Todd Helton vs Albert Pujols: Career Stats Comparison
Albert Pujols has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Todd Helton played 1997–2013 as a hitter; Albert Pujols played 2001–2022 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
Todd Helton (1997–2013) and Albert Pujols (2001–2022) — they debuted in the 1990s and the 2000s respectively and share 13 seasons. Todd Helton finished with 2,519 hits and 369 home runs; Albert Pujols finished with 3,384 hits and 703 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Albert Pujols, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Albert Pujols, with 703 to Todd Helton's 369.
- Who had the higher OPS? Todd Helton, with .953 to Albert Pujols's .918.
- Who had the higher batting average? Todd Helton, with .316 to Albert Pujols's .296.
- Who had more hits? Albert Pujols, with 3,384 to Todd Helton's 2,519.
- Who drove in more runs? Albert Pujols, with 2,218 to Todd Helton's 1,406.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Albert Pujols, with 58,591 career PIV to Todd Helton's 48,515.
Todd Helton
Albert Pujols
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Todd Helton and Albert Pujols. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Todd Helton | Albert Pujols |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,247 | 3,080 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,962 | 11,421 |
| Runs | 1,401 | Leads: 1,914 |
| Hits | 2,519 | Leads: 3,384 |
| Doubles | 592 | Leads: 686 |
| Triples | Leads: 37 | 16 |
| Home Runs | 369 | Leads: 703 |
| RBI | 1,406 | Leads: 2,218 |
| Walks | 1,335 | Leads: 1,373 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,175 | 1,404 |
| Stolen Bases | 37 | Leads: 117 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .316 | .296 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .414 | .374 |
| Slugging % | .539 | Leads: .544 |
| OPS | Leads: .953 | .918 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Albert Pujols leads Todd Helton 58,591 to 48,515 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Albert Pujols played 22 seasons to Todd Helton's 17, while Todd Helton carries the higher per-season figure (2,854 to 2,663). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Todd Helton — top 3 seasons by OPS
Albert Pujols — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Albert Pujols leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and others. Todd Helton leads 4: triples, batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Albert Pujols. PIV agrees: Albert Pujols grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Todd Helton and Albert Pujols careers compare
The careers of Todd Helton (1997–2013) and Albert Pujols (2001–2022) overlapped from 2001 to 2013, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,247 games against 3,080 across 17 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Todd Helton comes out ahead, it is in triples (37 to 16), batting average (.316 to .296), and on-base percentage (.414 to .374). Plate discipline differs: Todd Helton walked more often than struck out (1,335 walks, 1,175 strikeouts), but Albert Pujols struck out more than walked (1,404 to 1,373). Albert Pujols is the more power-leaning hitter, with 703 of 3,384 hits leaving the park.
Todd Helton vs Albert Pujols: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Todd Helton or Albert Pujols?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Albert Pujols leads Todd Helton in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Todd Helton or Albert Pujols hit more home runs?
- Albert Pujols, with 703 to Todd Helton's 369.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Todd Helton, with .953 to Albert Pujols's .918.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Todd Helton, with .316 to Albert Pujols's .296.
- Who had more hits?
- Albert Pujols, with 3,384 to Todd Helton's 2,519.