Hal McRae vs Lance Parrish: Career Stats Comparison
Hal McRae has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Hal McRae played 1968–1987 as a hitter; Lance Parrish played 1977–1995 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
Hal McRae (1968–1987) and Lance Parrish (1977–1995) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Hal McRae finished with 2,091 hits and 191 home runs; Lance Parrish finished with 1,782 hits and 324 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lance Parrish, with 324 to Hal McRae's 191.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hal McRae, with .805 to Lance Parrish's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hal McRae, with .290 to Lance Parrish's .252.
- Who had more hits? Hal McRae, with 2,091 to Lance Parrish's 1,782.
- Who drove in more runs? Hal McRae, with 1,097 to Lance Parrish's 1,070.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hal McRae, with 19,055 career PIV to Lance Parrish's 6,792.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Hal McRae
Lance Parrish
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hal McRae and Lance Parrish. 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 1960s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Hal McRae | Lance Parrish |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,084 | 1,988 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,218 | 7,067 |
| Runs | Leads: 940 | 856 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,091 | 1,782 |
| Doubles | Leads: 484 | 305 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 27 |
| Home Runs | 191 | Leads: 324 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,097 | 1,070 |
| Walks | Leads: 648 | 612 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 779 | 1,527 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 109 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .290 | .252 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .351 | .313 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .454 | .440 |
| OPS | Leads: .805 | .753 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hal McRae outpaces Lance Parrish 19,055 to 6,792 — driven by per-season impact — 1,003 PIV per season to 340 — rather than by longevity, since Hal McRae played 19 seasons to Lance Parrish's 20. 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).
Hal McRae — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lance Parrish — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Hal McRae leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Lance Parrish owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hal McRae. PIV agrees: Hal McRae grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Hal McRae and Lance Parrish careers compare
Hal McRae and Lance Parrish were active at the same time between 1977 and 1987. With 2,084 games against 1,988 across 19 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Lance Parrish comes out ahead, it is in home runs (324 to 191). Hal McRae struck out more than walked (779 to 648); Lance Parrish struck out more than walked (1,527 to 612). Lance Parrish is the more power-leaning hitter, with 324 of 1,782 hits leaving the park. Hal McRae was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Hal McRae's slugging percentage of .454 tops Lance Parrish's .440.
Hal McRae vs Lance Parrish: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hal McRae or Lance Parrish?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hal McRae leads Lance Parrish in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Hal McRae or Lance Parrish hit more home runs?
- Lance Parrish, with 324 to Hal McRae's 191.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hal McRae, with .805 to Lance Parrish's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hal McRae, with .290 to Lance Parrish's .252.
- Who had more hits?
- Hal McRae, with 2,091 to Lance Parrish's 1,782.