Paul Goldschmidt vs Willie McCovey: Career Stats Comparison
Willie McCovey 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). Paul Goldschmidt has played 2011–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
Paul Goldschmidt (2011–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. Paul Goldschmidt has 2,277 hits and 390 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 Paul Goldschmidt's 390.
- Who had the higher OPS? Willie McCovey, with .889 to Paul Goldschmidt's .877.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Goldschmidt, with .286 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits? Paul Goldschmidt, with 2,277 to Willie McCovey's 2,211.
- Who drove in more runs? Willie McCovey, with 1,555 to Paul Goldschmidt's 1,284.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Willie McCovey, with 47,331 career PIV to Paul Goldschmidt's 35,401.
Paul Goldschmidt
Willie McCovey
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Goldschmidt 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.
Paul Goldschmidt is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Paul Goldschmidt | Willie McCovey |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,179 | Leads: 2,588 |
| At-Bats | 7,953 | Leads: 8,197 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,324 | 1,229 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,277 | 2,211 |
| Doubles | Leads: 490 | 353 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 46 |
| Home Runs | 390 | Leads: 521 |
| RBI | 1,284 | Leads: 1,555 |
| Walks | 1,115 | Leads: 1,345 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,065 | 1,550 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 175 | 26 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .286 | .270 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .375 | .374 |
| Slugging % | .501 | Leads: .515 |
| OPS | .877 | Leads: .889 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie McCovey outpaces Paul Goldschmidt 47,331 to 35,401 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Willie McCovey played 23 seasons to Paul Goldschmidt's 15, while Paul Goldschmidt carries the higher per-season figure (2,360 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).
Paul Goldschmidt — top 3 seasons by OPS
Willie McCovey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Goldschmidt leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Willie McCovey owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Goldschmidt. Note that PIV actually grades Willie McCovey ahead, which means Paul Goldschmidt's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Goldschmidt and Willie McCovey careers compare
No season is shared: Willie McCovey played 1959–1980, Paul Goldschmidt 2011–present. The two careers are close in length, 2,179 games for Paul Goldschmidt and 2,588 for Willie McCovey across 15 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Paul Goldschmidt struck out more than walked (2,065 to 1,115); Willie McCovey struck out more than walked (1,550 to 1,345). Home runs make up a larger share of Willie McCovey's hits: 390 of 2,277 for Paul Goldschmidt, 521 of 2,211 for Willie McCovey. Paul Goldschmidt was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Paul Goldschmidt's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Paul Goldschmidt vs Willie McCovey: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Goldschmidt or Willie McCovey?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Willie McCovey leads Paul Goldschmidt in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Goldschmidt or Willie McCovey hit more home runs?
- Willie McCovey, with 521 to Paul Goldschmidt's 390.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Willie McCovey, with .889 to Paul Goldschmidt's .877.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with .286 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with 2,277 to Willie McCovey's 2,211.