Kirk Gibson vs Chet Lemon: Career Stats Comparison
Chet Lemon has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Kirk Gibson played 1979–1995 as a hitter; Chet Lemon played 1975–1990 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
Kirk Gibson (1979–1995) and Chet Lemon (1975–1990) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Kirk Gibson finished with 1,553 hits and 255 home runs; Chet Lemon finished with 1,875 hits and 215 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Kirk Gibson, with 255 to Chet Lemon's 215.
- Who had the higher OPS? Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Chet Lemon's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average? Chet Lemon, with .273 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits? Chet Lemon, with 1,875 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.
- Who drove in more runs? Chet Lemon, with 884 to Kirk Gibson's 870.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Chet Lemon, with 17,435 career PIV to Kirk Gibson's 15,883.
- Who won more championships? Kirk Gibson, with 2 World Series titles to Chet Lemon's 1.
Kirk Gibson
Chet Lemon
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon. 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 | Kirk Gibson | Chet Lemon |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,635 | Leads: 1,988 |
| At-Bats | 5,798 | Leads: 6,868 |
| Runs | Leads: 985 | 973 |
| Hits | 1,553 | Leads: 1,875 |
| Doubles | 260 | Leads: 396 |
| Triples | 54 | Leads: 61 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 255 | 215 |
| RBI | 870 | Leads: 884 |
| Walks | 718 | Leads: 749 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,285 | 1,024 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 284 | 58 |
| Batting Avg | .268 | Leads: .273 |
| On-Base % | .352 | Leads: .355 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .463 | .442 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .797 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Chet Lemon leads Kirk Gibson 17,435 to 15,883 — driven by per-season impact — 1,090 PIV per season to 934 — rather than by longevity, since Chet Lemon played 16 seasons to Kirk Gibson's 17. 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).
Kirk Gibson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Chet Lemon — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Chet Lemon leads in hits, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Kirk Gibson owns home runs, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Chet Lemon. PIV agrees: Chet Lemon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon careers compare
From 1979 through 1990, Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon were in the majors together. With 1,635 games against 1,988 across 17 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Kirk Gibson struck out more than walked (1,285 to 718); Chet Lemon struck out more than walked (1,024 to 749). Home runs make up a larger share of Kirk Gibson's hits: 255 of 1,553 for Kirk Gibson, 215 of 1,875 for Chet Lemon. Kirk Gibson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Chet Lemon's on-base percentage of .355 tops Kirk Gibson's .352.
Kirk Gibson vs Chet Lemon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kirk Gibson or Chet Lemon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Chet Lemon leads Kirk Gibson in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Kirk Gibson or Chet Lemon hit more home runs?
- Kirk Gibson, with 255 to Chet Lemon's 215.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Chet Lemon's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Chet Lemon, with .273 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits?
- Chet Lemon, with 1,875 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.