Carlton Fisk vs Steve Garvey: Career Stats Comparison
Carlton Fisk 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). Carlton Fisk played 1969–1993 as a hitter; Steve Garvey played 1969–1987 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
Carlton Fisk (1969–1993) and Steve Garvey (1969–1987) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Carlton Fisk finished with 2,356 hits and 376 home runs; Steve Garvey finished with 2,599 hits and 272 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Carlton Fisk, with 376 to Steve Garvey's 272.
- Who had the higher OPS? Carlton Fisk, with .797 to Steve Garvey's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average? Steve Garvey, with .294 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits? Steve Garvey, with 2,599 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.
- Who drove in more runs? Carlton Fisk, with 1,330 to Steve Garvey's 1,308.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carlton Fisk, with 21,513 career PIV to Steve Garvey's 14,901.
- Who won more championships? Steve Garvey, with 1 World Series title to Carlton Fisk's 0.
Carlton Fisk
Steve Garvey
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Carlton Fisk and Steve Garvey. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Carlton Fisk | Steve Garvey |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,499 | 2,332 |
| At-Bats | 8,756 | Leads: 8,835 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,276 | 1,143 |
| Hits | 2,356 | Leads: 2,599 |
| Doubles | 421 | Leads: 440 |
| Triples | Leads: 47 | 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 376 | 272 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,330 | 1,308 |
| Walks | Leads: 849 | 479 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,386 | 1,003 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 128 | 83 |
| Batting Avg | .269 | Leads: .294 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .341 | .329 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .457 | .446 |
| OPS | Leads: .797 | .775 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carlton Fisk outpaces Steve Garvey 21,513 to 14,901 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 896 PIV per season to 784, across 24 seasons to 19. 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).
Carlton Fisk — top 3 seasons by OPS
Steve Garvey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carlton Fisk leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Steve Garvey owns hits and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carlton Fisk. PIV agrees: Carlton Fisk grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Carlton Fisk and Steve Garvey careers compare
From 1969 through 1987, Carlton Fisk and Steve Garvey were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,499 games for Carlton Fisk and 2,332 for Steve Garvey across 24 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Steve Garvey's edges on the table are at-bats (8,835 to 8,756), hits (2,599 to 2,356), and doubles (440 to 421). Carlton Fisk struck out more than walked (1,386 to 849); Steve Garvey struck out more than walked (1,003 to 479). Home runs make up a larger share of Carlton Fisk's hits: 376 of 2,356 for Carlton Fisk, 272 of 2,599 for Steve Garvey.
Carlton Fisk vs Steve Garvey: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carlton Fisk or Steve Garvey?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carlton Fisk leads Steve Garvey in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Carlton Fisk or Steve Garvey hit more home runs?
- Carlton Fisk, with 376 to Steve Garvey's 272.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Carlton Fisk, with .797 to Steve Garvey's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Steve Garvey, with .294 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Steve Garvey, with 2,599 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.