Hal McRae vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Hal McRae and Ted Simmons are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Hal McRae played 1968–1987 as a hitter; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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 Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Hal McRae finished with 2,091 hits and 191 home runs; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Hal McRae's 191.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hal McRae, with .805 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Hal McRae, with .290 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Hal McRae's 2,091.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Hal McRae's 1,097.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Hal McRae's 19,055.
- Who won more championships? Hal McRae, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Hal McRae
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hal McRae and Ted Simmons. 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 | Hal McRae | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,084 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 7,218 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | 940 | Leads: 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,091 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 484 | 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 191 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 1,097 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 648 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 779 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 109 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .290 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .351 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .454 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .805 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons edges Hal McRae 20,131 to 19,055 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Hal McRae's 19, while Hal McRae carries the higher per-season figure (1,003 to 959). 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
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Hal McRae owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ted Simmons. PIV agrees: Ted Simmons 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 Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1968 through 1987, Hal McRae and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,084 games for Hal McRae and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Hal McRae struck out more than walked (779 to 648), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Hal McRae was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Hal McRae holds the edge, .454 to .437.
Hal McRae vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Hal McRae or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Hal McRae's 191.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hal McRae, with .805 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Hal McRae, with .290 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Hal McRae's 2,091.