Barry Larkin vs Paul O'Neill: 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; Paul O'Neill played 1985–2001 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 Paul O'Neill (1985–2001) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 home runs; Paul O'Neill finished with 2,105 hits and 281 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul O'Neill, with 281 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul O'Neill, with .833 to Barry Larkin's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Paul O'Neill's .288.
- Who had more hits? Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Paul O'Neill's 2,105.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul O'Neill, with 1,269 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul O'Neill, with 18,817 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Paul O'Neill, with 5 World Series titles to Barry Larkin's 1.
Barry Larkin
Paul O'Neill
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Paul O'Neill. 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 | Barry Larkin | Paul O'Neill |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,180 | 2,053 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,937 | 7,318 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,329 | 1,041 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,340 | 2,105 |
| Doubles | 441 | Leads: 451 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 21 |
| Home Runs | 198 | Leads: 281 |
| RBI | 960 | Leads: 1,269 |
| Walks | Leads: 939 | 892 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 1,166 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 141 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .288 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .363 |
| Slugging % | .444 | Leads: .470 |
| OPS | .815 | Leads: .833 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul O'Neill edges Barry Larkin 18,817 to 17,788 — driven by per-season impact — 1,107 PIV per season to 936 — rather than by longevity, since Paul O'Neill played 17 seasons to Barry Larkin's 19. 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
Paul O'Neill — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Paul O'Neill owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Barry Larkin. Note that PIV actually grades Paul O'Neill ahead, which means Barry Larkin's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Barry Larkin and Paul O'Neill careers compare
Barry Larkin and Paul O'Neill were active at the same time between 1986 and 2001. The two careers are close in length, 2,180 games for Barry Larkin and 2,053 for Paul O'Neill across 19 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Plate discipline differs: Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts), but Paul O'Neill struck out more than walked (1,166 to 892). Home runs make up a larger share of Paul O'Neill's hits: 198 of 2,340 for Barry Larkin, 281 of 2,105 for Paul O'Neill. Barry Larkin was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Barry Larkin vs Paul O'Neill: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Paul O'Neill?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Paul O'Neill in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Paul O'Neill hit more home runs?
- Paul O'Neill, with 281 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul O'Neill, with .833 to Barry Larkin's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Paul O'Neill's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Paul O'Neill's 2,105.