Reggie Jackson vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Carl Yastrzemski played 1961–1983 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 Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — both debuted in the 1960s. Reggie Jackson finished with 2,584 hits and 563 home runs; Carl Yastrzemski finished with 3,419 hits and 452 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Carl Yastrzemski, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS? Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Reggie Jackson's 1,702.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Reggie Jackson's 41,801.
Reggie Jackson
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Reggie Jackson and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,820 | 3,308 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,864 | 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,551 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,584 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 463 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | 49 | Leads: 59 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 563 | 452 |
| RBI | 1,702 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 1,375 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,597 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 228 | 168 |
| Batting Avg | .262 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .356 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .490 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .846 | .841 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski leads Reggie Jackson 54,310 to 41,801 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,361 PIV per season to 1,991, across 23 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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Carl Yastrzemski leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Reggie Jackson leads 4: home runs, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Yastrzemski. PIV agrees: Carl Yastrzemski 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
From 1967 through 1983, Reggie Jackson and Carl Yastrzemski were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,820 games for Reggie Jackson and 3,308 for Carl Yastrzemski across 21 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Reggie Jackson's edges on the table are home runs (563 to 452), stolen bases (228 to 168), and slugging percentage (.490 to .462). Plate discipline differs: Reggie Jackson struck out more than walked (2,597 to 1,375), but Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts). Reggie Jackson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 563 of 2,584 hits leaving the park.
Reggie Jackson vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Reggie Jackson or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Reggie Jackson in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Reggie Jackson or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Reggie Jackson, with 563 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Reggie Jackson, with .846 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Reggie Jackson's .262.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Reggie Jackson's 2,584.