Paul Molitor vs Lance Parrish: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Molitor 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). Paul Molitor played 1978–1998 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
Paul Molitor (1978–1998) and Lance Parrish (1977–1995) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Paul Molitor finished with 3,319 hits and 234 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 Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Molitor, with .817 to Lance Parrish's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Molitor, with .306 to Lance Parrish's .252.
- Who had more hits? Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Lance Parrish's 1,782.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Molitor, with 1,307 to Lance Parrish's 1,070.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Molitor, with 29,073 career PIV to Lance Parrish's 6,792.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Paul Molitor
Lance Parrish
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Molitor 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Paul Molitor | Lance Parrish |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,683 | 1,988 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,835 | 7,067 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,782 | 856 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,319 | 1,782 |
| Doubles | Leads: 605 | 305 |
| Triples | Leads: 114 | 27 |
| Home Runs | 234 | Leads: 324 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,307 | 1,070 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,094 | 612 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,244 | 1,527 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 504 | 28 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .306 | .252 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .369 | .313 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .448 | .440 |
| OPS | Leads: .817 | .753 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Molitor outpaces Lance Parrish 29,073 to 6,792 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,384 PIV per season to 340, across 21 seasons to 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).
Paul Molitor — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lance Parrish — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Molitor 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 Paul Molitor. PIV agrees: Paul Molitor grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Molitor and Lance Parrish careers compare
From 1978 through 1995, Paul Molitor and Lance Parrish were in the majors together. With 2,683 games against 1,988 across 21 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Lance Parrish's edges on the table are home runs (324 to 234). Paul Molitor struck out more than walked (1,244 to 1,094); Lance Parrish struck out more than walked (1,527 to 612). Home runs make up a larger share of Lance Parrish's hits: 234 of 3,319 for Paul Molitor, 324 of 1,782 for Lance Parrish. On the bases, Paul Molitor stole more often per game played (504 steals in 2,683 games for Paul Molitor, 28 in 1,988 for Lance Parrish).
Paul Molitor vs Lance Parrish: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Molitor or Lance Parrish?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Molitor leads Lance Parrish in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Molitor or Lance Parrish hit more home runs?
- Lance Parrish, with 324 to Paul Molitor's 234.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Molitor, with .817 to Lance Parrish's .753.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Molitor, with .306 to Lance Parrish's .252.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Lance Parrish's 1,782.