Jim Rice vs Robin Yount: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Yount has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Robin Yount played 1974–1993 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 Robin Yount (1974–1993) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs; Robin Yount finished with 3,142 hits and 251 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 Robin Yount's 251.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Robin Yount's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Rice, with .298 to Robin Yount's .285.
- Who had more hits? Robin Yount, with 3,142 to Jim Rice's 2,452.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Robin Yount's 1,406.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Robin Yount's 18,665.
Robin Yount
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Rice and Robin Yount. 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 | Jim Rice | Robin Yount |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,089 | Leads: 2,856 |
| At-Bats | 8,225 | Leads: 11,008 |
| Runs | 1,249 | Leads: 1,632 |
| Hits | 2,452 | Leads: 3,142 |
| Doubles | 373 | Leads: 583 |
| Triples | 79 | Leads: 126 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 382 | 251 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,451 | 1,406 |
| Walks | 670 | Leads: 966 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,423 | 1,350 |
| Stolen Bases | 58 | Leads: 271 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .298 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .352 | .342 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .502 | .430 |
| OPS | Leads: .854 | .772 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice outpaces Robin Yount 31,418 to 18,665 — driven by per-season impact — 1,964 PIV per season to 933 — rather than by longevity, since Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Robin Yount's 20. 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
Robin Yount — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Rice leads in home runs, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Robin Yount owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but 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 Robin Yount careers compare
Jim Rice and Robin Yount were active at the same time between 1974 and 1989. With 2,089 games against 2,856 across 16 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670), and Robin Yount struck out more than walked (1,350 to 966). Home runs make up a larger share of Jim Rice's hits: 382 of 2,452 for Jim Rice, 251 of 3,142 for Robin Yount. Robin Yount was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Jim Rice holds the edge, .502 to .430.
Jim Rice vs Robin Yount: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Rice or Robin Yount?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Yount leads Jim Rice in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jim Rice or Robin Yount hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Robin Yount's 251.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Robin Yount's .772.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Rice, with .298 to Robin Yount's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Robin Yount, with 3,142 to Jim Rice's 2,452.