Jim Rice vs Ken Singleton: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Rice has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jim Rice played 1974–1989 as a hitter; Ken Singleton played 1970–1984 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 Ken Singleton (1970–1984) — both debuted in the 1970s. Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs; Ken Singleton finished with 2,029 hits and 246 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Jim Rice, in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Rice, with 382 to Ken Singleton's 246.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Ken Singleton's .824.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Rice, with .298 to Ken Singleton's .282.
- Who had more hits? Jim Rice, with 2,452 to Ken Singleton's 2,029.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Ken Singleton's 1,065.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Ken Singleton's 29,530.
Ken Singleton
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Rice and Ken Singleton. 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 | Jim Rice | Ken Singleton |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,089 | 2,082 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,225 | 7,189 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,249 | 985 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,452 | 2,029 |
| Doubles | Leads: 373 | 317 |
| Triples | Leads: 79 | 25 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 382 | 246 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,451 | 1,065 |
| Walks | 670 | Leads: 1,263 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,423 | 1,246 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 58 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .298 | .282 |
| On-Base % | .352 | Leads: .388 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .502 | .436 |
| OPS | Leads: .854 | .824 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice edges Ken Singleton 31,418 to 29,530 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Ken Singleton's 15, while Ken Singleton carries the higher per-season figure (1,969 to 1,964). 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).
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ken Singleton — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Jim Rice leads 10 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Ken Singleton leads 2: walks and on-base percentage. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Rice. PIV agrees: Jim Rice 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 Ken Singleton careers compare
The careers of Jim Rice (1974–1989) and Ken Singleton (1970–1984) overlapped from 1974 to 1984, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,089 games against 2,082 across 16 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Ken Singleton comes out ahead, it is in walks (1,263 to 670) and on-base percentage (.388 to .352). Plate discipline differs: Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670), but Ken Singleton walked more often than struck out (1,263 walks, 1,246 strikeouts).
Jim Rice vs Ken Singleton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Rice or Ken Singleton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Rice leads Ken Singleton in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jim Rice or Ken Singleton hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Ken Singleton's 246.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Ken Singleton's .824.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Rice, with .298 to Ken Singleton's .282.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Rice, with 2,452 to Ken Singleton's 2,029.