Thurman Munson vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ted Simmons has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Thurman Munson played 1969–1979 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
Thurman Munson (1969–1979) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Thurman Munson finished with 1,558 hits and 113 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 Thurman Munson's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ted Simmons, with .785 to Thurman Munson's .756.
- Who had the higher batting average? Thurman Munson, with .292 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Thurman Munson's 1,558.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Thurman Munson's 701.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Thurman Munson's 8,466.
- Who won more championships? Thurman Munson, with 2 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Thurman Munson
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Thurman Munson 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 | Thurman Munson | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,423 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 5,344 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | 696 | Leads: 1,074 |
| Hits | 1,558 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 229 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | 32 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | 113 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 701 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 438 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 571 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 48 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .292 | .285 |
| On-Base % | .346 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | .410 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | .756 | Leads: .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons outpaces Thurman Munson 20,131 to 8,466 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 959 PIV per season to 770, across 21 seasons to 11. 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).
Thurman Munson — 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 Thurman Munson owns stolen bases and batting average. 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 Thurman Munson and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1969 through 1979, Thurman Munson and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. The table compares 1,423 games of Thurman Munson with 2,456 of Ted Simmons across 11 and 21 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Thurman Munson comes out ahead, it is in stolen bases (48 to 21) and batting average (.292 to .285). Plate discipline differs: Thurman Munson struck out more than walked (571 to 438), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ted Simmons is the more power-leaning hitter, with 248 of 2,472 hits leaving the park.
Thurman Munson vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Thurman Munson or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Thurman Munson in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Thurman Munson or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Thurman Munson's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ted Simmons, with .785 to Thurman Munson's .756.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Thurman Munson, with .292 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Thurman Munson's 1,558.