Ty Cobb vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Ty Cobb has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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 Pete Rose (1963–1986) — 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; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Pete Rose, with 160 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ty Cobb, with .945 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ty Cobb, with .366 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Ty Cobb's 4,189.
- Who drove in more runs? Ty Cobb, with 1,944 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ty Cobb, with 87,488 career PIV to Pete Rose's 40,772.
- Who won more championships? Pete Rose, with 3 World Series titles to Ty Cobb's 0.
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ty Cobb and Pete Rose. 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 | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 3,035 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 11,436 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,247 | 2,165 |
| Hits | 4,189 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 724 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | Leads: 295 | 135 |
| Home Runs | 117 | Leads: 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,944 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,249 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 680 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 896 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .366 | .303 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .433 | .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .512 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .945 | .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ty Cobb outpaces Pete Rose 87,488 to 40,772 — driven by per-season impact — 3,645 PIV per season to 1,631 — rather than by longevity, since Ty Cobb played 24 seasons to Pete Rose's 25. 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
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ty Cobb leads in RBI, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Pete Rose owns hits and 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 Pete Rose careers compare
Ty Cobb (1905–1928) was finished before Pete Rose (1963–1986) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 3,035 games against 3,562 across 24 and 25 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Ty Cobb walked more often than struck out (1,249 walks, 680 strikeouts), and Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Pete Rose is the more power-leaning hitter, with 160 of 4,256 hits leaving the park. Ty Cobb was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Ty Cobb's slugging percentage of .512 tops Pete Rose's .409.
Ty Cobb vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ty Cobb or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ty Cobb leads Pete Rose in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ty Cobb or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Pete Rose, with 160 to Ty Cobb's 117.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ty Cobb, with .945 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ty Cobb, with .366 to Pete Rose's .303.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Ty Cobb's 4,189.