Buddy Bell vs Jim Rice: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Rice has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Buddy Bell played 1972–1989 as a hitter; Jim Rice played 1974–1989 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
Buddy Bell (1972–1989) and Jim Rice (1974–1989) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Buddy Bell finished with 2,514 hits and 201 home runs; Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Rice, with 382 to Buddy Bell's 201.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Buddy Bell's .747.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Rice, with .298 to Buddy Bell's .279.
- Who had more hits? Buddy Bell, with 2,514 to Jim Rice's 2,452.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Buddy Bell's 1,106.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Buddy Bell's 10,176.
Buddy Bell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Buddy Bell and Jim Rice. 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 | Buddy Bell | Jim Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,405 | 2,089 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,995 | 8,225 |
| Runs | 1,151 | Leads: 1,249 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,514 | 2,452 |
| Doubles | Leads: 425 | 373 |
| Triples | 56 | Leads: 79 |
| Home Runs | 201 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | 1,106 | Leads: 1,451 |
| Walks | Leads: 836 | 670 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 776 | 1,423 |
| Stolen Bases | 55 | Leads: 58 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .298 |
| On-Base % | .341 | Leads: .352 |
| Slugging % | .406 | Leads: .502 |
| OPS | .747 | Leads: .854 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice outpaces Buddy Bell 31,418 to 10,176 — driven by per-season impact — 1,964 PIV per season to 509 — rather than by longevity, since Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Buddy Bell's 20. 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).
Buddy Bell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Rice leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Buddy Bell owns hits. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Rice. PIV agrees: Jim Rice grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Buddy Bell and Jim Rice careers compare
Buddy Bell and Jim Rice were active at the same time between 1974 and 1989. With 2,405 games against 2,089 across 20 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Buddy Bell walked more often than struck out (836 walks, 776 strikeouts), while Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670). Jim Rice is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 2,452 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Jim Rice holds the edge, .502 to .406. Best seasons: 1980 for Buddy Bell (.877 OPS, 17 HR, 83 RBI, .329 avg) and 1979 for Jim Rice (.977 OPS, 39 HR, 130 RBI, .325 avg).
Buddy Bell vs Jim Rice: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Buddy Bell or Jim Rice?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Rice leads Buddy Bell in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Buddy Bell or Jim Rice hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Buddy Bell's 201.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Buddy Bell's .747.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Rice, with .298 to Buddy Bell's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Buddy Bell, with 2,514 to Jim Rice's 2,452.