George Foster vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose 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). George Foster played 1969–1986 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
George Foster (1969–1986) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. George Foster finished with 1,925 hits and 348 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? George Foster, with 348 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? George Foster, with .818 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to George Foster's .274.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to George Foster's 1,925.
- Who drove in more runs? Pete Rose, with 1,314 to George Foster's 1,239.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Pete Rose, with 40,772 career PIV to George Foster's 20,637.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 3 World Series titles.
George Foster
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for George Foster and Pete Rose. 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 | George Foster | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,977 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 7,023 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | 986 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 1,925 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 307 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 348 | 160 |
| RBI | 1,239 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 666 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,419 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | 51 | Leads: 198 |
| Batting Avg | .274 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | .338 | Leads: .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .480 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .818 | .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Rose outpaces George Foster 40,772 to 20,637 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,631 PIV per season to 1,032, across 25 seasons to 20. 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).
George Foster — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Rose leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while George Foster owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Rose. PIV agrees: Pete Rose grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the George Foster and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1969 through 1986, George Foster and Pete Rose were in the majors together. Pete Rose has the far longer record, 3,562 games against 1,977 across 20 and 25 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where George Foster comes out ahead, it is in home runs (348 to 160), slugging percentage (.480 to .409), and OPS (.818 to .784). Plate discipline differs: George Foster struck out more than walked (1,419 to 666), but Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). George Foster is the more power-leaning hitter, with 348 of 1,925 hits leaving the park.
George Foster vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, George Foster or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads George Foster in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did George Foster or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- George Foster, with 348 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- George Foster, with .818 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to George Foster's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to George Foster's 1,925.