Kirk Gibson vs Dave Parker: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker 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). Kirk Gibson played 1979–1995 as a hitter; Dave Parker played 1973–1991 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 Dave Parker (1973–1991) — 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; Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Parker, with 339 to Kirk Gibson's 255.
- Who had the higher OPS? Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Parker, with .290 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Kirk Gibson's 870.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Parker, with 23,542 career PIV to Kirk Gibson's 15,883.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 2 World Series titles.
Kirk Gibson
Dave Parker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Kirk Gibson and Dave Parker. 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 | Dave Parker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,635 | Leads: 2,466 |
| At-Bats | 5,798 | Leads: 9,358 |
| Runs | 985 | Leads: 1,272 |
| Hits | 1,553 | Leads: 2,712 |
| Doubles | 260 | Leads: 526 |
| Triples | 54 | Leads: 75 |
| Home Runs | 255 | Leads: 339 |
| RBI | 870 | Leads: 1,493 |
| Walks | Leads: 718 | 683 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,285 | 1,537 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 284 | 154 |
| Batting Avg | .268 | Leads: .290 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .352 | .339 |
| Slugging % | .463 | Leads: .471 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .810 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Parker outpaces Kirk Gibson 23,542 to 15,883 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,177 PIV per season to 934, across 20 seasons to 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
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Parker leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Kirk Gibson owns stolen bases, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Parker. PIV agrees: Dave Parker 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 Dave Parker careers compare
From 1979 through 1991, Kirk Gibson and Dave Parker were in the majors together. The table compares 1,635 games of Kirk Gibson with 2,466 of Dave Parker across 17 and 20 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. The green cells for Kirk Gibson are walks (718 to 683), stolen bases (284 to 154), and on-base percentage (.352 to .339). Kirk Gibson struck out more than walked (1,285 to 718); Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683). Kirk Gibson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 255 of 1,553 hits leaving the park. Kirk Gibson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Kirk Gibson vs Dave Parker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kirk Gibson or Dave Parker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Parker leads Kirk Gibson in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Kirk Gibson or Dave Parker hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Kirk Gibson's 255.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Parker, with .290 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.