Fred Lynn vs Giancarlo Stanton: Career Stats Comparison
Fred Lynn has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Giancarlo Stanton has played 2010–present 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 Giancarlo Stanton (2010–present) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 2010s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs; Giancarlo Stanton has 1,642 hits and 456 home runs through October 12, 2026. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Giancarlo Stanton, with 456 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS? Giancarlo Stanton, with .871 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Giancarlo Stanton's .258.
- Who had more hits? Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Giancarlo Stanton's 1,642.
- Who drove in more runs? Giancarlo Stanton, with 1,183 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Giancarlo Stanton, with 25,656 career PIV to Fred Lynn's 25,648.
Fred Lynn
Giancarlo Stanton
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Lynn and Giancarlo Stanton. 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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Giancarlo Stanton is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Fred Lynn | Giancarlo Stanton |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,969 | 1,750 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,925 | 6,364 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,063 | 951 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,960 | 1,642 |
| Doubles | Leads: 388 | 319 |
| Triples | Leads: 43 | 11 |
| Home Runs | 306 | Leads: 456 |
| RBI | 1,111 | Leads: 1,183 |
| Walks | Leads: 857 | 811 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,116 | 2,088 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 72 | 43 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .283 | .258 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .360 | .345 |
| Slugging % | .484 | Leads: .527 |
| OPS | .845 | Leads: .871 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Giancarlo Stanton edges Fred Lynn 25,656 to 25,648 — driven by per-season impact — 1,603 PIV per season to 1,425 — rather than by longevity, since Giancarlo Stanton played 16 seasons to Fred Lynn's 18. 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
Giancarlo Stanton — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred Lynn leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Giancarlo Stanton owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred Lynn. Note that PIV actually grades Giancarlo Stanton ahead, which means Fred Lynn's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fred Lynn and Giancarlo Stanton careers compare
No season is shared: Fred Lynn played 1974–1990, Giancarlo Stanton 2010–present. With 1,969 games against 1,750 across 18 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Giancarlo Stanton comes out ahead, it is in home runs (456 to 306), RBI (1,183 to 1,111), and slugging percentage (.527 to .484). Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857); Giancarlo Stanton struck out more than walked (2,088 to 811). Giancarlo Stanton is the more power-leaning hitter, with 456 of 1,642 hits leaving the park. Giancarlo Stanton's slugging percentage of .527 tops Fred Lynn's .484. Because Giancarlo Stanton is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Fred Lynn vs Giancarlo Stanton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred Lynn or Giancarlo Stanton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred Lynn leads Giancarlo Stanton in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Fred Lynn or Giancarlo Stanton hit more home runs?
- Giancarlo Stanton, with 456 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Giancarlo Stanton, with .871 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Giancarlo Stanton's .258.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Giancarlo Stanton's 1,642.