Rod Carew vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose 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; 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
Rod Carew (1967–1985) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — 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; 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 Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rod Carew, with .822 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rod Carew, with .328 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Rod Carew's 3,053.
- Who drove in more runs? Pete Rose, with 1,314 to Rod Carew's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Pete Rose, with 40,772 career PIV to Rod Carew's 35,141.
- Who won more championships? Pete Rose, with 3 World Series titles to Rod Carew's 0.
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rod Carew 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 | Rod Carew | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,469 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 9,315 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,424 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 3,053 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 445 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 112 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | 92 | Leads: 160 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,018 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,028 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 353 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .303 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .393 | .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .429 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .822 | .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Rose leads Rod Carew 40,772 to 35,141 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Rose played 25 seasons to Rod Carew's 19, while Rod Carew carries the higher per-season figure (1,850 to 1,631). 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
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 Rod Carew owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. 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 Rod Carew and Pete Rose careers compare
Rod Carew and Pete Rose were active at the same time between 1967 and 1985. With 2,469 games against 3,562 across 19 and 25 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), while Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Rod Carew was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Rod Carew's slugging percentage of .429 tops Pete Rose's .409. Best seasons: 1977 for Rod Carew (1.019 OPS, 14 HR, 100 RBI, .388 avg) and 1969 for Pete Rose (.940 OPS, 16 HR, 82 RBI, .348 avg).
Rod Carew vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rod Carew or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads Rod Carew in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rod Carew or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Pete Rose, with 160 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rod Carew, with .822 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rod Carew, with .328 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Rod Carew's 3,053.