Freddie Freeman vs Willie McCovey: Career Stats Comparison
Freddie Freeman has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Freddie Freeman has played 2010–present as a hitter; Willie McCovey played 1959–1980 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
Freddie Freeman (2010–present) and Willie McCovey (1959–1980) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1950s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Freddie Freeman has 2,598 hits and 383 home runs through October 6, 2026; Willie McCovey finished with 2,211 hits and 521 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Willie McCovey, with 521 to Freddie Freeman's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS? Freddie Freeman, with .890 to Willie McCovey's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average? Freddie Freeman, with .299 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits? Freddie Freeman, with 2,598 to Willie McCovey's 2,211.
- Who drove in more runs? Willie McCovey, with 1,555 to Freddie Freeman's 1,392.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Willie McCovey, with 47,331 career PIV to Freddie Freeman's 41,593.
- Who won more championships? Freddie Freeman, with 3 World Series titles to Willie McCovey's 0.
Freddie Freeman
Willie McCovey
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Freddie Freeman and Willie McCovey. 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 2010s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Freddie Freeman is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Freddie Freeman | Willie McCovey |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,332 | Leads: 2,588 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,693 | 8,197 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,453 | 1,229 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,598 | 2,211 |
| Doubles | Leads: 579 | 353 |
| Triples | 34 | Leads: 46 |
| Home Runs | 383 | Leads: 521 |
| RBI | 1,392 | Leads: 1,555 |
| Walks | 1,136 | Leads: 1,345 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,879 | 1,550 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 111 | 26 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .299 | .270 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .384 | .374 |
| Slugging % | .505 | Leads: .515 |
| OPS | Leads: .890 | .889 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie McCovey leads Freddie Freeman 47,331 to 41,593 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Willie McCovey played 23 seasons to Freddie Freeman's 16, while Freddie Freeman carries the higher per-season figure (2,600 to 2,058). 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).
Freddie Freeman — top 3 seasons by OPS
Willie McCovey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Freddie Freeman leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Willie McCovey owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Freddie Freeman. Note that PIV actually grades Willie McCovey ahead, which means Freddie Freeman's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Freddie Freeman and Willie McCovey careers compare
No season is shared: Willie McCovey played 1959–1980, Freddie Freeman 2010–present. With 2,332 games against 2,588 across 16 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Freddie Freeman struck out more than walked (1,879 to 1,136); Willie McCovey struck out more than walked (1,550 to 1,345). Home runs make up a larger share of Willie McCovey's hits: 383 of 2,598 for Freddie Freeman, 521 of 2,211 for Willie McCovey. Freddie Freeman was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Willie McCovey holds the edge, .515 to .505. Freddie Freeman's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Freddie Freeman vs Willie McCovey: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Freddie Freeman or Willie McCovey?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Freddie Freeman leads Willie McCovey in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Freddie Freeman or Willie McCovey hit more home runs?
- Willie McCovey, with 521 to Freddie Freeman's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Freddie Freeman, with .890 to Willie McCovey's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Freddie Freeman, with .299 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits?
- Freddie Freeman, with 2,598 to Willie McCovey's 2,211.