Max Carey vs George Sisler: Career Stats Comparison
George Sisler 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). Max Carey played 1910–1929 as a hitter; George Sisler played 1915–1930 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
Max Carey (1910–1929) and George Sisler (1915–1930) — both broke in during the 1910s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Max Carey finished with 2,665 hits and 70 home runs; George Sisler finished with 2,812 hits and 102 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? George Sisler, with 102 to Max Carey's 70.
- Who had the higher OPS? George Sisler, with .847 to Max Carey's .747.
- Who had the higher batting average? George Sisler, with .340 to Max Carey's .285.
- Who had more hits? George Sisler, with 2,812 to Max Carey's 2,665.
- Who drove in more runs? George Sisler, with 1,175 to Max Carey's 800.
- Who has the higher career PIV? George Sisler, with 29,261 career PIV to Max Carey's 14,867.
- Who won more championships? Max Carey, with 1 World Series title to George Sisler's 0.
George Sisler
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Max Carey and George Sisler. 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 | Max Carey | George Sisler |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,476 | 2,055 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,363 | 8,267 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,545 | 1,284 |
| Hits | 2,665 | Leads: 2,812 |
| Doubles | 419 | Leads: 425 |
| Triples | 159 | Leads: 164 |
| Home Runs | 70 | Leads: 102 |
| RBI | 800 | Leads: 1,175 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,040 | 472 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 695 | 327 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 738 | 375 |
| Batting Avg | .285 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .361 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | .386 | Leads: .468 |
| OPS | .747 | Leads: .847 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), George Sisler outpaces Max Carey 29,261 to 14,867 — driven by per-season impact — 1,829 PIV per season to 708 — rather than by longevity, since George Sisler played 16 seasons to Max Carey'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).
Max Carey — top 3 seasons by OPS
George Sisler — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, George Sisler leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and batting average, while Max Carey owns runs and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to George Sisler. PIV agrees: George Sisler grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Max Carey and George Sisler careers compare
Max Carey and George Sisler were active at the same time between 1915 and 1929. With 2,476 games against 2,055 across 21 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Max Carey walked more often than struck out (1,040 walks, 695 strikeouts); George Sisler walked more often than struck out (472 walks, 327 strikeouts). George Sisler is the more power-leaning hitter, with 102 of 2,812 hits leaving the park. Max Carey was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. George Sisler's slugging percentage of .468 tops Max Carey's .386.
Max Carey vs George Sisler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Carey or George Sisler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, George Sisler leads Max Carey in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Max Carey or George Sisler hit more home runs?
- George Sisler, with 102 to Max Carey's 70.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- George Sisler, with .847 to Max Carey's .747.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- George Sisler, with .340 to Max Carey's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- George Sisler, with 2,812 to Max Carey's 2,665.