Fred Lynn vs Rusty Staub: Career Stats Comparison
Rusty Staub has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Rusty Staub played 1963–1985 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 Rusty Staub (1963–1985) — 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; Rusty Staub finished with 2,716 hits and 292 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 Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits? Rusty Staub, with 2,716 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.
- Who drove in more runs? Rusty Staub, with 1,466 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rusty Staub, with 30,346 career PIV to Fred Lynn's 25,648.
Fred Lynn
Rusty Staub
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred Lynn and Rusty Staub. 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 | Rusty Staub |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,969 | Leads: 2,951 |
| At-Bats | 6,925 | Leads: 9,720 |
| Runs | 1,063 | Leads: 1,189 |
| Hits | 1,960 | Leads: 2,716 |
| Doubles | 388 | Leads: 499 |
| Triples | 43 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 306 | 292 |
| RBI | 1,111 | Leads: 1,466 |
| Walks | 857 | Leads: 1,255 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,116 | 888 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 72 | 47 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .283 | .279 |
| On-Base % | .360 | Leads: .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .484 | .431 |
| OPS | Leads: .845 | .793 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rusty Staub leads Fred Lynn 30,346 to 25,648 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rusty Staub played 24 seasons to Fred Lynn's 18, while Fred Lynn carries the higher per-season figure (1,425 to 1,264). 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
Rusty Staub — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rusty Staub leads in hits, RBI, runs, and OBP, while Fred Lynn owns home runs, stolen bases, and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rusty Staub. PIV agrees: Rusty Staub 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 Rusty Staub careers compare
The careers of Fred Lynn (1974–1990) and Rusty Staub (1963–1985) overlapped from 1974 to 1985, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 1,969 games against 2,951 across 18 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857), but Rusty Staub walked more often than struck out (1,255 walks, 888 strikeouts). 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 .431.
Fred Lynn vs Rusty Staub: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred Lynn or Rusty Staub?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rusty Staub leads Fred Lynn in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Fred Lynn or Rusty Staub hit more home runs?
- Fred Lynn, with 306 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Rusty Staub, with 2,716 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.