Fred Clarke vs Jimmy Ryan: Career Stats Comparison
Fred Clarke and Jimmy Ryan are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fred Clarke played 1894–1915 as a hitter; Jimmy Ryan played 1885–1903 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
Fred Clarke (1894–1915) and Jimmy Ryan (1885–1903) — they debuted in the 1890s and the 1880s respectively and share 10 seasons. Fred Clarke finished with 2,678 hits and 67 home runs; Jimmy Ryan finished with 2,513 hits and 118 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Who hit more home runs? Jimmy Ryan, with 118 to Fred Clarke's 67.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jimmy Ryan, with .820 to Fred Clarke's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Clarke, with .312 to Jimmy Ryan's .308.
- Who had more hits? Fred Clarke, with 2,678 to Jimmy Ryan's 2,513.
- Who drove in more runs? Jimmy Ryan, with 1,093 to Fred Clarke's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Clarke, with 34,764 career PIV to Jimmy Ryan's 27,588.
Fred Clarke
Jimmy Ryan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Clarke and Jimmy Ryan. 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 | Fred Clarke | Jimmy Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,246 | 2,014 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,584 | 8,172 |
| Runs | 1,622 | Leads: 1,643 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,678 | 2,513 |
| Doubles | 361 | Leads: 451 |
| Triples | Leads: 220 | 157 |
| Home Runs | 67 | Leads: 118 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,093 |
| Walks | Leads: 875 | 804 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 511 | 491 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 509 | 419 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .312 | .308 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .386 | .375 |
| Slugging % | .429 | Leads: .444 |
| OPS | .814 | Leads: .820 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Clarke leads Jimmy Ryan 34,764 to 27,588 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,655 PIV per season to 1,533, across 21 seasons to 18. 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).
Fred Clarke — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jimmy Ryan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Fred Clarke and Jimmy Ryan split the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card 6-6. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Fred Clarke higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fred Clarke and Jimmy Ryan careers compare
Fred Clarke and Jimmy Ryan were active at the same time between 1894 and 1903. With 2,246 games against 2,014 across 21 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Fred Clarke walked more often than struck out (875 walks, 511 strikeouts), and Jimmy Ryan walked more often than struck out (804 walks, 491 strikeouts). Jimmy Ryan is the more power-leaning hitter, with 118 of 2,513 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Fred Clarke stole more often per game played (509 steals in 2,246 games for Fred Clarke, 419 in 2,014 for Jimmy Ryan). In on-base percentage, Fred Clarke holds the edge, .386 to .375.
Fred Clarke vs Jimmy Ryan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred Clarke or Jimmy Ryan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Did Fred Clarke or Jimmy Ryan hit more home runs?
- Jimmy Ryan, with 118 to Fred Clarke's 67.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jimmy Ryan, with .820 to Fred Clarke's .814.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Clarke, with .312 to Jimmy Ryan's .308.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Clarke, with 2,678 to Jimmy Ryan's 2,513.