Dave Parker vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker 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). Dave Parker played 1973–1991 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
Dave Parker (1973–1991) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 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? Dave Parker, with 339 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Parker, with .810 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Parker, with .290 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Ted Simmons's 1,389.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Parker, with 23,542 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Dave Parker, with 2 World Series titles to Ted Simmons's 0.
Dave Parker
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dave Parker 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dave Parker | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,466 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,358 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,272 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,712 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 526 | 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 75 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 339 | 248 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,493 | 1,389 |
| Walks | 683 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,537 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 154 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .290 | .285 |
| On-Base % | .339 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .471 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .810 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Parker leads Ted Simmons 23,542 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 1,177 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Dave Parker 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).
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Parker leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ted Simmons owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Parker. PIV agrees: Dave Parker grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dave Parker and Ted Simmons careers compare
Dave Parker and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1973 and 1988. With 2,466 games against 2,456 across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ted Simmons's edges on the table are walks (855 to 683) and on-base percentage (.348 to .339). Plate discipline differs: Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Dave Parker was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Dave Parker's slugging percentage of .471 tops Ted Simmons's .437.
Dave Parker vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dave Parker or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Parker leads Ted Simmons in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Dave Parker or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Parker, with .810 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Parker, with .290 to Ted Simmons's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.