Will Clark vs Keith Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
Will Clark and Keith Hernandez are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Will Clark played 1986–2000 as a hitter; Keith Hernandez played 1974–1990 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
Will Clark (1986–2000) and Keith Hernandez (1974–1990) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Will Clark finished with 2,176 hits and 284 home runs; Keith Hernandez finished with 2,182 hits and 162 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Will Clark, with 284 to Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS? Will Clark, with .880 to Keith Hernandez's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average? Will Clark, with .303 to Keith Hernandez's .296.
- Who had more hits? Keith Hernandez, with 2,182 to Will Clark's 2,176.
- Who drove in more runs? Will Clark, with 1,205 to Keith Hernandez's 1,071.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Will Clark, with 29,924 career PIV to Keith Hernandez's 25,249.
- Who won more championships? Keith Hernandez, with 2 World Series titles to Will Clark's 0.
Will Clark
Keith Hernandez
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Will Clark and Keith Hernandez. 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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Will Clark | Keith Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,976 | Leads: 2,088 |
| At-Bats | 7,173 | Leads: 7,370 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,186 | 1,124 |
| Hits | 2,176 | Leads: 2,182 |
| Doubles | Leads: 440 | 426 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 60 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 284 | 162 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,205 | 1,071 |
| Walks | 937 | Leads: 1,070 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,190 | 1,012 |
| Stolen Bases | 67 | Leads: 98 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .303 | .296 |
| On-Base % | .384 | Leads: .384 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .497 | .436 |
| OPS | Leads: .880 | .821 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Will Clark leads Keith Hernandez 29,924 to 25,249 — driven by per-season impact — 1,870 PIV per season to 1,403 — rather than by longevity, since Will Clark played 16 seasons to Keith Hernandez's 18. 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).
Will Clark — top 3 seasons by OPS
Keith Hernandez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Will Clark leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Keith Hernandez owns hits, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Will Clark. PIV agrees: Will Clark grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Will Clark and Keith Hernandez careers compare
From 1986 through 1990, Will Clark and Keith Hernandez were in the majors together. With 1,976 games against 2,088 across 16 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Will Clark struck out more than walked (1,190 to 937), but Keith Hernandez walked more often than struck out (1,070 walks, 1,012 strikeouts). Will Clark is the more power-leaning hitter, with 284 of 2,176 hits leaving the park. Will Clark owns the better peak by OPS: .953 OPS in 1989 for Will Clark against .930 OPS in 1979 for Keith Hernandez.
Will Clark vs Keith Hernandez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Will Clark or Keith Hernandez hit more home runs?
- Will Clark, with 284 to Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Will Clark, with .880 to Keith Hernandez's .821.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Will Clark, with .303 to Keith Hernandez's .296.
- Who had more hits?
- Keith Hernandez, with 2,182 to Will Clark's 2,176.