Craig Biggio vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Craig Biggio has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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 Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Craig Biggio finished with 3,060 hits and 291 home runs; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 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 Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Craig Biggio, with .796 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Craig Biggio's .281.
- Who had more hits? Craig Biggio, with 3,060 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Craig Biggio's 1,175.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Craig Biggio's 18,390.
Craig Biggio
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Craig Biggio and Ted Simmons. 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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Craig Biggio | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,850 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,876 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,844 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,060 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 668 | 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 55 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 291 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,175 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,160 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,753 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 414 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .281 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .363 | .348 |
| Slugging % | .433 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .796 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons leads Craig Biggio 20,131 to 18,390 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 959 PIV per season to 919, across 21 seasons to 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).
Craig Biggio — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Craig Biggio leads in hits, home runs, runs, and stolen bases, while Ted Simmons owns RBI and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Craig Biggio. Note that PIV actually grades Ted Simmons ahead, which means Craig Biggio's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Craig Biggio and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1988 through 1988, Craig Biggio and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. With 2,850 games against 2,456 across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ted Simmons's edges on the table are RBI (1,389 to 1,175), batting average (.285 to .281), and slugging percentage (.437 to .433). At the plate, Craig Biggio struck out more than walked (1,753 to 1,160), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Craig Biggio was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Craig Biggio's on-base percentage of .363 tops Ted Simmons's .348.
Craig Biggio vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Craig Biggio or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Craig Biggio leads Ted Simmons in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Craig Biggio or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Craig Biggio, with 291 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Craig Biggio, with .796 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Craig Biggio's .281.
- Who had more hits?
- Craig Biggio, with 3,060 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.