Bill Freehan vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ted Simmons has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bill Freehan played 1961–1976 as a hitter; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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
Bill Freehan (1961–1976) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Bill Freehan finished with 1,591 hits and 200 home runs; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Bill Freehan's 200.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ted Simmons, with .785 to Bill Freehan's .752.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Bill Freehan's .262.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Bill Freehan's 1,591.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Bill Freehan's 758.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Bill Freehan's 12,940.
- Who won more championships? Bill Freehan, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Bill Freehan
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bill Freehan and Ted Simmons. 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 | Bill Freehan | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,774 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 6,073 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | 706 | Leads: 1,074 |
| Hits | 1,591 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 241 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | 35 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | 200 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 758 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 626 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 753 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 24 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .340 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | .412 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | .752 | Leads: .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons outpaces Bill Freehan 20,131 to 12,940 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 959 PIV per season to 863, across 21 seasons to 15. 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).
Bill Freehan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Bill Freehan owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ted Simmons. PIV agrees: Ted Simmons grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bill Freehan and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1968 through 1976, Bill Freehan and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. With 1,774 games against 2,456 across 15 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bill Freehan comes out ahead, it is in stolen bases (24 to 21). Plate discipline differs: Bill Freehan struck out more than walked (753 to 626), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ted Simmons's slugging percentage of .437 tops Bill Freehan's .412. Best seasons: 1974 for Bill Freehan (.840 OPS, 18 HR, 60 RBI, .297 avg) and 1977 for Ted Simmons (.908 OPS, 21 HR, 95 RBI, .318 avg).
Bill Freehan vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bill Freehan or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Bill Freehan in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bill Freehan or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Bill Freehan's 200.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ted Simmons, with .785 to Bill Freehan's .752.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Bill Freehan's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Bill Freehan's 1,591.