Harold Baines vs Larry Walker: Career Stats Comparison
Harold Baines and Larry Walker are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Harold Baines played 1980–2001 as a hitter; Larry Walker 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
Harold Baines (1980–2001) and Larry Walker (1989–2005) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Harold Baines finished with 2,866 hits and 384 home runs; Larry Walker finished with 2,160 hits and 383 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Harold Baines, with 384 to Larry Walker's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS? Larry Walker, with .965 to Harold Baines's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average? Larry Walker, with .313 to Harold Baines's .289.
- Who had more hits? Harold Baines, with 2,866 to Larry Walker's 2,160.
- Who drove in more runs? Harold Baines, with 1,628 to Larry Walker's 1,311.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Larry Walker, with 42,378 career PIV to Harold Baines's 25,497.
Harold Baines
Larry Walker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Harold Baines and Larry Walker. 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 | Harold Baines | Larry Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,830 | 1,988 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,908 | 6,907 |
| Runs | 1,299 | Leads: 1,355 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,866 | 2,160 |
| Doubles | Leads: 488 | 471 |
| Triples | 49 | Leads: 62 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 384 | 383 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,628 | 1,311 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,062 | 913 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,441 | 1,231 |
| Stolen Bases | 34 | Leads: 230 |
| Batting Avg | .289 | Leads: .313 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .400 |
| Slugging % | .465 | Leads: .565 |
| OPS | .820 | Leads: .965 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Larry Walker outpaces Harold Baines 42,378 to 25,497 — driven by per-season impact — 2,354 PIV per season to 944 — rather than by longevity, since Larry Walker played 18 seasons to Harold Baines's 27. 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).
Harold Baines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Larry Walker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Larry Walker leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Harold Baines owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Larry Walker. PIV agrees: Larry Walker grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Harold Baines and Larry Walker careers compare
From 1989 through 2001, Harold Baines and Larry Walker were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,830 games for Harold Baines and 1,988 for Larry Walker across 27 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Harold Baines struck out more than walked (1,441 to 1,062), and Larry Walker struck out more than walked (1,231 to 913). Larry Walker is the more power-leaning hitter, with 383 of 2,160 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Larry Walker stole more often per game played (34 steals in 2,830 games for Harold Baines, 230 in 1,988 for Larry Walker).
Harold Baines vs Larry Walker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Harold Baines or Larry Walker hit more home runs?
- Harold Baines, with 384 to Larry Walker's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Larry Walker, with .965 to Harold Baines's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Larry Walker, with .313 to Harold Baines's .289.
- Who had more hits?
- Harold Baines, with 2,866 to Larry Walker's 2,160.