Tony Oliva 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). Tony Oliva played 1962–1976 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
Tony Oliva (1962–1976) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Tony Oliva finished with 1,917 hits and 220 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 Tony Oliva's 220.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tony Oliva, with .830 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tony Oliva, with .304 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Tony Oliva's 1,917.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Tony Oliva's 947.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tony Oliva, with 23,924 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
Tony Oliva
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Tony Oliva 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 | Tony Oliva | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,676 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 6,301 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | 870 | Leads: 1,074 |
| Hits | 1,917 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 329 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 48 | 47 |
| Home Runs | 220 | Leads: 248 |
| RBI | 947 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 448 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 645 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 86 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .304 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .353 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .476 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .830 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tony Oliva leads Ted Simmons 23,924 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,595 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Tony Oliva played 15 seasons to Ted Simmons's 21. 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).
Tony Oliva — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tony Oliva leads in stolen bases, batting average, OBP, and OPS, while Ted Simmons owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tony Oliva. PIV agrees: Tony Oliva grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tony Oliva and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1968 through 1976, Tony Oliva and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. With 1,676 games against 2,456 across 15 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Tony Oliva struck out more than walked (645 to 448), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Tony Oliva owns the better peak by OPS: .916 OPS in 1964 for Tony Oliva against .908 OPS in 1977 for Ted Simmons.
Tony Oliva vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tony Oliva or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Tony Oliva in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Tony Oliva or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Tony Oliva's 220.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tony Oliva, with .830 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tony Oliva, with .304 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Tony Oliva's 1,917.