Rafael Palmeiro vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Rafael Palmeiro has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Rafael Palmeiro played 1986–2005 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
Rafael Palmeiro (1986–2005) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rafael Palmeiro finished with 3,020 hits and 569 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? Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rafael Palmeiro, with .885 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Rafael Palmeiro, with 1,835 to Ted Simmons's 1,389.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rafael Palmeiro, with 42,814 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
Rafael Palmeiro
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rafael Palmeiro 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, and the 1980s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rafael Palmeiro | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,831 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,472 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,663 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,020 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 585 | 483 |
| Triples | 38 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 569 | 248 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,835 | 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,353 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,348 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 97 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .288 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .885 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rafael Palmeiro outpaces Ted Simmons 42,814 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 2,141 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Rafael Palmeiro played 20 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).
Rafael Palmeiro — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rafael Palmeiro leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ted Simmons owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rafael Palmeiro. PIV agrees: Rafael Palmeiro grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rafael Palmeiro and Ted Simmons careers compare
Rafael Palmeiro and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1986 and 1988. The two careers are close in length, 2,831 games for Rafael Palmeiro and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Ted Simmons are triples (47 to 38). Rafael Palmeiro walked more often than struck out (1,353 walks, 1,348 strikeouts); Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Rafael Palmeiro is the more power-leaning hitter, with 569 of 3,020 hits leaving the park. In on-base percentage, Rafael Palmeiro holds the edge, .371 to .348.
Rafael Palmeiro vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rafael Palmeiro or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rafael Palmeiro leads Ted Simmons in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rafael Palmeiro or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with .885 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.