Ernie Banks vs Pee Wee Reese: 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; Pee Wee Reese played 1940–1958 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 Pee Wee Reese (1940–1958) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ernie Banks finished with 2,583 hits and 512 home runs; Pee Wee Reese finished with 2,170 hits and 126 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 Pee Wee Reese's 126.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ernie Banks, with .830 to Pee Wee Reese's .743.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ernie Banks, with .274 to Pee Wee Reese's .269.
- Who had more hits? Ernie Banks, with 2,583 to Pee Wee Reese's 2,170.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Banks, with 1,636 to Pee Wee Reese's 885.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ernie Banks, with 30,636 career PIV to Pee Wee Reese's 10,057.
- Who won more championships? Pee Wee Reese, with 1 World Series title to Ernie Banks's 0.
Ernie Banks
Pee Wee Reese
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ernie Banks and Pee Wee Reese. 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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ernie Banks | Pee Wee Reese |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,528 | 2,166 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,421 | 8,058 |
| Runs | 1,305 | Leads: 1,338 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,583 | 2,170 |
| Doubles | Leads: 407 | 330 |
| Triples | Leads: 90 | 80 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 126 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,636 | 885 |
| Walks | 763 | Leads: 1,210 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,236 | 890 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 232 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .274 | .269 |
| On-Base % | .330 | Leads: .366 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .500 | .377 |
| OPS | Leads: .830 | .743 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ernie Banks outpaces Pee Wee Reese 30,636 to 10,057 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,612 PIV per season to 629, across 19 seasons to 16. 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
Pee Wee Reese — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ernie Banks leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and batting average, while Pee Wee Reese owns runs, stolen bases, and OBP. 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 Pee Wee Reese careers compare
From 1953 through 1958, Ernie Banks and Pee Wee Reese were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,528 games for Ernie Banks and 2,166 for Pee Wee Reese across 19 and 16 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Pee Wee Reese comes out ahead, it is in runs (1,338 to 1,305), walks (1,210 to 763), and stolen bases (232 to 50). Plate discipline differs: Ernie Banks struck out more than walked (1,236 to 763), but Pee Wee Reese walked more often than struck out (1,210 walks, 890 strikeouts). Ernie Banks is the more power-leaning hitter, with 512 of 2,583 hits leaving the park.
Ernie Banks vs Pee Wee Reese: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ernie Banks or Pee Wee Reese?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ernie Banks leads Pee Wee Reese in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ernie Banks or Pee Wee Reese hit more home runs?
- Ernie Banks, with 512 to Pee Wee Reese's 126.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ernie Banks, with .830 to Pee Wee Reese's .743.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ernie Banks, with .274 to Pee Wee Reese's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Ernie Banks, with 2,583 to Pee Wee Reese's 2,170.