Reggie Jackson vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Reggie Jackson has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Reggie Jackson played 1967–1987 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
Reggie Jackson (1967–1987) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 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? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Reggie Jackson, with 2,584 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Reggie Jackson, with 1,702 to Ted Simmons's 1,389.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Reggie Jackson, with 41,801 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Reggie Jackson, with 5 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Reggie Jackson
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Reggie Jackson 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Reggie Jackson | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,820 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,864 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,551 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,584 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | 463 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 49 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 563 | 248 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,702 | 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,375 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,597 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 228 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .356 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .490 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .846 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Reggie Jackson outpaces Ted Simmons 41,801 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,991 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Reggie Jackson played 21 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).
Reggie Jackson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Reggie Jackson leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ted Simmons owns batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Reggie Jackson. PIV agrees: Reggie Jackson 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 Ted Simmons careers compare
Reggie Jackson and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1968 and 1987. The two careers are close in length, 2,820 games for Reggie Jackson and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 21 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Ted Simmons comes out ahead, it is in doubles (483 to 463) and batting average (.285 to .262). Plate discipline differs: Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Reggie Jackson's hits: 563 of 2,584 for Reggie Jackson, 248 of 2,472 for Ted Simmons.
Reggie Jackson vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Reggie Jackson or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Reggie Jackson leads Ted Simmons in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Reggie Jackson or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Reggie Jackson, with 2,584 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.