Joe Kelley vs Mike Tiernan: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Kelley has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Joe Kelley played 1891–1908 as a hitter; Mike Tiernan played 1887–1899 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
Joe Kelley (1891–1908) and Mike Tiernan (1887–1899) — they debuted in the 1890s and the 1880s respectively and share 9 seasons. Joe Kelley finished with 2,220 hits and 65 home runs; Mike Tiernan finished with 1,838 hits and 106 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Joe Kelley, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Mike Tiernan, with 106 to Joe Kelley's 65.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mike Tiernan, with .855 to Joe Kelley's .853.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe Kelley, with .317 to Mike Tiernan's .311.
- Who had more hits? Joe Kelley, with 2,220 to Mike Tiernan's 1,838.
- Who drove in more runs? Joe Kelley, with 1,194 to Mike Tiernan's 853.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Joe Kelley, with 32,092 career PIV to Mike Tiernan's 24,956.
Joe Kelley
Mike Tiernan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe Kelley and Mike Tiernan. 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 | Joe Kelley | Mike Tiernan |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,853 | 1,478 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,006 | 5,915 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,421 | 1,316 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,220 | 1,838 |
| Doubles | Leads: 358 | 257 |
| Triples | Leads: 194 | 162 |
| Home Runs | 65 | Leads: 106 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,194 | 853 |
| Walks | Leads: 911 | 748 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 430 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 443 | 428 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .317 | .311 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .402 | .392 |
| Slugging % | .451 | Leads: .463 |
| OPS | .853 | Leads: .855 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Kelley leads Mike Tiernan 32,092 to 24,956 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Joe Kelley played 17 seasons to Mike Tiernan's 13, while Mike Tiernan carries the higher per-season figure (1,920 to 1,888). 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).
Joe Kelley — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mike Tiernan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Joe Kelley leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Mike Tiernan leads 3: home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joe Kelley. PIV agrees: Joe Kelley grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe Kelley and Mike Tiernan careers compare
From 1891 through 1899, Joe Kelley and Mike Tiernan were in the majors together. With 1,853 games against 1,478 across 17 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Mike Tiernan are home runs (106 to 65), slugging percentage (.463 to .451), and OPS (.855 to .853). At the plate, Joe Kelley walked more often than struck out (911 walks, 430 strikeouts), and Mike Tiernan walked more often than struck out (748 walks, 376 strikeouts). Mike Tiernan is the more power-leaning hitter, with 106 of 1,838 hits leaving the park.
Joe Kelley vs Mike Tiernan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Kelley or Mike Tiernan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Kelley leads Mike Tiernan in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Joe Kelley or Mike Tiernan hit more home runs?
- Mike Tiernan, with 106 to Joe Kelley's 65.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mike Tiernan, with .855 to Joe Kelley's .853.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe Kelley, with .317 to Mike Tiernan's .311.
- Who had more hits?
- Joe Kelley, with 2,220 to Mike Tiernan's 1,838.