Rod Carew vs Norm Cash: Career Stats Comparison
Rod Carew has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Rod Carew played 1967–1985 as a hitter; Norm Cash played 1958–1974 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
Rod Carew (1967–1985) and Norm Cash (1958–1974) — they debuted in the 1960s and the 1950s respectively and share 8 seasons. Rod Carew finished with 3,053 hits and 92 home runs; Norm Cash finished with 1,820 hits and 377 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Rod Carew, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Norm Cash, with 377 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS? Norm Cash, with .862 to Rod Carew's .822.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rod Carew, with .328 to Norm Cash's .271.
- Who had more hits? Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Norm Cash's 1,820.
- Who drove in more runs? Norm Cash, with 1,103 to Rod Carew's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rod Carew, with 35,141 career PIV to Norm Cash's 35,059.
Norm Cash
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rod Carew and Norm Cash. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Rod Carew | Norm Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,469 | 2,089 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,315 | 6,705 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,424 | 1,046 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,053 | 1,820 |
| Doubles | Leads: 445 | 241 |
| Triples | Leads: 112 | 41 |
| Home Runs | 92 | Leads: 377 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,103 |
| Walks | 1,018 | Leads: 1,043 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,028 | 1,091 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 353 | 43 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .271 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .393 | .374 |
| Slugging % | .429 | Leads: .488 |
| OPS | .822 | Leads: .862 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rod Carew edges Norm Cash 35,141 to 35,059 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rod Carew played 19 seasons to Norm Cash's 17, while Norm Cash carries the higher per-season figure (2,062 to 1,850). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Rod Carew — top 3 seasons by OPS
Norm Cash — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Rod Carew leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Norm Cash leads 5: home runs, RBI, walks, slugging percentage, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rod Carew. PIV agrees: Rod Carew grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rod Carew and Norm Cash careers compare
Rod Carew and Norm Cash were active at the same time between 1967 and 1974. With 2,469 games against 2,089 across 19 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Rod Carew struck out more than walked (1,028 to 1,018), and Norm Cash struck out more than walked (1,091 to 1,043). Norm Cash is the more power-leaning hitter, with 377 of 1,820 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Rod Carew stole more often per game played (353 steals in 2,469 games for Rod Carew, 43 in 2,089 for Norm Cash). Rod Carew's on-base percentage of .393 tops Norm Cash's .374.
Rod Carew vs Norm Cash: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rod Carew or Norm Cash?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rod Carew leads Norm Cash in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Rod Carew or Norm Cash hit more home runs?
- Norm Cash, with 377 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Norm Cash, with .862 to Rod Carew's .822.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rod Carew, with .328 to Norm Cash's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Norm Cash's 1,820.