Ernie Banks vs Steve Garvey: Career Stats Comparison
Ernie Banks has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ernie Banks played 1953–1971 as a hitter; Steve Garvey played 1969–1987 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
Ernie Banks (1953–1971) and Steve Garvey (1969–1987) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ernie Banks finished with 2,583 hits and 512 home runs; Steve Garvey finished with 2,599 hits and 272 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ernie Banks, with 512 to Steve Garvey's 272.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ernie Banks, with .830 to Steve Garvey's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average? Steve Garvey, with .294 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits? Steve Garvey, with 2,599 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Banks, with 1,636 to Steve Garvey's 1,308.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ernie Banks, with 30,636 career PIV to Steve Garvey's 14,901.
- Who won more championships? Steve Garvey, with 1 World Series title to Ernie Banks's 0.
Ernie Banks
Steve Garvey
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ernie Banks and Steve Garvey. 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 1950s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ernie Banks | Steve Garvey |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,528 | 2,332 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,421 | 8,835 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,305 | 1,143 |
| Hits | 2,583 | Leads: 2,599 |
| Doubles | 407 | Leads: 440 |
| Triples | Leads: 90 | 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 272 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,636 | 1,308 |
| Walks | Leads: 763 | 479 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,236 | 1,003 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 83 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .294 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .330 | .329 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .500 | .446 |
| OPS | Leads: .830 | .775 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ernie Banks outpaces Steve Garvey 30,636 to 14,901 — driven by per-season impact — 1,612 PIV per season to 784 — rather than by longevity, since Ernie Banks played 19 seasons to Steve Garvey'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).
Ernie Banks — top 3 seasons by OPS
Steve Garvey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ernie Banks leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and OBP, while Steve Garvey owns hits, stolen bases, and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ernie Banks. PIV agrees: Ernie Banks grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ernie Banks and Steve Garvey careers compare
From 1969 through 1971, Ernie Banks and Steve Garvey were in the majors together. With 2,528 games against 2,332 across 19 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Steve Garvey's edges on the table are hits (2,599 to 2,583), doubles (440 to 407), and stolen bases (83 to 50). At the plate, Ernie Banks struck out more than walked (1,236 to 763), and Steve Garvey struck out more than walked (1,003 to 479). Ernie Banks is the more power-leaning hitter, with 512 of 2,583 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Ernie Banks holds the edge, .500 to .446.
Ernie Banks vs Steve Garvey: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ernie Banks or Steve Garvey?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ernie Banks leads Steve Garvey in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ernie Banks or Steve Garvey hit more home runs?
- Ernie Banks, with 512 to Steve Garvey's 272.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ernie Banks, with .830 to Steve Garvey's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Steve Garvey, with .294 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Steve Garvey, with 2,599 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.