Lou Brock vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose 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). Lou Brock played 1961–1979 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
Lou Brock (1961–1979) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Lou Brock finished with 3,023 hits and 149 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Pete Rose, with 160 to Lou Brock's 149.
- Who had the higher OPS? Pete Rose, with .784 to Lou Brock's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Lou Brock's .293.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Lou Brock's 3,023.
- Who drove in more runs? Pete Rose, with 1,314 to Lou Brock's 900.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Pete Rose, with 40,772 career PIV to Lou Brock's 18,115.
- Who won more championships? Pete Rose, with 3 World Series titles to Lou Brock's 2.
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Brock and Pete Rose. 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 | Lou Brock | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,616 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 10,332 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,610 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 3,023 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 486 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | Leads: 141 | 135 |
| Home Runs | 149 | Leads: 160 |
| RBI | 900 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 761 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,730 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 938 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | .293 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .410 | .409 |
| OPS | .753 | Leads: .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Rose outpaces Lou Brock 40,772 to 18,115 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,631 PIV per season to 906, across 25 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).
Lou Brock — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Rose leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Lou Brock owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Rose. PIV agrees: Pete Rose grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lou Brock and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1963 through 1979, Lou Brock and Pete Rose were in the majors together. With 2,616 games against 3,562 across 20 and 25 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Lou Brock comes out ahead, it is in triples (141 to 135), stolen bases (938 to 198), and slugging percentage (.410 to .409). At the plate, Lou Brock struck out more than walked (1,730 to 761), while Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Lou Brock is the more power-leaning hitter, with 149 of 3,023 hits leaving the park.
Lou Brock vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Brock or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads Lou Brock in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Brock or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Pete Rose, with 160 to Lou Brock's 149.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Pete Rose, with .784 to Lou Brock's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Lou Brock's .293.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Lou Brock's 3,023.