Keith Hernandez vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Keith Hernandez and Ted Simmons are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Keith Hernandez played 1974–1990 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
Keith Hernandez (1974–1990) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Keith Hernandez finished with 2,182 hits and 162 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 Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS? Keith Hernandez, with .821 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Keith Hernandez, with .296 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Keith Hernandez's 2,182.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Keith Hernandez's 1,071.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Keith Hernandez, with 25,249 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Keith Hernandez, with 2 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Keith Hernandez
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Keith Hernandez 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Keith Hernandez | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,088 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 7,370 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,124 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,182 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 426 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 60 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 162 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 1,071 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,070 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,012 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 98 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .384 | .348 |
| Slugging % | .436 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .821 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Keith Hernandez leads Ted Simmons 25,249 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,403 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Keith Hernandez played 18 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).
Keith Hernandez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Keith Hernandez leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Ted Simmons owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Keith Hernandez. PIV agrees: Keith Hernandez grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Keith Hernandez and Ted Simmons careers compare
Keith Hernandez and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1974 and 1988. The two careers are close in length, 2,088 games for Keith Hernandez and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 18 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Keith Hernandez walked more often than struck out (1,070 walks, 1,012 strikeouts); Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Ted Simmons's hits: 162 of 2,182 for Keith Hernandez, 248 of 2,472 for Ted Simmons. In on-base percentage, Keith Hernandez holds the edge, .384 to .348.
Keith Hernandez vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Keith Hernandez or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Keith Hernandez's 162.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Keith Hernandez, with .821 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Keith Hernandez, with .296 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Keith Hernandez's 2,182.