Ty Cobb vs Reggie Jackson: Career Stats Comparison
Ty Cobb has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ty Cobb played 1905–1928 as a hitter; Reggie Jackson played 1967–1987 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
Ty Cobb (1905–1928) and Reggie Jackson (1967–1987) — they broke in during the 1900s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ty Cobb finished with 4,189 hits and 117 home runs; Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ty Cobb, with .945 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ty Cobb, with .366 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Ty Cobb, with 4,189 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.
- Who drove in more runs? Ty Cobb, with 1,944 to Reggie Jackson's 1,702.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ty Cobb, with 87,488 career PIV to Reggie Jackson's 41,801.
- Who won more championships? Reggie Jackson, with 5 World Series titles to Ty Cobb's 0.
Reggie Jackson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ty Cobb and Reggie Jackson. 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 1900s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ty Cobb | Reggie Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 3,035 | 2,820 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 11,436 | 9,864 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,247 | 1,551 |
| Hits | Leads: 4,189 | 2,584 |
| Doubles | Leads: 724 | 463 |
| Triples | Leads: 295 | 49 |
| Home Runs | 117 | Leads: 563 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,944 | 1,702 |
| Walks | 1,249 | Leads: 1,375 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 680 | 2,597 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 896 | 228 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .366 | .262 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .433 | .356 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .512 | .490 |
| OPS | Leads: .945 | .846 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ty Cobb outpaces Reggie Jackson 87,488 to 41,801 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,645 PIV per season to 1,991, across 24 seasons to 21. 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).
Ty Cobb — top 3 seasons by OPS
Reggie Jackson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ty Cobb leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Reggie Jackson owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ty Cobb. PIV agrees: Ty Cobb grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ty Cobb and Reggie Jackson careers compare
No season is shared: Ty Cobb played 1905–1928, Reggie Jackson 1967–1987. With 3,035 games against 2,820 across 24 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Reggie Jackson comes out ahead, it is in home runs (563 to 117) and walks (1,375 to 1,249). At the plate, Ty Cobb walked more often than struck out (1,249 walks, 680 strikeouts), while Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375). Reggie Jackson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 563 of 2,584 hits leaving the park. Ty Cobb was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Ty Cobb's slugging percentage of .512 tops Reggie Jackson's .490.
Ty Cobb vs Reggie Jackson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ty Cobb or Reggie Jackson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ty Cobb leads Reggie Jackson in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ty Cobb or Reggie Jackson hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ty Cobb, with .945 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ty Cobb, with .366 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Ty Cobb, with 4,189 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.