played 15 seasons to Cal Ripken's 21. 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).
Jeff Bagwell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jeff Bagwell leads in home runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Cal Ripken owns hits, RBI, and runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jeff Bagwell. PIV agrees: Jeff Bagwell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jeff Bagwell and Cal Ripken careers compare
From 1991 through 2001, Jeff Bagwell and Cal Ripken were in the majors together. With 2,150 games against 3,001 across 15 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jeff Bagwell struck out more than walked (1,558 to 1,401); Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Jeff Bagwell is the more power-leaning hitter, with 449 of 2,314 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Jeff Bagwell stole more often per game played (202 steals in 2,150 games for Jeff Bagwell, 36 in 3,001 for Cal Ripken). In slugging percentage, Jeff Bagwell holds the edge, .540 to .447.
Jeff Bagwell vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Jeff Bagwell or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Jeff Bagwell, with 449 to Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jeff Bagwell, with .948 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Jeff Bagwell's 2,314.