Willson Contreras vs Rick Ferrell: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Ferrell 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). Willson Contreras has played 2016–present as a hitter; Rick Ferrell played 1929–1947 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
Willson Contreras (2016–present) and Rick Ferrell (1929–1947) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Willson Contreras has 1,077 hits and 199 home runs through October 12, 2026; Rick Ferrell finished with 1,692 hits and 28 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Willson Contreras, with 199 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS? Willson Contreras, with .821 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rick Ferrell, with .281 to Willson Contreras's .260.
- Who had more hits? Rick Ferrell, with 1,692 to Willson Contreras's 1,077.
- Who drove in more runs? Rick Ferrell, with 734 to Willson Contreras's 629.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Willson Contreras, with 8,983 career PIV to Rick Ferrell's 6,474.
- Who won more championships? Willson Contreras, with 1 World Series title to Rick Ferrell's 0.
Willson Contreras
Rick Ferrell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Willson Contreras and Rick Ferrell. 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 2010s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Willson Contreras is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Willson Contreras | Rick Ferrell |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,208 | Leads: 1,884 |
| At-Bats | 4,148 | Leads: 6,028 |
| Runs | 594 | Leads: 687 |
| Hits | 1,077 | Leads: 1,692 |
| Doubles | 229 | Leads: 324 |
| Triples | 14 | Leads: 45 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 199 | 28 |
| RBI | 629 | Leads: 734 |
| Walks | 478 | Leads: 931 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,170 | 277 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 40 | 29 |
| Batting Avg | .260 | Leads: .281 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .378 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .466 | .363 |
| OPS | Leads: .821 | .741 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willson Contreras outpaces Rick Ferrell 8,983 to 6,474 — driven by per-season impact — 898 PIV per season to 308 — rather than by longevity, since Willson Contreras played 10 seasons to Rick Ferrell's 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).
Willson Contreras — top 3 seasons by OPS
Rick Ferrell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rick Ferrell leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Willson Contreras owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rick Ferrell. Note that PIV actually grades Willson Contreras ahead, which means Rick Ferrell's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Willson Contreras and Rick Ferrell careers compare
Rick Ferrell (1929–1947) was finished before Willson Contreras (2016–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Willson Contreras has appeared in 1,208 games to Rick Ferrell's 1,884. Where Willson Contreras comes out ahead, it is in home runs (199 to 28), stolen bases (40 to 29), and slugging percentage (.466 to .363). Plate discipline differs: Willson Contreras struck out more than walked (1,170 to 478), but Rick Ferrell walked more often than struck out (931 walks, 277 strikeouts). Willson Contreras is the more power-leaning hitter, with 199 of 1,077 hits leaving the park. Willson Contreras's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Willson Contreras vs Rick Ferrell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Willson Contreras or Rick Ferrell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Ferrell leads Willson Contreras in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Willson Contreras or Rick Ferrell hit more home runs?
- Willson Contreras, with 199 to Rick Ferrell's 28.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Willson Contreras, with .821 to Rick Ferrell's .741.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rick Ferrell, with .281 to Willson Contreras's .260.
- Who had more hits?
- Rick Ferrell, with 1,692 to Willson Contreras's 1,077.