Ron Cey vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ted Simmons has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ron Cey played 1971–1987 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
Ron Cey (1971–1987) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ron Cey finished with 1,868 hits and 316 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? Ron Cey, with 316 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ron Cey, with .799 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Ron Cey's .261.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ron Cey's 1,868.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Ron Cey's 1,139.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Ron Cey's 19,506.
- Who won more championships? Ron Cey, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ron Cey 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ron Cey | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,073 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 7,162 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | 977 | Leads: 1,074 |
| Hits | 1,868 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 328 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 316 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,139 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,012 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,235 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 24 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .261 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .354 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .445 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .799 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons edges Ron Cey 20,131 to 19,506 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Ron Cey's 17, while Ron Cey carries the higher per-season figure (1,147 to 959). 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).
Ron Cey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Ron Cey owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ted Simmons. PIV agrees: Ted Simmons grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ron Cey and Ted Simmons careers compare
Ron Cey and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1971 and 1987. The two careers are close in length, 2,073 games for Ron Cey and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 17 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Ron Cey struck out more than walked (1,235 to 1,012), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ron Cey is the more power-leaning hitter, with 316 of 1,868 hits leaving the park. In on-base percentage, Ron Cey holds the edge, .354 to .348.
Ron Cey vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ron Cey or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Ron Cey in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ron Cey or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ron Cey, with 316 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ron Cey, with .799 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Ron Cey's .261.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ron Cey's 1,868.