Rod Carew vs Dave Parker: Career Stats Comparison
Rod Carew has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Dave Parker played 1973–1991 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 Dave Parker (1973–1991) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rod Carew finished with 3,053 hits and 92 home runs; Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Parker, with 339 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rod Carew, with .822 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rod Carew, with .328 to Dave Parker's .290.
- Who had more hits? Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Dave Parker's 2,712.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Rod Carew's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rod Carew, with 35,141 career PIV to Dave Parker's 23,542.
- Who won more championships? Dave Parker, with 2 World Series titles to Rod Carew's 0.
Dave Parker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rod Carew and Dave Parker. 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 1960s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rod Carew | Dave Parker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,469 | 2,466 |
| At-Bats | 9,315 | Leads: 9,358 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,424 | 1,272 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,053 | 2,712 |
| Doubles | 445 | Leads: 526 |
| Triples | Leads: 112 | 75 |
| Home Runs | 92 | Leads: 339 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,493 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,018 | 683 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,028 | 1,537 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 353 | 154 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .290 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .393 | .339 |
| Slugging % | .429 | Leads: .471 |
| OPS | Leads: .822 | .810 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rod Carew outpaces Dave Parker 35,141 to 23,542 — driven by per-season impact — 1,850 PIV per season to 1,177 — rather than by longevity, since Rod Carew played 19 seasons to Dave Parker's 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).
Rod Carew — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rod Carew leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Dave Parker 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 Dave Parker careers compare
From 1973 through 1985, Rod Carew and Dave Parker were in the majors together. With 2,469 games against 2,466 across 19 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Rod Carew struck out more than walked (1,028 to 1,018); Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683). Dave Parker is the more power-leaning hitter, with 339 of 2,712 hits leaving the park. Rod Carew was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Rod Carew holds the edge, .393 to .339.
Rod Carew vs Dave Parker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rod Carew or Dave Parker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rod Carew leads Dave Parker in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rod Carew or Dave Parker hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rod Carew, with .822 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rod Carew, with .328 to Dave Parker's .290.
- Who had more hits?
- Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Dave Parker's 2,712.