Al Kaline vs Rusty Staub: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Rusty Staub played 1963–1985 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 Rusty Staub (1963–1985) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 12 seasons. Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs; Rusty Staub finished with 2,716 hits and 292 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 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Al Kaline, with 399 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS? Al Kaline, with .855 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Kaline, with 1,583 to Rusty Staub's 1,466.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Rusty Staub's 30,346.
Al Kaline
Rusty Staub
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Al Kaline and Rusty Staub. 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 | Rusty Staub |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,834 | 2,951 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,116 | 9,720 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,622 | 1,189 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,007 | 2,716 |
| Doubles | 498 | Leads: 499 |
| Triples | Leads: 75 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 399 | 292 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,583 | 1,466 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,277 | 1,255 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,020 | 888 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 137 | 47 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .279 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .376 | .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .480 | .431 |
| OPS | Leads: .855 | .793 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline outpaces Rusty Staub 45,087 to 30,346 — driven by per-season impact — 2,049 PIV per season to 1,319 — rather than by longevity, since Al Kaline played 22 seasons to Rusty Staub's 23. 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
Rusty Staub — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Al Kaline leads 11 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, triples, home runs, and others. Rusty Staub leads 1: doubles. 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 Rusty Staub careers compare
From 1963 through 1974, Al Kaline and Rusty Staub were in the majors together. With 2,834 games against 2,951 across 22 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Rusty Staub's edges on the table are doubles (499 to 498). Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts); Rusty Staub walked more often than struck out (1,255 walks, 888 strikeouts). Al Kaline was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Al Kaline's slugging percentage of .480 tops Rusty Staub's .431. Al Kaline owns the better peak by OPS: .969 OPS in 1962 for Al Kaline against .952 OPS in 1969 for Rusty Staub.
Al Kaline vs Rusty Staub: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Al Kaline or Rusty Staub?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Rusty Staub in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Al Kaline or Rusty Staub hit more home runs?
- Al Kaline, with 399 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Al Kaline, with .855 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.