Derek Jeter vs Cal Ripken: Career Stats Comparison
Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Derek Jeter played 1995–2014 as a hitter; Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 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
Derek Jeter (1995–2014) and Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — they broke in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Derek Jeter finished with 3,465 hits and 260 home runs; Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Cal Ripken, with 431 to Derek Jeter's 260.
- Who had the higher OPS? Derek Jeter, with .817 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Derek Jeter, with .310 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Derek Jeter, with 3,465 to Cal Ripken's 3,184.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Derek Jeter's 1,311.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Derek Jeter, with 24,469 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Derek Jeter, with 5 World Series titles to Cal Ripken's 1.
Derek Jeter
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken. 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, and the 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Derek Jeter | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,747 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 11,195 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,923 | 1,647 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,465 | 3,184 |
| Doubles | 544 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 44 |
| Home Runs | 260 | Leads: 431 |
| RBI | 1,311 | Leads: 1,695 |
| Walks | 1,082 | Leads: 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,840 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 358 | 36 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .310 | .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .377 | .340 |
| Slugging % | .440 | Leads: .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .817 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Derek Jeter leads Cal Ripken 24,469 to 19,199 — driven by per-season impact — 1,223 PIV per season to 914 — rather than by longevity, since Derek Jeter played 20 seasons to Cal Ripken'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).
Derek Jeter — top 3 seasons by OPS
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Derek Jeter leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Cal Ripken owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Derek Jeter. PIV agrees: Derek Jeter grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken careers compare
The careers of Derek Jeter (1995–2014) and Cal Ripken (1981–2001) overlapped from 1995 to 2001, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. The two careers are close in length, 2,747 games for Derek Jeter and 3,001 for Cal Ripken across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Derek Jeter struck out more than walked (1,840 to 1,082); Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Cal Ripken is the more power-leaning hitter, with 431 of 3,184 hits leaving the park.
Derek Jeter vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Derek Jeter or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Cal Ripken, with 431 to Derek Jeter's 260.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Derek Jeter, with .817 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Derek Jeter, with .310 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Derek Jeter, with 3,465 to Cal Ripken's 3,184.