Roberto Clemente vs Graig Nettles: Career Stats Comparison
Roberto Clemente has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Roberto Clemente played 1955–1972 as a hitter; Graig Nettles played 1967–1988 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
Roberto Clemente (1955–1972) and Graig Nettles (1967–1988) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Roberto Clemente finished with 3,000 hits and 240 home runs; Graig Nettles finished with 2,225 hits and 390 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Graig Nettles, with 390 to Roberto Clemente's 240.
- Who had the higher OPS? Roberto Clemente, with .834 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average? Roberto Clemente, with .317 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits? Roberto Clemente, with 3,000 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.
- Who drove in more runs? Graig Nettles, with 1,314 to Roberto Clemente's 1,305.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Roberto Clemente, with 34,131 career PIV to Graig Nettles's 12,470.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 2 World Series titles.
Roberto Clemente
Graig Nettles
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Roberto Clemente and Graig Nettles. 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 1950s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Roberto Clemente | Graig Nettles |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,433 | Leads: 2,700 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,454 | 8,986 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,416 | 1,193 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,000 | 2,225 |
| Doubles | Leads: 440 | 328 |
| Triples | Leads: 166 | 28 |
| Home Runs | 240 | Leads: 390 |
| RBI | 1,305 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 621 | Leads: 1,088 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,230 | 1,209 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 83 | 32 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .317 | .248 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .359 | .329 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .475 | .421 |
| OPS | Leads: .834 | .750 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roberto Clemente outpaces Graig Nettles 34,131 to 12,470 — driven by per-season impact — 1,896 PIV per season to 567 — rather than by longevity, since Roberto Clemente played 18 seasons to Graig Nettles's 22. 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).
Roberto Clemente — top 3 seasons by OPS
Graig Nettles — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Roberto Clemente leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Graig Nettles owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Roberto Clemente. PIV agrees: Roberto Clemente grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Roberto Clemente and Graig Nettles careers compare
Roberto Clemente and Graig Nettles were active at the same time between 1967 and 1972. With 2,433 games against 2,700 across 18 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Graig Nettles's edges on the table are games (2,700 to 2,433), home runs (390 to 240), and RBI (1,314 to 1,305). At the plate, Roberto Clemente struck out more than walked (1,230 to 621), and Graig Nettles struck out more than walked (1,209 to 1,088). Graig Nettles is the more power-leaning hitter, with 390 of 2,225 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Roberto Clemente holds the edge, .475 to .421.
Roberto Clemente vs Graig Nettles: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Roberto Clemente or Graig Nettles?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Roberto Clemente leads Graig Nettles in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Roberto Clemente or Graig Nettles hit more home runs?
- Graig Nettles, with 390 to Roberto Clemente's 240.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Roberto Clemente, with .834 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Roberto Clemente, with .317 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits?
- Roberto Clemente, with 3,000 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.