Rod Carew vs Lee May: Career Stats Comparison
Rod Carew 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). Rod Carew played 1967–1985 as a hitter; Lee May played 1965–1982 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 Lee May (1965–1982) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Rod Carew finished with 3,053 hits and 92 home runs; Lee May finished with 2,031 hits and 354 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lee May, with 354 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rod Carew, with .822 to Lee May's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rod Carew, with .328 to Lee May's .267.
- Who had more hits? Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Lee May's 2,031.
- Who drove in more runs? Lee May, with 1,244 to Rod Carew's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rod Carew, with 35,141 career PIV to Lee May's 14,353.
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rod Carew and Lee May. 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 | Rod Carew | Lee May |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,469 | 2,071 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,315 | 7,609 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,424 | 959 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,053 | 2,031 |
| Doubles | Leads: 445 | 340 |
| Triples | Leads: 112 | 31 |
| Home Runs | 92 | Leads: 354 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,244 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,018 | 487 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,028 | 1,570 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 353 | 39 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .267 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .393 | .313 |
| Slugging % | .429 | Leads: .459 |
| OPS | Leads: .822 | .772 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rod Carew outpaces Lee May 35,141 to 14,353 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,850 PIV per season to 797, across 19 seasons to 18. 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).
Rod Carew — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lee May — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rod Carew leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Lee May owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but 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 Lee May careers compare
From 1967 through 1982, Rod Carew and Lee May were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,469 games for Rod Carew and 2,071 for Lee May across 19 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Lee May comes out ahead, it is in home runs (354 to 92), RBI (1,244 to 1,015), and slugging percentage (.459 to .429). At the plate, Rod Carew struck out more than walked (1,028 to 1,018), and Lee May struck out more than walked (1,570 to 487).
Rod Carew vs Lee May: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rod Carew or Lee May?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rod Carew leads Lee May in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rod Carew or Lee May hit more home runs?
- Lee May, with 354 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rod Carew, with .822 to Lee May's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rod Carew, with .328 to Lee May's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Lee May's 2,031.