Ernie Banks vs George Sisler: Career Stats Comparison
Ernie Banks and George Sisler are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ernie Banks played 1953–1971 as a hitter; George Sisler played 1915–1930 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 George Sisler (1915–1930) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1910s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ernie Banks finished with 2,583 hits and 512 home runs; George Sisler finished with 2,812 hits and 102 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 George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS? George Sisler, with .847 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? George Sisler, with .340 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits? George Sisler, with 2,812 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.
- Who drove in more runs? Ernie Banks, with 1,636 to George Sisler's 1,175.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ernie Banks, with 30,636 career PIV to George Sisler's 29,261.
Ernie Banks
George Sisler
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ernie Banks and George Sisler. 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 1910s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ernie Banks | George Sisler |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,528 | 2,055 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,421 | 8,267 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,305 | 1,284 |
| Hits | 2,583 | Leads: 2,812 |
| Doubles | 407 | Leads: 425 |
| Triples | 90 | Leads: 164 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 102 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,636 | 1,175 |
| Walks | Leads: 763 | 472 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,236 | 327 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 375 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .330 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .500 | .468 |
| OPS | .830 | Leads: .847 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ernie Banks edges George Sisler 30,636 to 29,261 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ernie Banks played 19 seasons to George Sisler's 16, while George Sisler carries the higher per-season figure (1,829 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
George Sisler — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, George Sisler leads in hits, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Ernie Banks owns home runs, RBI, and runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to George Sisler. Note that PIV actually grades Ernie Banks ahead, which means George Sisler's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ernie Banks and George Sisler careers compare
No season is shared: George Sisler played 1915–1930, Ernie Banks 1953–1971. The two careers are close in length, 2,528 games for Ernie Banks and 2,055 for George Sisler across 19 and 16 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Ernie Banks struck out more than walked (1,236 to 763), while George Sisler walked more often than struck out (472 walks, 327 strikeouts). Ernie Banks is the more power-leaning hitter, with 512 of 2,583 hits leaving the park. George Sisler was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, George Sisler holds the edge, .379 to .330.
Ernie Banks vs George Sisler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Ernie Banks or George Sisler hit more home runs?
- Ernie Banks, with 512 to George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- George Sisler, with .847 to Ernie Banks's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- George Sisler, with .340 to Ernie Banks's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- George Sisler, with 2,812 to Ernie Banks's 2,583.