Barry Larkin vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Barry Larkin has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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 Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — 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; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Barry Larkin, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Barry Larkin
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Ted Simmons. 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 | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,180 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 7,937 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,329 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,340 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 441 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 198 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 960 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 939 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .444 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons leads Barry Larkin 20,131 to 17,788 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 959 PIV per season to 936, across 21 seasons to 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
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Ted Simmons owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Barry Larkin. Note that PIV actually grades Ted Simmons 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 Ted Simmons careers compare
Barry Larkin and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1986 and 1988. With 2,180 games against 2,456 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts); Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Barry Larkin was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Barry Larkin's slugging percentage of .444 tops Ted Simmons's .437. Best seasons: 1996 for Barry Larkin (.977 OPS, 33 HR, 89 RBI, .298 avg) and 1977 for Ted Simmons (.908 OPS, 21 HR, 95 RBI, .318 avg).
Barry Larkin vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Ted Simmons in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.