Dave Parker vs Lou Whitaker: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Lou Whitaker played 1977–1995 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 Lou Whitaker (1977–1995) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs; Lou Whitaker finished with 2,369 hits and 244 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 Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Parker, with .810 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Parker, with .290 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Lou Whitaker's 1,084.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Parker, with 23,542 career PIV to Lou Whitaker's 19,796.
- Who won more championships? Dave Parker, with 2 World Series titles to Lou Whitaker's 1.
Dave Parker
Lou Whitaker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dave Parker and Lou Whitaker. 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 | Dave Parker | Lou Whitaker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,466 | 2,390 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,358 | 8,570 |
| Runs | 1,272 | Leads: 1,386 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,712 | 2,369 |
| Doubles | Leads: 526 | 420 |
| Triples | Leads: 75 | 65 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 339 | 244 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,493 | 1,084 |
| Walks | 683 | Leads: 1,197 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,537 | 1,099 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 154 | 143 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .290 | .276 |
| On-Base % | .339 | Leads: .363 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .471 | .426 |
| OPS | Leads: .810 | .789 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Parker leads Lou Whitaker 23,542 to 19,796 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,177 PIV per season to 1,042, across 20 seasons to 19. 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
Lou Whitaker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Parker leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and stolen bases, while Lou Whitaker owns runs and 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 Lou Whitaker careers compare
Dave Parker and Lou Whitaker were active at the same time between 1977 and 1991. With 2,466 games against 2,390 across 20 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Lou Whitaker's edges on the table are runs (1,386 to 1,272), walks (1,197 to 683), and on-base percentage (.363 to .339). Plate discipline differs: Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683), but Lou Whitaker walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,099 strikeouts). On the bases, Dave Parker stole more often per game played (154 steals in 2,466 games for Dave Parker, 143 in 2,390 for Lou Whitaker).
Dave Parker vs Lou Whitaker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dave Parker or Lou Whitaker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Parker leads Lou Whitaker in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Dave Parker or Lou Whitaker hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Parker, with .810 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Parker, with .290 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.