Al Kaline vs Duke Snider: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Al Kaline played 1953–1974 as a hitter; Duke Snider played 1947–1964 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 Duke Snider (1947–1964) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1940s respectively and share 12 seasons. Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs; Duke Snider finished with 2,116 hits and 407 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Al Kaline, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Duke Snider, with 407 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS? Duke Snider, with .919 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Duke Snider's .295.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Duke Snider's 2,116.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Kaline, with 1,583 to Duke Snider's 1,333.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Duke Snider's 39,968.
Al Kaline
Duke Snider
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Al Kaline and Duke Snider. 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 | Al Kaline | Duke Snider |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,834 | 2,143 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,116 | 7,161 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,622 | 1,259 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,007 | 2,116 |
| Doubles | Leads: 498 | 358 |
| Triples | 75 | Leads: 85 |
| Home Runs | 399 | Leads: 407 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,583 | 1,333 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,277 | 971 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,020 | 1,237 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 137 | 99 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .295 |
| On-Base % | .376 | Leads: .380 |
| Slugging % | .480 | Leads: .540 |
| OPS | .855 | Leads: .919 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline leads Duke Snider 45,087 to 39,968 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Al Kaline played 22 seasons to Duke Snider's 18, while Duke Snider carries the higher per-season figure (2,220 to 2,049). 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).
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Duke Snider — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Al Kaline leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, RBI, and others. Duke Snider leads 5: triples, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and others. 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 Duke Snider careers compare
From 1953 through 1964, Al Kaline and Duke Snider were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,834 games for Al Kaline and 2,143 for Duke Snider across 22 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Plate discipline differs: Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts), but Duke Snider struck out more than walked (1,237 to 971). Duke Snider is the more power-leaning hitter, with 407 of 2,116 hits leaving the park. Al Kaline was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Al Kaline vs Duke Snider: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Al Kaline or Duke Snider?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Duke Snider in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Al Kaline or Duke Snider hit more home runs?
- Duke Snider, with 407 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Duke Snider, with .919 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Duke Snider's .295.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Duke Snider's 2,116.