Rocky Colavito vs Frank Howard: Career Stats Comparison
Rocky Colavito and Frank Howard are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Rocky Colavito played 1955–1968 as a hitter; Frank Howard played 1958–1973 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
Rocky Colavito (1955–1968) and Frank Howard (1958–1973) — both debuted in the 1950s. Rocky Colavito finished with 1,730 hits and 374 home runs; Frank Howard finished with 1,774 hits and 382 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? Frank Howard, with 382 to Rocky Colavito's 374.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Howard, with .851 to Rocky Colavito's .848.
- Who had the higher batting average? Frank Howard, with .273 to Rocky Colavito's .266.
- Who had more hits? Frank Howard, with 1,774 to Rocky Colavito's 1,730.
- Who drove in more runs? Rocky Colavito, with 1,159 to Frank Howard's 1,119.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Howard, with 30,024 career PIV to Rocky Colavito's 28,223.
Rocky Colavito
Frank Howard
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rocky Colavito and Frank Howard. 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 | Rocky Colavito | Frank Howard |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,841 | 1,895 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,503 | 6,488 |
| Runs | Leads: 971 | 864 |
| Hits | 1,730 | Leads: 1,774 |
| Doubles | Leads: 283 | 245 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 35 |
| Home Runs | 374 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,159 | 1,119 |
| Walks | Leads: 951 | 782 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 880 | 1,460 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 19 | 8 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .273 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .359 | .352 |
| Slugging % | .489 | Leads: .499 |
| OPS | .848 | Leads: .851 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Howard edges Rocky Colavito 30,024 to 28,223 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Frank Howard played 16 seasons to Rocky Colavito's 14, while Rocky Colavito carries the higher per-season figure (2,016 to 1,876). 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).
Rocky Colavito — top 3 seasons by OPS
Frank Howard — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Rocky Colavito and Frank Howard 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 Frank Howard higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rocky Colavito and Frank Howard careers compare
From 1958 through 1968, Rocky Colavito and Frank Howard were in the majors together. With 1,841 games against 1,895 across 14 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Rocky Colavito walked more often than struck out (951 walks, 880 strikeouts), while Frank Howard struck out more than walked (1,460 to 782). In on-base percentage, Rocky Colavito holds the edge, .359 to .352. Rocky Colavito owns the better peak by OPS: 1.024 OPS in 1958 for Rocky Colavito against .976 OPS in 1969 for Frank Howard.
Rocky Colavito vs Frank Howard: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rocky Colavito or Frank Howard?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Did Rocky Colavito or Frank Howard hit more home runs?
- Frank Howard, with 382 to Rocky Colavito's 374.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Howard, with .851 to Rocky Colavito's .848.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Frank Howard, with .273 to Rocky Colavito's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Frank Howard, with 1,774 to Rocky Colavito's 1,730.