Al Kaline vs Mike Trout: Career Stats Comparison
Al Kaline has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Mike Trout has played 2011–present 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 Mike Trout (2011–present) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 2010s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs; Mike Trout has 1,878 hits and 426 home runs through October 12, 2026. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mike Trout, with 426 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mike Trout, with .963 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Mike Trout's .290.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Mike Trout's 1,878.
- Who drove in more runs? Al Kaline, with 1,583 to Mike Trout's 1,072.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Mike Trout's 44,462.
- Who won more championships? Al Kaline, with 1 World Series title to Mike Trout's 0.
Al Kaline
Mike Trout
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Al Kaline and Mike Trout. 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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Mike Trout is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Al Kaline | Mike Trout |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,834 | 1,790 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,116 | 6,480 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,622 | 1,282 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,007 | 1,878 |
| Doubles | Leads: 498 | 351 |
| Triples | Leads: 75 | 55 |
| Home Runs | 399 | Leads: 426 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,583 | 1,072 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,277 | 1,174 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,020 | 1,828 |
| Stolen Bases | 137 | Leads: 225 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .290 |
| On-Base % | .376 | Leads: .405 |
| Slugging % | .480 | Leads: .558 |
| OPS | .855 | Leads: .963 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline edges Mike Trout 45,087 to 44,462 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Al Kaline played 22 seasons to Mike Trout's 15, while Mike Trout carries the higher per-season figure (2,964 to 2,049). 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
Mike Trout — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Al Kaline leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Mike Trout owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. 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 Mike Trout careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Al Kaline's ended in 1974, and Mike Trout debuted in 2011. The table compares 2,834 games of Al Kaline with 1,790 of Mike Trout across 22 and 15 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. At the plate, Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts), while Mike Trout struck out more than walked (1,828 to 1,174). Mike Trout is the more power-leaning hitter, with 426 of 1,878 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Mike Trout stole more often per game played (137 steals in 2,834 games for Al Kaline, 225 in 1,790 for Mike Trout). Because Mike Trout is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Al Kaline vs Mike Trout: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Al Kaline or Mike Trout?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Al Kaline leads Mike Trout in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Al Kaline or Mike Trout hit more home runs?
- Mike Trout, with 426 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mike Trout, with .963 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Mike Trout's .290.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Mike Trout's 1,878.