Chet Lemon vs Fred Lynn: Career Stats Comparison
Fred Lynn has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Chet Lemon played 1975–1990 as a hitter; Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 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
Chet Lemon (1975–1990) and Fred Lynn (1974–1990) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Chet Lemon finished with 1,875 hits and 215 home runs; Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Fred Lynn, with 306 to Chet Lemon's 215.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Chet Lemon's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Chet Lemon's .273.
- Who had more hits? Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Chet Lemon's 1,875.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred Lynn, with 1,111 to Chet Lemon's 884.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Lynn, with 25,648 career PIV to Chet Lemon's 17,435.
- Who won more championships? Chet Lemon, with 1 World Series title to Fred Lynn's 0.
Chet Lemon
Fred Lynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Chet Lemon and Fred Lynn. 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 | Chet Lemon | Fred Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,988 | 1,969 |
| At-Bats | 6,868 | Leads: 6,925 |
| Runs | 973 | Leads: 1,063 |
| Hits | 1,875 | Leads: 1,960 |
| Doubles | Leads: 396 | 388 |
| Triples | Leads: 61 | 43 |
| Home Runs | 215 | Leads: 306 |
| RBI | 884 | Leads: 1,111 |
| Walks | 749 | Leads: 857 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,024 | 1,116 |
| Stolen Bases | 58 | Leads: 72 |
| Batting Avg | .273 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | .355 | Leads: .360 |
| Slugging % | .442 | Leads: .484 |
| OPS | .797 | Leads: .845 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Lynn outpaces Chet Lemon 25,648 to 17,435 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,425 PIV per season to 1,090, across 18 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).
Chet Lemon — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred Lynn leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Chet Lemon owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred Lynn. PIV agrees: Fred Lynn grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Chet Lemon and Fred Lynn careers compare
From 1975 through 1990, Chet Lemon and Fred Lynn were in the majors together. With 1,988 games against 1,969 across 16 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Chet Lemon comes out ahead, it is in games (1,988 to 1,969), doubles (396 to 388), and triples (61 to 43). Chet Lemon struck out more than walked (1,024 to 749); Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857). Fred Lynn is the more power-leaning hitter, with 306 of 1,960 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Fred Lynn holds the edge, .484 to .442.
Chet Lemon vs Fred Lynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Chet Lemon or Fred Lynn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred Lynn leads Chet Lemon in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Chet Lemon or Fred Lynn hit more home runs?
- Fred Lynn, with 306 to Chet Lemon's 215.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Chet Lemon's .797.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Chet Lemon's .273.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Chet Lemon's 1,875.