Kirk Gibson vs Robin Yount: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Yount 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; Robin Yount played 1974–1993 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 Robin Yount (1974–1993) — 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; Robin Yount finished with 3,142 hits and 251 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 Robin Yount's 251.
- Who had the higher OPS? Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Robin Yount's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average? Robin Yount, with .285 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits? Robin Yount, with 3,142 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.
- Who drove in more runs? Robin Yount, with 1,406 to Kirk Gibson's 870.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Robin Yount, with 18,665 career PIV to Kirk Gibson's 15,883.
- Who won more championships? Kirk Gibson, with 2 World Series titles to Robin Yount's 0.
Kirk Gibson
Robin Yount
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Kirk Gibson and Robin Yount. 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 | Robin Yount |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,635 | Leads: 2,856 |
| At-Bats | 5,798 | Leads: 11,008 |
| Runs | 985 | Leads: 1,632 |
| Hits | 1,553 | Leads: 3,142 |
| Doubles | 260 | Leads: 583 |
| Triples | 54 | Leads: 126 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 255 | 251 |
| RBI | 870 | Leads: 1,406 |
| Walks | 718 | Leads: 966 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,285 | 1,350 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 284 | 271 |
| Batting Avg | .268 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .352 | .342 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .463 | .430 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .772 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Yount leads Kirk Gibson 18,665 to 15,883 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Robin Yount played 20 seasons to Kirk Gibson's 17, while Kirk Gibson carries the higher per-season figure (934 to 933). 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
Robin Yount — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robin Yount leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Kirk Gibson owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robin Yount. PIV agrees: Robin Yount 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 Robin Yount careers compare
Kirk Gibson and Robin Yount were active at the same time between 1979 and 1993. Robin Yount has the far longer record, 2,856 games against 1,635 across 17 and 20 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Kirk Gibson struck out more than walked (1,285 to 718); Robin Yount struck out more than walked (1,350 to 966). 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. Robin Yount owns the better peak by OPS: .906 OPS in 1994 for Kirk Gibson against .957 OPS in 1982 for Robin Yount.
Kirk Gibson vs Robin Yount: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kirk Gibson or Robin Yount?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Yount leads Kirk Gibson in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Kirk Gibson or Robin Yount hit more home runs?
- Kirk Gibson, with 255 to Robin Yount's 251.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Kirk Gibson, with .815 to Robin Yount's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Robin Yount, with .285 to Kirk Gibson's .268.
- Who had more hits?
- Robin Yount, with 3,142 to Kirk Gibson's 1,553.