Carlton Fisk vs Barry Larkin: Career Stats Comparison
Barry Larkin 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). Carlton Fisk played 1969–1993 as a hitter; Barry Larkin played 1986–2004 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 Barry Larkin (1986–2004) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Carlton Fisk finished with 2,356 hits and 376 home runs; Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 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 Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits? Carlton Fisk, with 2,356 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.
- Who drove in more runs? Carlton Fisk, with 1,330 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carlton Fisk, with 21,513 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Barry Larkin, with 1 World Series title to Carlton Fisk's 0.
Carlton Fisk
Barry Larkin
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Carlton Fisk and Barry Larkin. 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 1960s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Carlton Fisk | Barry Larkin |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,499 | 2,180 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,756 | 7,937 |
| Runs | 1,276 | Leads: 1,329 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,356 | 2,340 |
| Doubles | 421 | Leads: 441 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 76 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 376 | 198 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,330 | 960 |
| Walks | 849 | Leads: 939 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,386 | 817 |
| Stolen Bases | 128 | Leads: 379 |
| Batting Avg | .269 | Leads: .295 |
| On-Base % | .341 | Leads: .371 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .457 | .444 |
| OPS | .797 | Leads: .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carlton Fisk leads Barry Larkin 21,513 to 17,788 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Carlton Fisk played 24 seasons to Barry Larkin's 19, while Barry Larkin carries the higher per-season figure (936 to 896). 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
Barry Larkin — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Carlton Fisk owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Barry Larkin. Note that PIV actually grades Carlton Fisk ahead, which means Barry Larkin's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Carlton Fisk and Barry Larkin careers compare
From 1986 through 1993, Carlton Fisk and Barry Larkin were in the majors together. With 2,499 games against 2,180 across 24 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Carlton Fisk struck out more than walked (1,386 to 849), while Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts). Carlton Fisk is the more power-leaning hitter, with 376 of 2,356 hits leaving the park. Barry Larkin was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Best seasons: 1977 for Carlton Fisk (.922 OPS, 26 HR, 102 RBI, .315 avg) and 1996 for Barry Larkin (.977 OPS, 33 HR, 89 RBI, .298 avg).
Carlton Fisk vs Barry Larkin: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carlton Fisk or Barry Larkin?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Carlton Fisk in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Carlton Fisk or Barry Larkin hit more home runs?
- Carlton Fisk, with 376 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Carlton Fisk, with 2,356 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.