Carlton Fisk vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski has the better career line of the two, leading 14 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; Carl Yastrzemski played 1961–1983 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 Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — 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; Carl Yastrzemski finished with 3,419 hits and 452 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 452 to Carlton Fisk's 376.
- Who had the higher OPS? Carl Yastrzemski, with .841 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Carlton Fisk's 1,330.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Carlton Fisk's 21,513.
Carlton Fisk
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,499 | Leads: 3,308 |
| At-Bats | 8,756 | Leads: 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,276 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,356 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 421 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 59 |
| Home Runs | 376 | Leads: 452 |
| RBI | 1,330 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 849 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,386 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | 128 | Leads: 168 |
| Batting Avg | .269 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .341 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | .457 | Leads: .462 |
| OPS | .797 | Leads: .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski outpaces Carlton Fisk 54,310 to 21,513 — driven by per-season impact — 2,361 PIV per season to 896 — rather than by longevity, since Carl Yastrzemski played 23 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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Yastrzemski leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Carlton Fisk owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Yastrzemski. PIV agrees: Carl Yastrzemski 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrzemski were active at the same time between 1969 and 1983. The two careers are close in length, 2,499 games for Carlton Fisk and 3,308 for Carl Yastrzemski across 24 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Every scored category on the table goes to Carl Yastrzemski. At the plate, Carlton Fisk struck out more than walked (1,386 to 849), while Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts). Carlton Fisk was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Carlton Fisk vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carlton Fisk or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Carlton Fisk in 14 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Carlton Fisk or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 452 to Carlton Fisk's 376.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .841 to Carlton Fisk's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Carlton Fisk's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Carlton Fisk's 2,356.