Eddie Mathews vs Billy Williams: Career Stats Comparison
Billy Williams 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). Eddie Mathews played 1952–1968 as a hitter; Billy Williams played 1959–1976 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
Eddie Mathews (1952–1968) and Billy Williams (1959–1976) — both broke in during the 1950s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Eddie Mathews finished with 2,315 hits and 512 home runs; Billy Williams finished with 2,711 hits and 426 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Eddie Mathews, with 512 to Billy Williams's 426.
- Who had the higher OPS? Eddie Mathews, with .885 to Billy Williams's .853.
- Who had the higher batting average? Billy Williams, with .290 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits? Billy Williams, with 2,711 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.
- Who drove in more runs? Billy Williams, with 1,475 to Eddie Mathews's 1,453.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Eddie Mathews, with 45,555 career PIV to Billy Williams's 44,022.
- Who won more championships? Eddie Mathews, with 2 World Series titles to Billy Williams's 0.
Eddie Mathews
Billy Williams
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Eddie Mathews and Billy Williams. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Eddie Mathews | Billy Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,391 | Leads: 2,488 |
| At-Bats | 8,537 | Leads: 9,350 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,509 | 1,410 |
| Hits | 2,315 | Leads: 2,711 |
| Doubles | 354 | Leads: 434 |
| Triples | 72 | Leads: 88 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 426 |
| RBI | 1,453 | Leads: 1,475 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,444 | 1,045 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,487 | 1,046 |
| Stolen Bases | 68 | Leads: 90 |
| Batting Avg | .271 | Leads: .290 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .376 | .361 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .509 | .492 |
| OPS | Leads: .885 | .853 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Eddie Mathews edges Billy Williams 45,555 to 44,022 — driven by per-season impact — 2,531 PIV per season to 2,446 — rather than by longevity, since Eddie Mathews played 18 seasons to Billy Williams'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).
Eddie Mathews — top 3 seasons by OPS
Billy Williams — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Eddie Mathews leads in home runs, runs, OBP, and OPS, while Billy Williams owns hits, RBI, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Eddie Mathews. PIV agrees: Eddie Mathews grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Eddie Mathews and Billy Williams careers compare
Eddie Mathews and Billy Williams were active at the same time between 1959 and 1968. With 2,391 games against 2,488 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Eddie Mathews struck out more than walked (1,487 to 1,444), and Billy Williams struck out more than walked (1,046 to 1,045). Eddie Mathews is the more power-leaning hitter, with 512 of 2,315 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Eddie Mathews holds the edge, .509 to .492. Best seasons: 1953 for Eddie Mathews (1.033 OPS, 47 HR, 135 RBI, .302 avg) and 1972 for Billy Williams (1.005 OPS, 37 HR, 122 RBI, .333 avg).
Eddie Mathews vs Billy Williams: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eddie Mathews or Billy Williams?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Billy Williams leads Eddie Mathews in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Eddie Mathews or Billy Williams hit more home runs?
- Eddie Mathews, with 512 to Billy Williams's 426.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Eddie Mathews, with .885 to Billy Williams's .853.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Billy Williams, with .290 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Billy Williams, with 2,711 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.