Willie McCovey vs Johnny Mize: Career Stats Comparison
Willie McCovey and Johnny Mize are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Willie McCovey played 1959–1980 as a hitter; Johnny Mize played 1936–1953 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 McCovey (1959–1980) and Johnny Mize (1936–1953) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1930s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Willie McCovey finished with 2,211 hits and 521 home runs; Johnny Mize finished with 2,011 hits and 359 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Willie McCovey, with 521 to Johnny Mize's 359.
- Who had the higher OPS? Johnny Mize, with .959 to Willie McCovey's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average? Johnny Mize, with .312 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits? Willie McCovey, with 2,211 to Johnny Mize's 2,011.
- Who drove in more runs? Willie McCovey, with 1,555 to Johnny Mize's 1,337.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Willie McCovey, with 47,331 career PIV to Johnny Mize's 43,061.
- Who won more championships? Johnny Mize, with 5 World Series titles to Willie McCovey's 0.
Willie McCovey
Johnny Mize
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Willie McCovey and Johnny Mize. 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 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Willie McCovey | Johnny Mize |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,588 | 1,884 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,197 | 6,443 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,229 | 1,118 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,211 | 2,011 |
| Doubles | 353 | Leads: 367 |
| Triples | 46 | Leads: 83 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 521 | 359 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,555 | 1,337 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,345 | 856 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,550 | 524 |
| Stolen Bases | 26 | Leads: 28 |
| Batting Avg | .270 | Leads: .312 |
| On-Base % | .374 | Leads: .397 |
| Slugging % | .515 | Leads: .562 |
| OPS | .889 | Leads: .959 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie McCovey leads Johnny Mize 47,331 to 43,061 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Willie McCovey played 23 seasons to Johnny Mize's 16, while Johnny Mize carries the higher per-season figure (2,691 to 2,058). 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).
Willie McCovey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Johnny Mize — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Willie McCovey leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Johnny Mize owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Willie McCovey. PIV agrees: Willie McCovey grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Willie McCovey and Johnny Mize careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Johnny Mize's ended in 1953, and Willie McCovey debuted in 1959. With 2,588 games against 1,884 across 23 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Willie McCovey struck out more than walked (1,550 to 1,345), but Johnny Mize walked more often than struck out (856 walks, 524 strikeouts). Willie McCovey is the more power-leaning hitter, with 521 of 2,211 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Johnny Mize holds the edge, .562 to .515. On the peak-season lists, Willie McCovey's best year is 1969 at 1.108 OPS and Johnny Mize's is 1939 at 1.070 OPS; Willie McCovey has the stronger single season.
Willie McCovey vs Johnny Mize: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Willie McCovey or Johnny Mize hit more home runs?
- Willie McCovey, with 521 to Johnny Mize's 359.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Johnny Mize, with .959 to Willie McCovey's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Johnny Mize, with .312 to Willie McCovey's .270.
- Who had more hits?
- Willie McCovey, with 2,211 to Johnny Mize's 2,011.