Albert Belle vs Jim Rice: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Rice has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Albert Belle played 1989–2000 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
Albert Belle (1989–2000) and Jim Rice (1974–1989) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Albert Belle finished with 1,726 hits and 381 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 Albert Belle's 381.
- Who had the higher OPS? Albert Belle, with .933 to Jim Rice's .854.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Rice, with .298 to Albert Belle's .295.
- Who had more hits? Jim Rice, with 2,452 to Albert Belle's 1,726.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Albert Belle's 1,239.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Albert Belle's 29,356.
Albert Belle
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Albert Belle 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, and the 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Albert Belle | Jim Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,539 | Leads: 2,089 |
| At-Bats | 5,853 | Leads: 8,225 |
| Runs | 974 | Leads: 1,249 |
| Hits | 1,726 | Leads: 2,452 |
| Doubles | Leads: 389 | 373 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 79 |
| Home Runs | 381 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | 1,239 | Leads: 1,451 |
| Walks | Leads: 683 | 670 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 961 | 1,423 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 88 | 58 |
| Batting Avg | .295 | Leads: .298 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .369 | .352 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .564 | .502 |
| OPS | Leads: .933 | .854 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice edges Albert Belle 31,418 to 29,356 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Albert Belle's 12, while Albert Belle carries the higher per-season figure (2,446 to 1,964). 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).
Albert Belle — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Rice leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Albert Belle owns stolen bases, OBP, and OPS. 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 Albert Belle and Jim Rice careers compare
From 1989 through 1989, Albert Belle and Jim Rice were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,539 games for Albert Belle and 2,089 for Jim Rice across 12 and 16 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Albert Belle struck out more than walked (961 to 683), and Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670). Albert Belle is the more power-leaning hitter, with 381 of 1,726 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Albert Belle holds the edge, .564 to .502.
Albert Belle vs Jim Rice: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Albert Belle or Jim Rice?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Rice leads Albert Belle in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Albert Belle or Jim Rice hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Albert Belle's 381.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Albert Belle, with .933 to Jim Rice's .854.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Rice, with .298 to Albert Belle's .295.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Rice, with 2,452 to Albert Belle's 1,726.