Carlton Fisk vs Cal Ripken: Career Stats Comparison
Cal Ripken has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 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 Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — 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; Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Cal Ripken, with 431 to Carlton Fisk's 376.
- Who had the higher OPS? Carlton Fisk, with .797 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Cal Ripken, with .276 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Carlton Fisk's 1,330.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carlton Fisk, with 21,513 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Cal Ripken, with 1 World Series title to Carlton Fisk's 0.
Carlton Fisk
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Carlton Fisk and Cal Ripken. 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 | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,499 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 8,756 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | 1,276 | Leads: 1,647 |
| Hits | 2,356 | Leads: 3,184 |
| Doubles | 421 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | Leads: 47 | 44 |
| Home Runs | 376 | Leads: 431 |
| RBI | 1,330 | Leads: 1,695 |
| Walks | 849 | Leads: 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,386 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 128 | 36 |
| Batting Avg | .269 | Leads: .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .341 | .340 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .457 | .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .797 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carlton Fisk leads Cal Ripken 21,513 to 19,199 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Carlton Fisk played 24 seasons to Cal Ripken's 21, while Cal Ripken carries the higher per-season figure (914 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
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cal Ripken leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Carlton Fisk owns stolen bases, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cal Ripken. Note that PIV actually grades Carlton Fisk ahead, which means Cal Ripken's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Carlton Fisk and Cal Ripken careers compare
Carlton Fisk and Cal Ripken were active at the same time between 1981 and 1993. The two careers are close in length, 2,499 games for Carlton Fisk and 3,001 for Cal Ripken across 24 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Carlton Fisk struck out more than walked (1,386 to 849), and Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Carlton Fisk was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. On the peak-season lists, Carlton Fisk's best year is 1977 at .922 OPS and Cal Ripken's is 1999 at .952 OPS; Cal Ripken has the stronger single season.
Carlton Fisk vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carlton Fisk or Cal Ripken?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cal Ripken leads Carlton Fisk in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Carlton Fisk or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Cal Ripken, with 431 to Carlton Fisk's 376.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Carlton Fisk, with .797 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Cal Ripken, with .276 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.