Al Kaline vs Brooks Robinson: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline 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). Al Kaline played 1953–1974 as a hitter; Brooks Robinson played 1955–1977 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
Al Kaline (1953–1974) and Brooks Robinson (1955–1977) — both broke in during the 1950s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs; Brooks Robinson finished with 2,848 hits and 268 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Al Kaline, with 399 to Brooks Robinson's 268.
- Who had the higher OPS? Al Kaline, with .855 to Brooks Robinson's .723.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Brooks Robinson's .267.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Brooks Robinson's 2,848.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Kaline, with 1,583 to Brooks Robinson's 1,357.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Brooks Robinson's 9,441.
- Who won more championships? Brooks Robinson, with 2 World Series titles to Al Kaline's 1.
Al Kaline
Brooks Robinson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Al Kaline and Brooks Robinson. 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 | Al Kaline | Brooks Robinson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,834 | Leads: 2,896 |
| At-Bats | 10,116 | Leads: 10,654 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,622 | 1,232 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,007 | 2,848 |
| Doubles | Leads: 498 | 482 |
| Triples | Leads: 75 | 68 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 399 | 268 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,583 | 1,357 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,277 | 860 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,020 | 990 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 137 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .267 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .376 | .322 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .480 | .401 |
| OPS | Leads: .855 | .723 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline outpaces Brooks Robinson 45,087 to 9,441 — driven by per-season impact — 2,049 PIV per season to 410 — rather than by longevity, since Al Kaline played 22 seasons to Brooks Robinson's 23. 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).
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Brooks Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Al Kaline leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Brooks Robinson owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but 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 Al Kaline and Brooks Robinson careers compare
From 1955 through 1974, Al Kaline and Brooks Robinson were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,834 games for Al Kaline and 2,896 for Brooks Robinson across 22 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Brooks Robinson comes out ahead, it is in games (2,896 to 2,834) and at-bats (10,654 to 10,116). At the plate, Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts), while Brooks Robinson struck out more than walked (990 to 860). Al Kaline is the more power-leaning hitter, with 399 of 3,007 hits leaving the park.
Al Kaline vs Brooks Robinson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Al Kaline or Brooks Robinson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Brooks Robinson in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Al Kaline or Brooks Robinson hit more home runs?
- Al Kaline, with 399 to Brooks Robinson's 268.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Al Kaline, with .855 to Brooks Robinson's .723.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Brooks Robinson's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Brooks Robinson's 2,848.