Rafael Palmeiro vs Chase Utley: Career Stats Comparison
Rafael Palmeiro 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). Rafael Palmeiro played 1986–2005 as a hitter; Chase Utley played 2003–2018 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 Chase Utley (2003–2018) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 2000s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Rafael Palmeiro finished with 3,020 hits and 569 home runs; Chase Utley finished with 1,885 hits and 259 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 Chase Utley's 259.
- Who had the higher OPS? Rafael Palmeiro, with .885 to Chase Utley's .823.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Chase Utley's .275.
- Who had more hits? Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Chase Utley's 1,885.
- Who drove in more runs? Rafael Palmeiro, with 1,835 to Chase Utley's 1,025.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rafael Palmeiro, with 42,814 career PIV to Chase Utley's 17,446.
- Who won more championships? Chase Utley, with 1 World Series title to Rafael Palmeiro's 0.
Rafael Palmeiro
Chase Utley
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rafael Palmeiro and Chase Utley. 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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rafael Palmeiro | Chase Utley |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,831 | 1,937 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 10,472 | 6,857 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,663 | 1,103 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,020 | 1,885 |
| Doubles | Leads: 585 | 411 |
| Triples | 38 | Leads: 58 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 569 | 259 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,835 | 1,025 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,353 | 724 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,348 | 1,193 |
| Stolen Bases | 97 | Leads: 154 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .288 | .275 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .358 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .465 |
| OPS | Leads: .885 | .823 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rafael Palmeiro outpaces Chase Utley 42,814 to 17,446 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,141 PIV per season to 1,026, across 20 seasons to 17. 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
Chase Utley — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rafael Palmeiro leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Chase Utley owns stolen bases. 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 Chase Utley careers compare
From 2003 through 2005, Rafael Palmeiro and Chase Utley were in the majors together. With 2,831 games against 1,937 across 20 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Chase Utley's edges on the table are triples (58 to 38) and stolen bases (154 to 97). Plate discipline differs: Rafael Palmeiro walked more often than struck out (1,353 walks, 1,348 strikeouts), but Chase Utley struck out more than walked (1,193 to 724). Rafael Palmeiro is the more power-leaning hitter, with 569 of 3,020 hits leaving the park.
Rafael Palmeiro vs Chase Utley: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rafael Palmeiro or Chase Utley?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rafael Palmeiro leads Chase Utley in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Rafael Palmeiro or Chase Utley hit more home runs?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 to Chase Utley's 259.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with .885 to Chase Utley's .823.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Chase Utley's .275.
- Who had more hits?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Chase Utley's 1,885.