Will Clark vs John Olerud: Career Stats Comparison
Will Clark has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Will Clark played 1986–2000 as a hitter; John Olerud played 1989–2005 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 John Olerud (1989–2005) — both debuted in the 1980s. Will Clark finished with 2,176 hits and 284 home runs; John Olerud finished with 2,239 hits and 255 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Will Clark, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Will Clark, with 284 to John Olerud's 255.
- Who had the higher OPS? Will Clark, with .880 to John Olerud's .863.
- Who had the higher batting average? Will Clark, with .303 to John Olerud's .295.
- Who had more hits? John Olerud, with 2,239 to Will Clark's 2,176.
- Who drove in more runs? John Olerud, with 1,230 to Will Clark's 1,205.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Will Clark, with 29,924 career PIV to John Olerud's 28,281.
Will Clark
John Olerud
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Will Clark and John Olerud. 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 | Will Clark | John Olerud |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,976 | 2,234 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,173 | 7,592 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,186 | 1,139 |
| Hits | 2,176 | Leads: 2,239 |
| Doubles | 440 | Leads: 500 |
| Triples | Leads: 47 | 13 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 284 | 255 |
| RBI | 1,205 | Leads: 1,230 |
| Walks | 937 | Leads: 1,275 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,190 | 1,016 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 67 | 11 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .303 | .295 |
| On-Base % | .384 | Leads: .398 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .497 | .465 |
| OPS | Leads: .880 | .863 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Will Clark edges John Olerud 29,924 to 28,281 — driven by per-season impact — 1,995 PIV per season to 1,664 — rather than by longevity, since Will Clark played 15 seasons to John Olerud's 17. 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).
Will Clark — top 3 seasons by OPS
John Olerud — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Will Clark leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, triples, home runs, stolen bases, and others. John Olerud leads 5: hits, doubles, RBI, walks, and others. 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 John Olerud careers compare
From 1989 through 2000, Will Clark and John Olerud were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,976 games for Will Clark and 2,234 for John Olerud across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Will Clark struck out more than walked (1,190 to 937), while John Olerud walked more often than struck out (1,275 walks, 1,016 strikeouts). In slugging percentage, Will Clark holds the edge, .497 to .465. Best seasons: 2000 for Will Clark (.964 OPS, 21 HR, 70 RBI, .319 avg) and 1993 for John Olerud (1.072 OPS, 24 HR, 107 RBI, .363 avg).
Will Clark vs John Olerud: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Will Clark or John Olerud?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Will Clark leads John Olerud in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Will Clark or John Olerud hit more home runs?
- Will Clark, with 284 to John Olerud's 255.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Will Clark, with .880 to John Olerud's .863.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Will Clark, with .303 to John Olerud's .295.
- Who had more hits?
- John Olerud, with 2,239 to Will Clark's 2,176.