Dave Parker vs Jim Rice: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker and Jim Rice are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dave Parker played 1973–1991 as a hitter; Jim Rice played 1974–1989 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
Dave Parker (1973–1991) and Jim Rice (1974–1989) — both debuted in the 1970s. Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs; Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Rice, with 382 to Dave Parker's 339.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Rice, with .298 to Dave Parker's .290.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Jim Rice's 2,452.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Jim Rice's 1,451.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Dave Parker's 23,542.
Dave Parker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dave Parker and Jim Rice. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Dave Parker | Jim Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,466 | 2,089 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,358 | 8,225 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,272 | 1,249 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,712 | 2,452 |
| Doubles | Leads: 526 | 373 |
| Triples | 75 | Leads: 79 |
| Home Runs | 339 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,493 | 1,451 |
| Walks | Leads: 683 | 670 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,537 | 1,423 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 154 | 58 |
| Batting Avg | .290 | Leads: .298 |
| On-Base % | .339 | Leads: .352 |
| Slugging % | .471 | Leads: .502 |
| OPS | .810 | Leads: .854 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice outpaces Dave Parker 31,418 to 23,542 — driven by per-season impact — 1,964 PIV per season to 1,239 — rather than by longevity, since Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Dave Parker's 19. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Dave Parker and Jim Rice split the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card 6-6. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Jim Rice higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dave Parker and Jim Rice careers compare
The careers of Dave Parker (1973–1991) and Jim Rice (1974–1989) overlapped from 1974 to 1989, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,466 games against 2,089 across 19 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683); Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670). Dave Parker was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Jim Rice holds the edge, .502 to .471. Dave Parker owns the better peak by OPS: .979 OPS in 1978 for Dave Parker against .977 OPS in 1979 for Jim Rice.
Dave Parker vs Jim Rice: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dave Parker or Jim Rice?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Did Dave Parker or Jim Rice hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Dave Parker's 339.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Dave Parker's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Rice, with .298 to Dave Parker's .290.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Jim Rice's 2,452.