Fred Lynn vs Brooks Robinson: Career Stats Comparison
Brooks Robinson 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). Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 as a hitter; Brooks Robinson played 1955–1977 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 Brooks Robinson (1955–1977) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1950s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs; Brooks Robinson finished with 2,848 hits and 268 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 Brooks Robinson's 268.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Brooks Robinson's .723.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Brooks Robinson's .267.
- Who had more hits? Brooks Robinson, with 2,848 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.
- Who drove in more runs? Brooks Robinson, with 1,357 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Lynn, with 25,648 career PIV to Brooks Robinson's 9,441.
- Who won more championships? Brooks Robinson, with 2 World Series titles to Fred Lynn's 0.
Fred Lynn
Brooks Robinson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Lynn and Brooks Robinson. 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 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fred Lynn | Brooks Robinson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,969 | Leads: 2,896 |
| At-Bats | 6,925 | Leads: 10,654 |
| Runs | 1,063 | Leads: 1,232 |
| Hits | 1,960 | Leads: 2,848 |
| Doubles | 388 | Leads: 482 |
| Triples | 43 | Leads: 68 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 306 | 268 |
| RBI | 1,111 | Leads: 1,357 |
| Walks | 857 | Leads: 860 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,116 | 990 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 72 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .283 | .267 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .360 | .322 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .484 | .401 |
| OPS | Leads: .845 | .723 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Lynn outpaces Brooks Robinson 25,648 to 9,441 — driven by per-season impact — 1,425 PIV per season to 410 — rather than by longevity, since Fred Lynn played 18 seasons to Brooks Robinson's 23. 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
Brooks Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred Lynn leads in home runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Brooks Robinson owns hits, RBI, and runs. 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 Brooks Robinson careers compare
Fred Lynn and Brooks Robinson were active at the same time between 1974 and 1977. With 1,969 games against 2,896 across 18 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857); Brooks Robinson struck out more than walked (990 to 860). 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 .401. Best seasons: 1979 for Fred Lynn (1.059 OPS, 39 HR, 122 RBI, .333 avg) and 1964 for Brooks Robinson (.889 OPS, 28 HR, 118 RBI, .317 avg).
Fred Lynn vs Brooks Robinson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred Lynn or Brooks Robinson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Brooks Robinson leads Fred Lynn in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Fred Lynn or Brooks Robinson hit more home runs?
- Fred Lynn, with 306 to Brooks Robinson's 268.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Brooks Robinson's .723.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Brooks Robinson's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Brooks Robinson, with 2,848 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.