Tony Gwynn vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Tony Gwynn 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). Tony Gwynn played 1982–2001 as a hitter; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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
Tony Gwynn (1982–2001) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Tony Gwynn finished with 3,141 hits and 135 home runs; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Tony Gwynn's 135.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tony Gwynn, with .847 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tony Gwynn, with .338 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Tony Gwynn, with 3,141 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Tony Gwynn's 1,138.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tony Gwynn, with 30,602 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
Tony Gwynn
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Tony Gwynn and Ted Simmons. 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 1980s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Tony Gwynn | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,440 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,288 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,383 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,141 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 543 | 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 85 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 135 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 1,138 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 790 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 434 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 319 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .338 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .388 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .459 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .847 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tony Gwynn outpaces Ted Simmons 30,602 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,530 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Tony Gwynn played 20 seasons to Ted Simmons's 21. 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).
Tony Gwynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tony Gwynn leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Ted Simmons owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tony Gwynn. PIV agrees: Tony Gwynn grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tony Gwynn and Ted Simmons careers compare
Tony Gwynn and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1982 and 1988. With 2,440 games against 2,456 across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ted Simmons's edges on the table are games (2,456 to 2,440), home runs (248 to 135), and RBI (1,389 to 1,138). At the plate, Tony Gwynn walked more often than struck out (790 walks, 434 strikeouts), and Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Ted Simmons's hits: 135 of 3,141 for Tony Gwynn, 248 of 2,472 for Ted Simmons.
Tony Gwynn vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tony Gwynn or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tony Gwynn leads Ted Simmons in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Tony Gwynn or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Tony Gwynn's 135.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tony Gwynn, with .847 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tony Gwynn, with .338 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Tony Gwynn, with 3,141 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.