George Kelly vs George Sisler: Career Stats Comparison
George Sisler 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). George Kelly played 1915–1932 as a hitter; George Sisler played 1915–1930 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
George Kelly (1915–1932) and George Sisler (1915–1930) — both broke in during the 1910s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. George Kelly finished with 1,778 hits and 148 home runs; George Sisler finished with 2,812 hits and 102 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? George Kelly, with 148 to George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS? George Sisler, with .847 to George Kelly's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? George Sisler, with .340 to George Kelly's .297.
- Who had more hits? George Sisler, with 2,812 to George Kelly's 1,778.
- Who drove in more runs? George Sisler, with 1,175 to George Kelly's 1,020.
- Who has the higher career PIV? George Sisler, with 29,261 career PIV to George Kelly's 9,050.
- Who won more championships? George Kelly, with 2 World Series titles to George Sisler's 0.
George Kelly
George Sisler
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for George Kelly and George Sisler. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | George Kelly | George Sisler |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,622 | Leads: 2,055 |
| At-Bats | 5,993 | Leads: 8,267 |
| Runs | 819 | Leads: 1,284 |
| Hits | 1,778 | Leads: 2,812 |
| Doubles | 337 | Leads: 425 |
| Triples | 76 | Leads: 164 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 148 | 102 |
| RBI | 1,020 | Leads: 1,175 |
| Walks | 386 | Leads: 472 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 694 | 327 |
| Stolen Bases | 65 | Leads: 375 |
| Batting Avg | .297 | Leads: .340 |
| On-Base % | .342 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | .452 | Leads: .468 |
| OPS | .794 | Leads: .847 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), George Sisler outpaces George Kelly 29,261 to 9,050 — driven by per-season impact — 1,829 PIV per season to 503 — rather than by longevity, since George Sisler played 16 seasons to George Kelly's 18. 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).
George Kelly — top 3 seasons by OPS
George Sisler — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, George Sisler leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while George Kelly owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to George Sisler. PIV agrees: George Sisler grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the George Kelly and George Sisler careers compare
From 1915 through 1930, George Kelly and George Sisler were in the majors together. With 1,622 games against 2,055 across 18 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for George Kelly are home runs (148 to 102). Plate discipline differs: George Kelly struck out more than walked (694 to 386), but George Sisler walked more often than struck out (472 walks, 327 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of George Kelly's hits: 148 of 1,778 for George Kelly, 102 of 2,812 for George Sisler.
George Kelly vs George Sisler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, George Kelly or George Sisler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, George Sisler leads George Kelly in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did George Kelly or George Sisler hit more home runs?
- George Kelly, with 148 to George Sisler's 102.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- George Sisler, with .847 to George Kelly's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- George Sisler, with .340 to George Kelly's .297.
- Who had more hits?
- George Sisler, with 2,812 to George Kelly's 1,778.