Eddie Mathews vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski 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). Eddie Mathews played 1952–1968 as a hitter; Carl Yastrzemski played 1961–1983 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 Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Eddie Mathews finished with 2,315 hits and 512 home runs; Carl Yastrzemski finished with 3,419 hits and 452 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 Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS? Eddie Mathews, with .885 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Eddie Mathews's 1,453.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Eddie Mathews's 45,555.
- Who won more championships? Eddie Mathews, with 2 World Series titles to Carl Yastrzemski's 0.
Eddie Mathews
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Eddie Mathews and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 1950s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Eddie Mathews | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,391 | Leads: 3,308 |
| At-Bats | 8,537 | Leads: 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,509 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,315 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 354 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | Leads: 72 | 59 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 512 | 452 |
| RBI | 1,453 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 1,444 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,487 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | 68 | Leads: 168 |
| Batting Avg | .271 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .376 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .509 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .885 | .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski leads Eddie Mathews 54,310 to 45,555 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons to Eddie Mathews's 18, while Eddie Mathews carries the higher per-season figure (2,531 to 2,361). 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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Yastrzemski leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Eddie Mathews owns home runs and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Yastrzemski. PIV agrees: Carl Yastrzemski 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
From 1961 through 1968, Eddie Mathews and Carl Yastrzemski were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,391 games for Eddie Mathews and 3,308 for Carl Yastrzemski across 18 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Eddie Mathews are triples (72 to 59), home runs (512 to 452), and slugging percentage (.509 to .462). Plate discipline differs: Eddie Mathews struck out more than walked (1,487 to 1,444), but Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts).
Eddie Mathews vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eddie Mathews or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Eddie Mathews in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Eddie Mathews or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Eddie Mathews, with 512 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Eddie Mathews, with .885 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Eddie Mathews's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Eddie Mathews's 2,315.