Barry Larkin vs Graig Nettles: Career Stats Comparison
Barry Larkin 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). Barry Larkin played 1986–2004 as a hitter; Graig Nettles played 1967–1988 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
Barry Larkin (1986–2004) and Graig Nettles (1967–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 home runs; Graig Nettles finished with 2,225 hits and 390 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Graig Nettles, with 390 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits? Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.
- Who drove in more runs? Graig Nettles, with 1,314 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Barry Larkin, with 17,788 career PIV to Graig Nettles's 12,470.
- Who won more championships? Graig Nettles, with 2 World Series titles to Barry Larkin's 1.
Barry Larkin
Graig Nettles
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Graig Nettles. 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 1980s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Barry Larkin | Graig Nettles |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,180 | Leads: 2,700 |
| At-Bats | 7,937 | Leads: 8,986 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,329 | 1,193 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,340 | 2,225 |
| Doubles | Leads: 441 | 328 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 28 |
| Home Runs | 198 | Leads: 390 |
| RBI | 960 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 939 | Leads: 1,088 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 1,209 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 32 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .248 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .329 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .444 | .421 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .750 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Barry Larkin outpaces Graig Nettles 17,788 to 12,470 — driven by per-season impact — 936 PIV per season to 567 — rather than by longevity, since Barry Larkin played 19 seasons to Graig Nettles's 22. 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).
Barry Larkin — top 3 seasons by OPS
Graig Nettles — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Graig Nettles owns home runs and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Barry Larkin. PIV agrees: Barry Larkin grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Barry Larkin and Graig Nettles careers compare
From 1986 through 1988, Barry Larkin and Graig Nettles were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,180 games for Barry Larkin and 2,700 for Graig Nettles across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts), while Graig Nettles struck out more than walked (1,209 to 1,088). Home runs make up a larger share of Graig Nettles's hits: 198 of 2,340 for Barry Larkin, 390 of 2,225 for Graig Nettles.
Barry Larkin vs Graig Nettles: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Graig Nettles?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Graig Nettles in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Graig Nettles hit more home runs?
- Graig Nettles, with 390 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits?
- Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.