Carlton Fisk vs Paul Molitor: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Molitor has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Paul Molitor played 1978–1998 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 Paul Molitor (1978–1998) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Carlton Fisk finished with 2,356 hits and 376 home runs; Paul Molitor finished with 3,319 hits and 234 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 Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Molitor, with .817 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Molitor, with .306 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits? Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.
- Who drove in more runs? Carlton Fisk, with 1,330 to Paul Molitor's 1,307.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Molitor, with 29,073 career PIV to Carlton Fisk's 21,513.
- Who won more championships? Paul Molitor, with 1 World Series title to Carlton Fisk's 0.
Carlton Fisk
Paul Molitor
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Carlton Fisk and Paul Molitor. 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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Carlton Fisk | Paul Molitor |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,499 | Leads: 2,683 |
| At-Bats | 8,756 | Leads: 10,835 |
| Runs | 1,276 | Leads: 1,782 |
| Hits | 2,356 | Leads: 3,319 |
| Doubles | 421 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 114 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 376 | 234 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,330 | 1,307 |
| Walks | 849 | Leads: 1,094 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,386 | 1,244 |
| Stolen Bases | 128 | Leads: 504 |
| Batting Avg | .269 | Leads: .306 |
| On-Base % | .341 | Leads: .369 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .457 | .448 |
| OPS | .797 | Leads: .817 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Molitor outpaces Carlton Fisk 29,073 to 21,513 — driven by per-season impact — 1,384 PIV per season to 896 — rather than by longevity, since Paul Molitor played 21 seasons to Carlton Fisk's 24. 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
Paul Molitor — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Molitor leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Carlton Fisk owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Molitor. PIV agrees: Paul Molitor 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 Paul Molitor careers compare
From 1978 through 1993, Carlton Fisk and Paul Molitor were in the majors together. With 2,499 games against 2,683 across 24 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Carlton Fisk's edges on the table are home runs (376 to 234), RBI (1,330 to 1,307), and slugging percentage (.457 to .448). Carlton Fisk struck out more than walked (1,386 to 849); Paul Molitor struck out more than walked (1,244 to 1,094). Home runs make up a larger share of Carlton Fisk's hits: 376 of 2,356 for Carlton Fisk, 234 of 3,319 for Paul Molitor. Paul Molitor was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Carlton Fisk vs Paul Molitor: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carlton Fisk or Paul Molitor?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Molitor leads Carlton Fisk in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Carlton Fisk or Paul Molitor hit more home runs?
- Carlton Fisk, with 376 to Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Molitor, with .817 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Molitor, with .306 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.