Reggie Jackson vs Al Kaline: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Reggie Jackson played 1967–1987 as a hitter; Al Kaline played 1953–1974 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
Reggie Jackson (1967–1987) and Al Kaline (1953–1974) — they debuted in the 1960s and the 1950s respectively and share 8 seasons. Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 home runs; Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Al Kaline, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS? Al Kaline, with .855 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.
- Who drove in more runs? Reggie Jackson, with 1,702 to Al Kaline's 1,583.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Reggie Jackson's 41,801.
Reggie Jackson
Al Kaline
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Reggie Jackson and Al Kaline. 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 | Reggie Jackson | Al Kaline |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,820 | 2,834 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,864 | 10,116 |
| Runs | 1,551 | Leads: 1,622 |
| Hits | 2,584 | Leads: 3,007 |
| Doubles | 463 | Leads: 498 |
| Triples | 49 | Leads: 75 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 563 | 399 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,702 | 1,583 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,375 | 1,277 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,597 | 1,020 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 228 | 137 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .297 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .376 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .490 | .480 |
| OPS | .846 | Leads: .855 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline edges Reggie Jackson 45,087 to 41,801 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,049 PIV per season to 1,991, across 22 seasons to 21. 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).
Reggie Jackson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Al Kaline leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Reggie Jackson leads 5: home runs, RBI, walks, stolen bases, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Al Kaline. PIV agrees: Al Kaline grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Reggie Jackson and Al Kaline careers compare
From 1967 through 1974, Reggie Jackson and Al Kaline were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,820 games for Reggie Jackson and 2,834 for Al Kaline across 21 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375), while Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts). Reggie Jackson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 563 of 2,584 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Reggie Jackson stole more often per game played (228 steals in 2,820 games for Reggie Jackson, 137 in 2,834 for Al Kaline).
Reggie Jackson vs Al Kaline: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Reggie Jackson or Al Kaline?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Reggie Jackson in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Reggie Jackson or Al Kaline hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Al Kaline, with .855 to Reggie Jackson's .846.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.