Fred Lynn vs Tim Raines: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Raines has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 as a hitter; Tim Raines played 1979–2002 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 Tim Raines (1979–2002) — both debuted in the 1970s. Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs; Tim Raines finished with 2,605 hits and 170 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Tim Raines, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Fred Lynn, with 306 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Tim Raines's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tim Raines, with .294 to Fred Lynn's .283.
- Who had more hits? Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred Lynn, with 1,111 to Tim Raines's 980.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tim Raines, with 25,763 career PIV to Fred Lynn's 25,648.
Fred Lynn
Tim Raines
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Lynn and Tim Raines. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Fred Lynn | Tim Raines |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,969 | 2,502 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,925 | 8,872 |
| Runs | 1,063 | Leads: 1,571 |
| Hits | 1,960 | Leads: 2,605 |
| Doubles | 388 | Leads: 430 |
| Triples | 43 | Leads: 113 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 306 | 170 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,111 | 980 |
| Walks | 857 | Leads: 1,330 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,116 | 966 |
| Stolen Bases | 72 | Leads: 808 |
| Batting Avg | .283 | Leads: .294 |
| On-Base % | .360 | Leads: .385 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .484 | .425 |
| OPS | Leads: .845 | .810 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Raines edges Fred Lynn 25,763 to 25,648 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Tim Raines played 23 seasons to Fred Lynn's 17, while Fred Lynn carries the higher per-season figure (1,509 to 1,120). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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
Tim Raines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Tim Raines leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Fred Lynn leads 4: home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tim Raines. PIV agrees: Tim Raines 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 Tim Raines careers compare
From 1979 through 1990, Fred Lynn and Tim Raines were in the majors together. With 1,969 games against 2,502 across 17 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Fred Lynn are home runs (306 to 170), RBI (1,111 to 980), and slugging percentage (.484 to .425). At the plate, Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857), while Tim Raines walked more often than struck out (1,330 walks, 966 strikeouts). Fred Lynn is the more power-leaning hitter, with 306 of 1,960 hits leaving the park.
Fred Lynn vs Tim Raines: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred Lynn or Tim Raines?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Raines leads Fred Lynn in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Fred Lynn or Tim Raines hit more home runs?
- Fred Lynn, with 306 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Tim Raines's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tim Raines, with .294 to Fred Lynn's .283.
- Who had more hits?
- Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.