Ernie Banks vs Al Kaline: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline 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; Al Kaline played 1953–1974 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 Al Kaline (1953–1974) — both broke in during the 1950s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ernie Banks finished with 2,583 hits and 512 home runs; Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 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 Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS? Al Kaline, with .855 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Banks, with 1,636 to Al Kaline's 1,583.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Ernie Banks's 30,636.
- Who won more championships? Al Kaline, with 1 World Series title to Ernie Banks's 0.
Ernie Banks
Al Kaline
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ernie Banks and Al Kaline. 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 | Ernie Banks | Al Kaline |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,528 | Leads: 2,834 |
| At-Bats | 9,421 | Leads: 10,116 |
| Runs | 1,305 | Leads: 1,622 |
| Hits | 2,583 | Leads: 3,007 |
| Doubles | 407 | Leads: 498 |
| Triples | Leads: 90 | 75 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 399 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,636 | 1,583 |
| Walks | 763 | Leads: 1,277 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,236 | 1,020 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 137 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .297 |
| On-Base % | .330 | Leads: .376 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .500 | .480 |
| OPS | .830 | Leads: .855 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline outpaces Ernie Banks 45,087 to 30,636 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,049 PIV per season to 1,612, across 22 seasons to 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
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Al Kaline leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Ernie Banks owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Al Kaline. PIV agrees: Al Kaline 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 Al Kaline careers compare
The careers of Ernie Banks (1953–1971) and Al Kaline (1953–1974) overlapped from 1953 to 1971, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,528 games against 2,834 across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Ernie Banks comes out ahead, it is in triples (90 to 75), home runs (512 to 399), and RBI (1,636 to 1,583). At the plate, Ernie Banks struck out more than walked (1,236 to 763), while Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts).
Ernie Banks vs Al Kaline: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ernie Banks or Al Kaline?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Ernie Banks in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ernie Banks or Al Kaline hit more home runs?
- Ernie Banks, with 512 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Al Kaline, with .855 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.