Reggie Jackson vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose 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; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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 Pete Rose (1963–1986) — both debuted in the 1960s. Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Pete Rose, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.
- Who drove in more runs? Reggie Jackson, with 1,702 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Reggie Jackson, with 41,801 career PIV to Pete Rose's 40,772.
Reggie Jackson
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Reggie Jackson and Pete Rose. 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 | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,820 | 3,562 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,864 | 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,551 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 2,584 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 463 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 49 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 563 | 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,702 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,375 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,597 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 228 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .490 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .846 | .784 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Reggie Jackson edges Pete Rose 41,801 to 40,772 — driven by per-season impact — 1,991 PIV per season to 1,699 — rather than by longevity, since Reggie Jackson played 21 seasons to Pete Rose's 24. 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
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Pete Rose 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, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Rose. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Reggie Jackson higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Reggie Jackson and Pete Rose careers compare
The careers of Reggie Jackson (1967–1987) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) overlapped from 1967 to 1986, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,820 games against 3,562 across 21 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375), but Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Reggie Jackson's hits: 563 of 2,584 for Reggie Jackson, 160 of 4,256 for Pete Rose. Reggie Jackson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Reggie Jackson's slugging percentage of .490 tops Pete Rose's .409.
Reggie Jackson vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Reggie Jackson or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads Reggie Jackson in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Reggie Jackson or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.