Will Clark vs John Olerud: Career Stats Comparison
Will Clark and John Olerud are close to even, splitting the 14 statistical categories compared on this page 7–7. 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 broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. 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 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.
- Who won more championships? John Olerud, with 2 World Series titles to Will Clark's 0.
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. Counting stats reward longevity, and strikeouts are left unmarked because a longer career accumulates more of them. Rate stats are not era-adjusted -- a .305 in 1965 and a .298 in 2001 came out of very different run environments -- so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Will Clark | John Olerud |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,976 | Leads: 2,234 |
| At-Bats | 7,173 | Leads: 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 | 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 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,870 vs 1,571 per year). 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
On the head-to-head card, Will Clark leads in home runs, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while John Olerud owns hits, RBI, 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
Will Clark vs John Olerud: Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.