Ernie Banks vs Matt Olson: Career Stats Comparison
Ernie Banks has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Matt Olson has played 2016–present 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 Matt Olson (2016–present) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 2010s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ernie Banks finished with 2,583 hits and 512 home runs; Matt Olson has 1,312 hits and 329 home runs through October 12, 2026. 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 Matt Olson's 329.
- Who had the higher OPS? Matt Olson, with .855 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ernie Banks, with .274 to Matt Olson's .256.
- Who had more hits? Ernie Banks, with 2,583 to Matt Olson's 1,312.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Banks, with 1,636 to Matt Olson's 901.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ernie Banks, with 30,636 career PIV to Matt Olson's 17,319.
Ernie Banks
Matt Olson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ernie Banks and Matt Olson. 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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Matt Olson is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Ernie Banks | Matt Olson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,528 | 1,385 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,421 | 5,121 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,305 | 811 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,583 | 1,312 |
| Doubles | Leads: 407 | 284 |
| Triples | Leads: 90 | 7 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 329 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,636 | 901 |
| Walks | Leads: 763 | 677 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,236 | 1,409 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 50 | 13 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .274 | .256 |
| On-Base % | .330 | Leads: .347 |
| Slugging % | .500 | Leads: .507 |
| OPS | .830 | Leads: .855 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ernie Banks outpaces Matt Olson 30,636 to 17,319 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ernie Banks played 19 seasons to Matt Olson's 10, while Matt Olson carries the higher per-season figure (1,732 to 1,612). 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
Matt Olson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ernie Banks leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Matt Olson owns OBP and OPS. 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 Matt Olson careers compare
Ernie Banks (1953–1971) was finished before Matt Olson (2016–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Ernie Banks has the far longer record, 2,528 games against 1,385 across 19 and 10 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Matt Olson comes out ahead, it is in on-base percentage (.347 to .330), slugging percentage (.507 to .500), and OPS (.855 to .830). Ernie Banks struck out more than walked (1,236 to 763); Matt Olson struck out more than walked (1,409 to 677). In slugging percentage, Matt Olson holds the edge, .507 to .500. Matt Olson's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Ernie Banks vs Matt Olson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ernie Banks or Matt Olson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ernie Banks leads Matt Olson in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ernie Banks or Matt Olson hit more home runs?
- Ernie Banks, with 512 to Matt Olson's 329.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Matt Olson, with .855 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ernie Banks, with .274 to Matt Olson's .256.
- Who had more hits?
- Ernie Banks, with 2,583 to Matt Olson's 1,312.