Paul Hines vs King Kelly: Career Stats Comparison
King Kelly 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). Paul Hines played 1872–1891 as a hitter; King Kelly played 1878–1893 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 Hines (1872–1891) and King Kelly (1878–1893) — both broke in during the 1870s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Paul Hines finished with 2,133 hits and 57 home runs; King Kelly finished with 1,813 hits and 69 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? King Kelly, with 69 to Paul Hines's 57.
- Who had the higher OPS? King Kelly, with .806 to Paul Hines's .749.
- Who had the higher batting average? King Kelly, with .307 to Paul Hines's .302.
- Who had more hits? Paul Hines, with 2,133 to King Kelly's 1,813.
- Who drove in more runs? King Kelly, with 950 to Paul Hines's 855.
- Who has the higher career PIV? King Kelly, with 27,425 career PIV to Paul Hines's 22,374.
- Who won more championships? Paul Hines, with 1 World Series title to King Kelly's 0.
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Hines and King Kelly. 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 | Paul Hines | King Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,658 | 1,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,062 | 5,896 |
| Runs | 1,217 | Leads: 1,357 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,133 | 1,813 |
| Doubles | Leads: 399 | 359 |
| Triples | 93 | Leads: 102 |
| Home Runs | 57 | Leads: 69 |
| RBI | 855 | Leads: 950 |
| Walks | 372 | Leads: 549 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 310 | 418 |
| Stolen Bases | 163 | Leads: 368 |
| Batting Avg | .302 | Leads: .307 |
| On-Base % | .340 | Leads: .368 |
| Slugging % | .409 | Leads: .438 |
| OPS | .749 | Leads: .806 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), King Kelly leads Paul Hines 27,425 to 22,374 — driven by per-season impact — 1,524 PIV per season to 1,065 — rather than by longevity, since King Kelly played 18 seasons to Paul Hines'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).
Paul Hines — top 3 seasons by OPS
King Kelly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, King Kelly leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Paul Hines owns hits. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to King Kelly. PIV agrees: King Kelly grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Hines and King Kelly careers compare
From 1878 through 1891, Paul Hines and King Kelly were in the majors together. With 1,658 games against 1,456 across 21 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Paul Hines are games (1,658 to 1,456), at-bats (7,062 to 5,896), and hits (2,133 to 1,813). At the plate, Paul Hines walked more often than struck out (372 walks, 310 strikeouts), and King Kelly walked more often than struck out (549 walks, 418 strikeouts). King Kelly is the more power-leaning hitter, with 69 of 1,813 hits leaving the park. King Kelly was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Paul Hines vs King Kelly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Hines or King Kelly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, King Kelly leads Paul Hines in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Hines or King Kelly hit more home runs?
- King Kelly, with 69 to Paul Hines's 57.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- King Kelly, with .806 to Paul Hines's .749.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- King Kelly, with .307 to Paul Hines's .302.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Hines, with 2,133 to King Kelly's 1,813.