Willie Mays vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Willie Mays has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Willie Mays played 1951–1973 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
Willie Mays (1951–1973) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 11 seasons. Willie Mays finished with 3,293 hits and 660 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Willie Mays, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Willie Mays, with 660 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Willie Mays, with .940 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Willie Mays's .301.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Willie Mays's 3,293.
- Who drove in more runs? Willie Mays, with 1,909 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Willie Mays, with 74,062 career PIV to Pete Rose's 40,772.
Willie Mays
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Willie Mays and Pete Rose. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Willie Mays | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 3,005 | 3,562 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,924 | 14,053 |
| Runs | 2,068 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 3,293 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 525 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | Leads: 141 | 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 660 | 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,909 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,468 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,526 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 339 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | .301 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .384 | .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .557 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .940 | .784 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie Mays outpaces Pete Rose 74,062 to 40,772 — driven by per-season impact — 3,220 PIV per season to 1,699 — rather than by longevity, since Willie Mays played 23 seasons to Pete Rose's 24. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Willie Mays — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Willie Mays leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: triples, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and others. Pete Rose leads 5: runs, hits, doubles, walks, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Willie Mays. PIV agrees: Willie Mays grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Willie Mays and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1963 through 1973, Willie Mays and Pete Rose were in the majors together. With 3,005 games against 3,562 across 23 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Willie Mays struck out more than walked (1,526 to 1,468), but Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Willie Mays is the more power-leaning hitter, with 660 of 3,293 hits leaving the park. Willie Mays was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Willie Mays holds the edge, .384 to .375.
Willie Mays vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Willie Mays or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Willie Mays leads Pete Rose in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Willie Mays or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Willie Mays, with 660 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Willie Mays, with .940 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Willie Mays's .301.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Willie Mays's 3,293.