Jack Clark vs Rickey Henderson: Career Stats Comparison
Rickey Henderson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jack Clark played 1975–1992 as a hitter; Rickey Henderson played 1979–2003 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
Jack Clark (1975–1992) and Rickey Henderson (1979–2003) — both debuted in the 1970s. Jack Clark finished with 1,826 hits and 340 home runs; Rickey Henderson finished with 3,055 hits and 297 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Rickey Henderson, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jack Clark, with 340 to Rickey Henderson's 297.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jack Clark, with .854 to Rickey Henderson's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rickey Henderson, with .279 to Jack Clark's .267.
- Who had more hits? Rickey Henderson, with 3,055 to Jack Clark's 1,826.
- Who drove in more runs? Jack Clark, with 1,180 to Rickey Henderson's 1,115.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rickey Henderson, with 37,642 career PIV to Jack Clark's 30,243.
Jack Clark
Rickey Henderson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jack Clark and Rickey Henderson. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Jack Clark | Rickey Henderson |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,994 | 3,081 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,847 | 10,961 |
| Runs | 1,118 | Leads: 2,295 |
| Hits | 1,826 | Leads: 3,055 |
| Doubles | 332 | Leads: 510 |
| Triples | 39 | Leads: 66 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 340 | 297 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,180 | 1,115 |
| Walks | 1,262 | Leads: 2,190 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,441 | 1,694 |
| Stolen Bases | 77 | Leads: 1,406 |
| Batting Avg | .267 | Leads: .279 |
| On-Base % | .379 | Leads: .401 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .476 | .419 |
| OPS | Leads: .854 | .820 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rickey Henderson leads Jack Clark 37,642 to 30,243 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rickey Henderson played 25 seasons to Jack Clark's 18, while Jack Clark carries the higher per-season figure (1,680 to 1,506). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Jack Clark — top 3 seasons by OPS
Rickey Henderson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Rickey Henderson leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Jack Clark leads 4: home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rickey Henderson. PIV agrees: Rickey Henderson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jack Clark and Rickey Henderson careers compare
From 1979 through 1992, Jack Clark and Rickey Henderson were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Jack Clark appeared in 1,994 games to Rickey Henderson's 3,081. Where Jack Clark comes out ahead, it is in home runs (340 to 297), RBI (1,180 to 1,115), and slugging percentage (.476 to .419). At the plate, Jack Clark struck out more than walked (1,441 to 1,262), while Rickey Henderson walked more often than struck out (2,190 walks, 1,694 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Jack Clark's hits: 340 of 1,826 for Jack Clark, 297 of 3,055 for Rickey Henderson.
Jack Clark vs Rickey Henderson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jack Clark or Rickey Henderson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rickey Henderson leads Jack Clark in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jack Clark or Rickey Henderson hit more home runs?
- Jack Clark, with 340 to Rickey Henderson's 297.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jack Clark, with .854 to Rickey Henderson's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rickey Henderson, with .279 to Jack Clark's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Rickey Henderson, with 3,055 to Jack Clark's 1,826.