Al Kaline vs Red Schoendienst: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline has the better career line of the two, leading 13 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; Red Schoendienst played 1945–1963 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 Red Schoendienst (1945–1963) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs; Red Schoendienst finished with 2,449 hits and 84 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 Red Schoendienst's 84.
- Who had the higher OPS? Al Kaline, with .855 to Red Schoendienst's .724.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Red Schoendienst's .289.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Red Schoendienst's 2,449.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Kaline, with 1,583 to Red Schoendienst's 773.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Red Schoendienst's 1,883.
- Who won more championships? Red Schoendienst, with 2 World Series titles to Al Kaline's 1.
Al Kaline
Red Schoendienst
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Al Kaline and Red Schoendienst. 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 1950s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Al Kaline | Red Schoendienst |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,834 | 2,216 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,116 | 8,479 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,622 | 1,223 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,007 | 2,449 |
| Doubles | Leads: 498 | 427 |
| Triples | 75 | Leads: 78 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 399 | 84 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,583 | 773 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,277 | 606 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,020 | 346 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 137 | 89 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .289 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .376 | .337 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .480 | .387 |
| OPS | Leads: .855 | .724 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline outpaces Red Schoendienst 45,087 to 1,883 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,049 PIV per season to 90, across 22 seasons to 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).
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Red Schoendienst — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Al Kaline leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Red Schoendienst 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 Red Schoendienst careers compare
Al Kaline and Red Schoendienst were active at the same time between 1953 and 1963. With 2,834 games against 2,216 across 22 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Red Schoendienst comes out ahead, it is in triples (78 to 75). At the plate, Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts), and Red Schoendienst walked more often than struck out (606 walks, 346 strikeouts). Al Kaline is the more power-leaning hitter, with 399 of 3,007 hits leaving the park. Al Kaline was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Al Kaline holds the edge, .376 to .337.
Al Kaline vs Red Schoendienst: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Al Kaline or Red Schoendienst?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Red Schoendienst in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Al Kaline or Red Schoendienst hit more home runs?
- Al Kaline, with 399 to Red Schoendienst's 84.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Al Kaline, with .855 to Red Schoendienst's .724.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Red Schoendienst's .289.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Red Schoendienst's 2,449.