Joe Morgan vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Joe Morgan played 1963–1984 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
Joe Morgan (1963–1984) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Joe Morgan finished with 2,517 hits and 268 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 hit more home runs? Joe Morgan, with 268 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe Morgan, with .819 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Joe Morgan's .271.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Joe Morgan's 2,517.
- Who drove in more runs? Pete Rose, with 1,314 to Joe Morgan's 1,133.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Pete Rose, with 40,772 career PIV to Joe Morgan's 39,255.
- Who won more championships? Pete Rose, with 3 World Series titles to Joe Morgan's 2.
Joe Morgan
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Joe Morgan and Pete Rose. 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 | Joe Morgan | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,649 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 9,277 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,650 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 2,517 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 449 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 96 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 268 | 160 |
| RBI | 1,133 | Leads: 1,314 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,865 | 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,015 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 689 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | .271 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .392 | .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .427 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .819 | .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Rose edges Joe Morgan 40,772 to 39,255 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Rose played 25 seasons to Joe Morgan's 22, while Joe Morgan carries the higher per-season figure (1,784 to 1,631). 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).
Joe Morgan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Rose leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Joe Morgan owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Rose. PIV agrees: Pete Rose grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe Morgan and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1963 through 1984, Joe Morgan and Pete Rose were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,649 games for Joe Morgan and 3,562 for Pete Rose across 22 and 25 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Joe Morgan walked more often than struck out (1,865 walks, 1,015 strikeouts); Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Joe Morgan's hits: 268 of 2,517 for Joe Morgan, 160 of 4,256 for Pete Rose. Joe Morgan was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Joe Morgan holds the edge, .427 to .409.
Joe Morgan vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe Morgan or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads Joe Morgan in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Joe Morgan or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Joe Morgan, with 268 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe Morgan, with .819 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Joe Morgan's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Joe Morgan's 2,517.