Harry Heilmann vs George Sisler: Career Stats Comparison
Harry Heilmann 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). Harry Heilmann played 1914–1932 as a hitter; George Sisler played 1915–1930 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
Harry Heilmann (1914–1932) and George Sisler (1915–1930) — both broke in during the 1910s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Harry Heilmann finished with 2,660 hits and 183 home runs; George Sisler finished with 2,812 hits and 102 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Harry Heilmann, with 183 to George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS? Harry Heilmann, with .930 to George Sisler's .847.
- Who had the higher batting average? Harry Heilmann, with .342 to George Sisler's .340.
- Who had more hits? George Sisler, with 2,812 to Harry Heilmann's 2,660.
- Who drove in more runs? Harry Heilmann, with 1,539 to George Sisler's 1,175.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Harry Heilmann, with 46,791 career PIV to George Sisler's 29,261.
Harry Heilmann
George Sisler
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Harry Heilmann and George Sisler. 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 | Harry Heilmann | George Sisler |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,148 | 2,055 |
| At-Bats | 7,787 | Leads: 8,267 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,291 | 1,284 |
| Hits | 2,660 | Leads: 2,812 |
| Doubles | Leads: 542 | 425 |
| Triples | 151 | Leads: 164 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 183 | 102 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,539 | 1,175 |
| Walks | Leads: 856 | 472 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 550 | 327 |
| Stolen Bases | 113 | Leads: 375 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .342 | .340 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .410 | .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .520 | .468 |
| OPS | Leads: .930 | .847 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Harry Heilmann outpaces George Sisler 46,791 to 29,261 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,752 PIV per season to 1,829, across 17 seasons to 16. 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).
Harry Heilmann — top 3 seasons by OPS
George Sisler — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Harry Heilmann leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and batting average, while George Sisler owns hits and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Harry Heilmann. PIV agrees: Harry Heilmann grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Harry Heilmann and George Sisler careers compare
Harry Heilmann and George Sisler were active at the same time between 1915 and 1930. The two careers are close in length, 2,148 games for Harry Heilmann and 2,055 for George Sisler across 17 and 16 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for George Sisler are at-bats (8,267 to 7,787), hits (2,812 to 2,660), and triples (164 to 151). At the plate, Harry Heilmann walked more often than struck out (856 walks, 550 strikeouts), and George Sisler walked more often than struck out (472 walks, 327 strikeouts). Harry Heilmann is the more power-leaning hitter, with 183 of 2,660 hits leaving the park.
Harry Heilmann vs George Sisler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Harry Heilmann or George Sisler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Harry Heilmann leads George Sisler in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Harry Heilmann or George Sisler hit more home runs?
- Harry Heilmann, with 183 to George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Harry Heilmann, with .930 to George Sisler's .847.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Harry Heilmann, with .342 to George Sisler's .340.
- Who had more hits?
- George Sisler, with 2,812 to Harry Heilmann's 2,660.