Jim Rice vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Rose has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jim Rice played 1974–1989 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
Jim Rice (1974–1989) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Rice, with 382 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Jim Rice's .298.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Jim Rice's 2,452.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Pete Rose, with 40,772 career PIV to Jim Rice's 31,418.
- Who won more championships? Pete Rose, with 3 World Series titles to Jim Rice's 0.
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Rice and Pete Rose. 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 | Jim Rice | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,089 | Leads: 3,562 |
| At-Bats | 8,225 | Leads: 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,249 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 2,452 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 373 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 79 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 382 | 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,451 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 670 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,423 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | 58 | Leads: 198 |
| Batting Avg | .298 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | .352 | Leads: .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .502 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .854 | .784 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Rose leads Jim Rice 40,772 to 31,418 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Rose played 25 seasons to Jim Rice's 16, while Jim Rice carries the higher per-season figure (1,964 to 1,631). 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).
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Rose leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Jim Rice owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Rose. PIV agrees: Pete Rose grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Rice and Pete Rose careers compare
From 1974 through 1986, Jim Rice and Pete Rose were in the majors together. Pete Rose has the far longer record, 3,562 games against 2,089 across 16 and 25 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Jim Rice comes out ahead, it is in home runs (382 to 160), RBI (1,451 to 1,314), and slugging percentage (.502 to .409). At the plate, Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670), while Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Jim Rice is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 2,452 hits leaving the park.
Jim Rice vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Rice or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Rose leads Jim Rice in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jim Rice or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Jim Rice's .298.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Jim Rice's 2,452.