Dale Murphy vs Rusty Staub: Career Stats Comparison
Rusty Staub has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Dale Murphy played 1976–1993 as a hitter; Rusty Staub played 1963–1985 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
Dale Murphy (1976–1993) and Rusty Staub (1963–1985) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Dale Murphy finished with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs; Rusty Staub finished with 2,716 hits and 292 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dale Murphy, with 398 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dale Murphy, with .815 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rusty Staub, with .279 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits? Rusty Staub, with 2,716 to Dale Murphy's 2,111.
- Who drove in more runs? Rusty Staub, with 1,466 to Dale Murphy's 1,266.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rusty Staub, with 30,346 career PIV to Dale Murphy's 24,431.
Dale Murphy
Rusty Staub
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dale Murphy and Rusty Staub. 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dale Murphy | Rusty Staub |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,180 | Leads: 2,951 |
| At-Bats | 7,960 | Leads: 9,720 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,197 | 1,189 |
| Hits | 2,111 | Leads: 2,716 |
| Doubles | 350 | Leads: 499 |
| Triples | 39 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 398 | 292 |
| RBI | 1,266 | Leads: 1,466 |
| Walks | 986 | Leads: 1,255 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,748 | 888 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 161 | 47 |
| Batting Avg | .265 | Leads: .279 |
| On-Base % | .346 | Leads: .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .469 | .431 |
| OPS | Leads: .815 | .793 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rusty Staub leads Dale Murphy 30,346 to 24,431 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rusty Staub played 24 seasons to Dale Murphy's 19, while Dale Murphy carries the higher per-season figure (1,286 to 1,264). 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).
Dale Murphy — top 3 seasons by OPS
Rusty Staub — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rusty Staub leads in hits, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Dale Murphy owns home runs, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rusty Staub. PIV agrees: Rusty Staub grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dale Murphy and Rusty Staub careers compare
From 1976 through 1985, Dale Murphy and Rusty Staub were in the majors together. With 2,180 games against 2,951 across 19 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Dale Murphy struck out more than walked (1,748 to 986), but Rusty Staub walked more often than struck out (1,255 walks, 888 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Dale Murphy's hits: 398 of 2,111 for Dale Murphy, 292 of 2,716 for Rusty Staub. On the bases, Dale Murphy stole more often per game played (161 steals in 2,180 games for Dale Murphy, 47 in 2,951 for Rusty Staub).
Dale Murphy vs Rusty Staub: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dale Murphy or Rusty Staub?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rusty Staub leads Dale Murphy in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Dale Murphy or Rusty Staub hit more home runs?
- Dale Murphy, with 398 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dale Murphy, with .815 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rusty Staub, with .279 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits?
- Rusty Staub, with 2,716 to Dale Murphy's 2,111.