Barry Larkin vs Pee Wee Reese: Career Stats Comparison
Barry Larkin has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Pee Wee Reese played 1940–1958 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 Pee Wee Reese (1940–1958) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 home runs; Pee Wee Reese finished with 2,170 hits and 126 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Barry Larkin, with 198 to Pee Wee Reese's 126.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Pee Wee Reese's .743.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Pee Wee Reese's .269.
- Who had more hits? Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Pee Wee Reese's 2,170.
- Who drove in more runs? Barry Larkin, with 960 to Pee Wee Reese's 885.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Barry Larkin, with 17,788 career PIV to Pee Wee Reese's 10,057.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Barry Larkin
Pee Wee Reese
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Pee Wee Reese. 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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Barry Larkin | Pee Wee Reese |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,180 | 2,166 |
| At-Bats | 7,937 | Leads: 8,058 |
| Runs | 1,329 | Leads: 1,338 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,340 | 2,170 |
| Doubles | Leads: 441 | 330 |
| Triples | 76 | Leads: 80 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 198 | 126 |
| RBI | Leads: 960 | 885 |
| Walks | 939 | Leads: 1,210 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 890 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 232 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .269 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .366 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .444 | .377 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .743 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Barry Larkin outpaces Pee Wee Reese 17,788 to 10,057 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 936 PIV per season to 629, across 19 seasons to 16. 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
Pee Wee Reese — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and stolen bases, while Pee Wee Reese owns runs. 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 Pee Wee Reese careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Pee Wee Reese's ended in 1958, and Barry Larkin debuted in 1986. With 2,180 games against 2,166 across 19 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Pee Wee Reese's edges on the table are at-bats (8,058 to 7,937), runs (1,338 to 1,329), and triples (80 to 76). At the plate, Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts), and Pee Wee Reese walked more often than struck out (1,210 walks, 890 strikeouts). Barry Larkin is the more power-leaning hitter, with 198 of 2,340 hits leaving the park. Barry Larkin was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Barry Larkin vs Pee Wee Reese: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Pee Wee Reese?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Pee Wee Reese in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Pee Wee Reese hit more home runs?
- Barry Larkin, with 198 to Pee Wee Reese's 126.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Pee Wee Reese's .743.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Pee Wee Reese's .269.
- Who had more hits?
- Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Pee Wee Reese's 2,170.