Craig Biggio vs Nellie Fox: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Biggio has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Craig Biggio played 1988–2007 as a hitter; Nellie Fox played 1947–1965 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
Craig Biggio (1988–2007) and Nellie Fox (1947–1965) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Craig Biggio finished with 3,060 hits and 291 home runs; Nellie Fox finished with 2,663 hits and 35 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Craig Biggio, with 291 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS? Craig Biggio, with .796 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average? Nellie Fox, with .288 to Craig Biggio's .281.
- Who had more hits? Craig Biggio, with 3,060 to Nellie Fox's 2,663.
- Who drove in more runs? Craig Biggio, with 1,175 to Nellie Fox's 790.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Craig Biggio, with 18,390 career PIV to Nellie Fox's 1,100.
Craig Biggio
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Craig Biggio and Nellie Fox. 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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Craig Biggio | Nellie Fox |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,850 | 2,367 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,876 | 9,232 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,844 | 1,279 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,060 | 2,663 |
| Doubles | Leads: 668 | 355 |
| Triples | 55 | Leads: 112 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 291 | 35 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,175 | 790 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,160 | 719 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,753 | 216 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 414 | 76 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .288 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .363 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .433 | .363 |
| OPS | Leads: .796 | .710 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Craig Biggio outpaces Nellie Fox 18,390 to 1,100 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 919 PIV per season to 58, across 20 seasons to 19. 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).
Craig Biggio — top 3 seasons by OPS
Nellie Fox — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Biggio leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Nellie Fox owns batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Craig Biggio. PIV agrees: Craig Biggio grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Craig Biggio and Nellie Fox careers compare
Nellie Fox (1947–1965) was finished before Craig Biggio (1988–2007) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 2,850 games against 2,367 across 20 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Nellie Fox comes out ahead, it is in triples (112 to 55) and batting average (.288 to .281). At the plate, Craig Biggio struck out more than walked (1,753 to 1,160), while Nellie Fox walked more often than struck out (719 walks, 216 strikeouts). Craig Biggio is the more power-leaning hitter, with 291 of 3,060 hits leaving the park.
Craig Biggio vs Nellie Fox: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Biggio or Nellie Fox?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Biggio leads Nellie Fox in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Craig Biggio or Nellie Fox hit more home runs?
- Craig Biggio, with 291 to Nellie Fox's 35.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Craig Biggio, with .796 to Nellie Fox's .710.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Nellie Fox, with .288 to Craig Biggio's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Craig Biggio, with 3,060 to Nellie Fox's 2,663.