Orlando Cepeda vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Orlando Cepeda and Ted Simmons are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Orlando Cepeda played 1958–1974 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
Orlando Cepeda (1958–1974) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Orlando Cepeda finished with 2,351 hits and 379 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? Orlando Cepeda, with 379 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Orlando Cepeda, with .849 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Orlando Cepeda, with .297 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Orlando Cepeda's 2,351.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Orlando Cepeda's 1,365.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Orlando Cepeda, with 32,785 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Orlando Cepeda, with 2 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Orlando Cepeda
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Orlando Cepeda 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, and the 1950s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Orlando Cepeda | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,124 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 7,927 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,131 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,351 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 417 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | 27 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 379 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,365 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 588 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,169 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 142 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .350 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .499 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .849 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orlando Cepeda outpaces Ted Simmons 32,785 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,726 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Orlando Cepeda 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).
Orlando Cepeda — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Orlando Cepeda leads in home runs, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Ted Simmons owns hits and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Orlando Cepeda. PIV agrees: Orlando Cepeda grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Orlando Cepeda and Ted Simmons careers compare
Orlando Cepeda and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1968 and 1974. The two careers are close in length, 2,124 games for Orlando Cepeda and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Orlando Cepeda struck out more than walked (1,169 to 588), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Orlando Cepeda is the more power-leaning hitter, with 379 of 2,351 hits leaving the park. Orlando Cepeda was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Orlando Cepeda vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Orlando Cepeda or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Orlando Cepeda, with 379 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Orlando Cepeda, with .849 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Orlando Cepeda, with .297 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Orlando Cepeda's 2,351.