Fred Lynn vs Graig Nettles: Career Stats Comparison
Fred Lynn and Graig Nettles are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 as a hitter; Graig Nettles played 1967–1988 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
Fred Lynn (1974–1990) and Graig Nettles (1967–1988) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs; Graig Nettles finished with 2,225 hits and 390 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Graig Nettles, with 390 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits? Graig Nettles, with 2,225 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.
- Who drove in more runs? Graig Nettles, with 1,314 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Lynn, with 25,648 career PIV to Graig Nettles's 12,470.
- Who won more championships? Graig Nettles, with 2 World Series titles to Fred Lynn's 0.
Fred Lynn
Graig Nettles
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Lynn and Graig Nettles. 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fred Lynn | Graig Nettles |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,969 | Leads: 2,700 |
| At-Bats | 6,925 | Leads: 8,986 |
| Runs | 1,063 | Leads: 1,193 |
| Hits | 1,960 | Leads: 2,225 |
| Doubles | Leads: 388 | 328 |
| Triples | Leads: 43 | 28 |
| Home Runs | 306 | Leads: 390 |
| RBI | 1,111 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | 857 | Leads: 1,088 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,116 | 1,209 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 72 | 32 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .283 | .248 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .360 | .329 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .484 | .421 |
| OPS | Leads: .845 | .750 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Lynn outpaces Graig Nettles 25,648 to 12,470 — driven by per-season impact — 1,425 PIV per season to 567 — rather than by longevity, since Fred Lynn played 18 seasons to Graig Nettles's 22. 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).
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Graig Nettles — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred Lynn leads in stolen bases, batting average, OBP, and OPS, while Graig Nettles owns hits, home runs, and RBI. 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 Fred Lynn and Graig Nettles careers compare
Fred Lynn and Graig Nettles were active at the same time between 1974 and 1988. With 1,969 games against 2,700 across 18 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857); Graig Nettles struck out more than walked (1,209 to 1,088). On the peak-season lists, Fred Lynn's best year is 1979 at 1.059 OPS and Graig Nettles's is 1977 at .829 OPS; Fred Lynn has the stronger single season.
Fred Lynn vs Graig Nettles: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Fred Lynn or Graig Nettles hit more home runs?
- Graig Nettles, with 390 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits?
- Graig Nettles, with 2,225 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.