Gary Carter vs Paul Molitor: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Molitor has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Gary Carter played 1974–1992 as a hitter; Paul Molitor played 1978–1998 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
Gary Carter (1974–1992) and Paul Molitor (1978–1998) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Gary Carter finished with 2,092 hits and 324 home runs; Paul Molitor finished with 3,319 hits and 234 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Gary Carter, with 324 to Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Molitor, with .817 to Gary Carter's .773.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Molitor, with .306 to Gary Carter's .262.
- Who had more hits? Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Gary Carter's 2,092.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Molitor, with 1,307 to Gary Carter's 1,225.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Molitor, with 29,073 career PIV to Gary Carter's 14,141.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Gary Carter
Paul Molitor
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Gary Carter and Paul Molitor. 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 | Gary Carter | Paul Molitor |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,296 | Leads: 2,683 |
| At-Bats | 7,971 | Leads: 10,835 |
| Runs | 1,025 | Leads: 1,782 |
| Hits | 2,092 | Leads: 3,319 |
| Doubles | 371 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 31 | Leads: 114 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 324 | 234 |
| RBI | 1,225 | Leads: 1,307 |
| Walks | 848 | Leads: 1,094 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 997 | 1,244 |
| Stolen Bases | 39 | Leads: 504 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .306 |
| On-Base % | .335 | Leads: .369 |
| Slugging % | .439 | Leads: .448 |
| OPS | .773 | Leads: .817 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Molitor outpaces Gary Carter 29,073 to 14,141 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,384 PIV per season to 744, across 21 seasons to 19. 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).
Gary Carter — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Molitor — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Molitor leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Gary Carter owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Molitor. PIV agrees: Paul Molitor grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gary Carter and Paul Molitor careers compare
Gary Carter and Paul Molitor were active at the same time between 1978 and 1992. With 2,296 games against 2,683 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Gary Carter comes out ahead, it is in home runs (324 to 234). Gary Carter struck out more than walked (997 to 848); Paul Molitor struck out more than walked (1,244 to 1,094). Home runs make up a larger share of Gary Carter's hits: 324 of 2,092 for Gary Carter, 234 of 3,319 for Paul Molitor.
Gary Carter vs Paul Molitor: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gary Carter or Paul Molitor?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Molitor leads Gary Carter in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Gary Carter or Paul Molitor hit more home runs?
- Gary Carter, with 324 to Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Molitor, with .817 to Gary Carter's .773.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Molitor, with .306 to Gary Carter's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Gary Carter's 2,092.