Wade Boggs vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Wade Boggs 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). Wade Boggs played 1982–1999 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
Wade Boggs (1982–1999) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Wade Boggs finished with 3,010 hits and 118 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? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Wade Boggs's 118.
- Who had the higher OPS? Wade Boggs, with .858 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Wade Boggs, with .328 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Wade Boggs, with 3,010 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Wade Boggs's 1,014.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Wade Boggs, with 39,879 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Wade Boggs, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Wade Boggs
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Wade Boggs 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 | Wade Boggs | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,440 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,180 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,513 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,010 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 578 | 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 61 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 118 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 1,014 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,412 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 745 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 24 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .415 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .443 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .858 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Wade Boggs outpaces Ted Simmons 39,879 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 2,216 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Wade Boggs played 18 seasons to Ted Simmons's 21. 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).
Wade Boggs — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Wade Boggs leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Ted Simmons owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Wade Boggs. PIV agrees: Wade Boggs grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Wade Boggs and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1982 through 1988, Wade Boggs and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,440 games for Wade Boggs and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 18 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Ted Simmons are games (2,456 to 2,440), home runs (248 to 118), and RBI (1,389 to 1,014). Wade Boggs walked more often than struck out (1,412 walks, 745 strikeouts); Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Ted Simmons's hits: 118 of 3,010 for Wade Boggs, 248 of 2,472 for Ted Simmons.
Wade Boggs vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Wade Boggs or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Wade Boggs leads Ted Simmons in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Wade Boggs or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Wade Boggs's 118.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Wade Boggs, with .858 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Wade Boggs, with .328 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Wade Boggs, with 3,010 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.