Freddie Freeman vs Rafael Palmeiro: Career Stats Comparison
Rafael Palmeiro has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Rafael Palmeiro played 1986–2005 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 Rafael Palmeiro (1986–2005) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Freddie Freeman has 2,598 hits and 383 home runs through October 12, 2026; Rafael Palmeiro finished with 3,020 hits and 569 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 to Freddie Freeman's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS? Freddie Freeman, with .890 to Rafael Palmeiro's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average? Freddie Freeman, with .299 to Rafael Palmeiro's .288.
- Who had more hits? Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Freddie Freeman's 2,598.
- Who drove in more runs? Rafael Palmeiro, with 1,835 to Freddie Freeman's 1,392.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rafael Palmeiro, with 42,814 career PIV to Freddie Freeman's 41,593.
- Who won more championships? Freddie Freeman, with 3 World Series titles to Rafael Palmeiro's 0.
Freddie Freeman
Rafael Palmeiro
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Freddie Freeman and Rafael Palmeiro. 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 1980s 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 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Freddie Freeman | Rafael Palmeiro |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,332 | Leads: 2,831 |
| At-Bats | 8,693 | Leads: 10,472 |
| Runs | 1,453 | Leads: 1,663 |
| Hits | 2,598 | Leads: 3,020 |
| Doubles | 579 | Leads: 585 |
| Triples | 34 | Leads: 38 |
| Home Runs | 383 | Leads: 569 |
| RBI | 1,392 | Leads: 1,835 |
| Walks | 1,136 | Leads: 1,353 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,879 | 1,348 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 111 | 97 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .299 | .288 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .384 | .371 |
| Slugging % | .505 | Leads: .515 |
| OPS | Leads: .890 | .885 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rafael Palmeiro edges Freddie Freeman 42,814 to 41,593 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rafael Palmeiro played 20 seasons to Freddie Freeman's 16, while Freddie Freeman carries the higher per-season figure (2,600 to 2,141). 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
Rafael Palmeiro — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rafael Palmeiro leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Freddie Freeman owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rafael Palmeiro. PIV agrees: Rafael Palmeiro grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Freddie Freeman and Rafael Palmeiro careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Rafael Palmeiro's ended in 2005, and Freddie Freeman debuted in 2010. With 2,332 games against 2,831 across 16 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Freddie Freeman's edges on the table are stolen bases (111 to 97), batting average (.299 to .288), and on-base percentage (.384 to .371). Plate discipline differs: Freddie Freeman struck out more than walked (1,879 to 1,136), but Rafael Palmeiro walked more often than struck out (1,353 walks, 1,348 strikeouts). Freddie Freeman was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Freddie Freeman's on-base percentage of .384 tops Rafael Palmeiro's .371. Freddie Freeman's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Freddie Freeman vs Rafael Palmeiro: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Freddie Freeman or Rafael Palmeiro?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rafael Palmeiro leads Freddie Freeman in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Freddie Freeman or Rafael Palmeiro hit more home runs?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 to Freddie Freeman's 383.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Freddie Freeman, with .890 to Rafael Palmeiro's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Freddie Freeman, with .299 to Rafael Palmeiro's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Freddie Freeman's 2,598.