Graig Nettles vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ted Simmons 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). Graig Nettles played 1967–1988 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
Graig Nettles (1967–1988) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Graig Nettles finished with 2,225 hits and 390 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? Graig Nettles, with 390 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ted Simmons, with .785 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Graig Nettles's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Graig Nettles's 12,470.
- Who won more championships? Graig Nettles, with 2 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Graig Nettles
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Graig Nettles 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 | Graig Nettles | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,700 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,986 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,193 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,225 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 328 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | 28 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 390 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,314 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,088 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,209 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 32 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .248 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .329 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | .421 | Leads: .437 |
| OPS | .750 | Leads: .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons outpaces Graig Nettles 20,131 to 12,470 — driven by per-season impact — 959 PIV per season to 567 — rather than by longevity, since Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Graig Nettles's 22. 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).
Graig Nettles — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Graig Nettles owns home runs, runs, and stolen bases. 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 Graig Nettles and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1968 through 1988, Graig Nettles and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. With 2,700 games against 2,456 across 22 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Graig Nettles struck out more than walked (1,209 to 1,088), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Graig Nettles is the more power-leaning hitter, with 390 of 2,225 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Ted Simmons holds the edge, .437 to .421. Best seasons: 1977 for Graig Nettles (.829 OPS, 37 HR, 107 RBI, .255 avg) and 1977 for Ted Simmons (.908 OPS, 21 HR, 95 RBI, .318 avg).
Graig Nettles vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Graig Nettles or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Graig Nettles in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Graig Nettles or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Graig Nettles, with 390 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ted Simmons, with .785 to Graig Nettles's .750.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Graig Nettles's .248.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Graig Nettles's 2,225.