Joe DiMaggio vs Al Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Al Simmons has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Joe DiMaggio played 1936–1951 as a hitter; Al Simmons played 1924–1944 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
Joe DiMaggio (1936–1951) and Al Simmons (1924–1944) — they debuted in the 1930s and the 1920s respectively and share 9 seasons. Joe DiMaggio finished with 2,214 hits and 361 home runs; Al Simmons finished with 2,927 hits and 307 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Al Simmons, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Joe DiMaggio, with 361 to Al Simmons's 307.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe DiMaggio, with .977 to Al Simmons's .915.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Simmons, with .334 to Joe DiMaggio's .325.
- Who had more hits? Al Simmons, with 2,927 to Joe DiMaggio's 2,214.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Simmons, with 1,827 to Joe DiMaggio's 1,537.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Joe DiMaggio, with 47,427 career PIV to Al Simmons's 40,529.
Joe DiMaggio
Al Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons. 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 | Joe DiMaggio | Al Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,736 | 2,215 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,821 | 8,759 |
| Runs | 1,390 | Leads: 1,507 |
| Hits | 2,214 | Leads: 2,927 |
| Doubles | 389 | Leads: 539 |
| Triples | 131 | Leads: 149 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 361 | 307 |
| RBI | 1,537 | Leads: 1,827 |
| Walks | Leads: 790 | 615 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 369 | 737 |
| Stolen Bases | 30 | Leads: 88 |
| Batting Avg | .325 | Leads: .334 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .398 | .380 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .579 | .535 |
| OPS | Leads: .977 | .915 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe DiMaggio leads Al Simmons 47,427 to 40,529 — driven by per-season impact — 3,648 PIV per season to 2,026 — rather than by longevity, since Joe DiMaggio played 13 seasons to Al Simmons's 20. 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).
Joe DiMaggio — top 3 seasons by OPS
Al Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Al Simmons leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Joe DiMaggio leads 5: home runs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Al Simmons. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Joe DiMaggio higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons careers compare
Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons were active at the same time between 1936 and 1944. The two careers are close in length, 1,736 games for Joe DiMaggio and 2,215 for Al Simmons across 13 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Joe DiMaggio walked more often than struck out (790 walks, 369 strikeouts), while Al Simmons struck out more than walked (737 to 615). Joe DiMaggio is the more power-leaning hitter, with 361 of 2,214 hits leaving the park. In on-base percentage, Joe DiMaggio holds the edge, .398 to .380.
Joe DiMaggio vs Al Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe DiMaggio or Al Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Simmons leads Joe DiMaggio in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Joe DiMaggio or Al Simmons hit more home runs?
- Joe DiMaggio, with 361 to Al Simmons's 307.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe DiMaggio, with .977 to Al Simmons's .915.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Simmons, with .334 to Joe DiMaggio's .325.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Simmons, with 2,927 to Joe DiMaggio's 2,214.