Ralph Kiner vs Johnny Mize: Career Stats Comparison
Johnny Mize has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ralph Kiner played 1946–1955 as a hitter; Johnny Mize played 1936–1953 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
Ralph Kiner (1946–1955) and Johnny Mize (1936–1953) — they broke in during the 1940s and the 1930s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ralph Kiner finished with 1,451 hits and 369 home runs; Johnny Mize finished with 2,011 hits and 359 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ralph Kiner, with 369 to Johnny Mize's 359.
- Who had the higher OPS? Johnny Mize, with .959 to Ralph Kiner's .946.
- Who had the higher batting average? Johnny Mize, with .312 to Ralph Kiner's .279.
- Who had more hits? Johnny Mize, with 2,011 to Ralph Kiner's 1,451.
- Who drove in more runs? Johnny Mize, with 1,337 to Ralph Kiner's 1,015.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Johnny Mize, with 43,061 career PIV to Ralph Kiner's 35,424.
- Who won more championships? Johnny Mize, with 5 World Series titles to Ralph Kiner's 0.
Ralph Kiner
Johnny Mize
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ralph Kiner and Johnny Mize. 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 1940s and the 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ralph Kiner | Johnny Mize |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,472 | Leads: 1,884 |
| At-Bats | 5,205 | Leads: 6,443 |
| Runs | 971 | Leads: 1,118 |
| Hits | 1,451 | Leads: 2,011 |
| Doubles | 216 | Leads: 367 |
| Triples | 39 | Leads: 83 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 369 | 359 |
| RBI | 1,015 | Leads: 1,337 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,011 | 856 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 749 | 524 |
| Stolen Bases | 22 | Leads: 28 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .312 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .398 | .397 |
| Slugging % | .548 | Leads: .562 |
| OPS | .946 | Leads: .959 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Johnny Mize leads Ralph Kiner 43,061 to 35,424 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Johnny Mize played 16 seasons to Ralph Kiner's 11, while Ralph Kiner carries the higher per-season figure (3,220 to 2,691). 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).
Ralph Kiner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Johnny Mize — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Johnny Mize leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Ralph Kiner owns home runs and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Johnny Mize. PIV agrees: Johnny Mize grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ralph Kiner and Johnny Mize careers compare
From 1946 through 1953, Ralph Kiner and Johnny Mize were in the majors together. With 1,472 games against 1,884 across 11 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Ralph Kiner comes out ahead, it is in home runs (369 to 359), walks (1,011 to 856), and on-base percentage (.398 to .397). At the plate, Ralph Kiner walked more often than struck out (1,011 walks, 749 strikeouts), and Johnny Mize walked more often than struck out (856 walks, 524 strikeouts). Ralph Kiner is the more power-leaning hitter, with 369 of 1,451 hits leaving the park.
Ralph Kiner vs Johnny Mize: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ralph Kiner or Johnny Mize?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Johnny Mize leads Ralph Kiner in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ralph Kiner or Johnny Mize hit more home runs?
- Ralph Kiner, with 369 to Johnny Mize's 359.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Johnny Mize, with .959 to Ralph Kiner's .946.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Johnny Mize, with .312 to Ralph Kiner's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Johnny Mize, with 2,011 to Ralph Kiner's 1,451.