Rod Carew vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Rod Carew has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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 Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — 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; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rod Carew, with .822 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rod Carew, with .328 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Rod Carew's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rod Carew, with 35,141 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rod Carew and Ted Simmons. 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 | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,469 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,315 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,424 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,053 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | 445 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 112 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 92 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,018 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,028 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 353 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .328 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .393 | .348 |
| Slugging % | .429 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .822 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rod Carew outpaces Ted Simmons 35,141 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,850 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Rod Carew played 19 seasons to Ted Simmons's 21. 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
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rod Carew leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Ted Simmons 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 Ted Simmons careers compare
Rod Carew and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1968 and 1985. The two careers are close in length, 2,469 games for Rod Carew and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Ted Simmons are doubles (483 to 445), home runs (248 to 92), and RBI (1,389 to 1,015). At the plate, Rod Carew struck out more than walked (1,028 to 1,018), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ted Simmons is the more power-leaning hitter, with 248 of 2,472 hits leaving the park.
Rod Carew vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rod Carew or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rod Carew leads Ted Simmons in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rod Carew or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Rod Carew's 92.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rod Carew, with .822 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rod Carew, with .328 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Rod Carew, with 3,053 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.