Barry Larkin vs Cal Ripken: Career Stats Comparison
Cal Ripken 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; Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 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 Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — 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; Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Cal Ripken, with 431 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Cal Ripken, with 19,199 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Barry Larkin
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Cal Ripken. 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 | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,180 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 7,937 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | 1,329 | Leads: 1,647 |
| Hits | 2,340 | Leads: 3,184 |
| Doubles | 441 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 44 |
| Home Runs | 198 | Leads: 431 |
| RBI | 960 | Leads: 1,695 |
| Walks | 939 | Leads: 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 36 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .340 |
| Slugging % | .444 | Leads: .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cal Ripken edges Barry Larkin 19,199 to 17,788 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Cal Ripken played 21 seasons to Barry Larkin's 19, while Barry Larkin carries the higher per-season figure (936 to 914). 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
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cal Ripken leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Barry Larkin owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cal Ripken. PIV agrees: Cal Ripken 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 Cal Ripken careers compare
Barry Larkin and Cal Ripken were active at the same time between 1986 and 2001. With 2,180 games against 3,001 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts), while Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Home runs make up a larger share of Cal Ripken's hits: 198 of 2,340 for Barry Larkin, 431 of 3,184 for Cal Ripken. Barry Larkin was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Barry Larkin holds the edge, .371 to .340.
Barry Larkin vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Cal Ripken?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cal Ripken leads Barry Larkin in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Cal Ripken, with 431 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.