Hardy Richardson vs Deacon White: Career Stats Comparison
Hardy Richardson and Deacon White are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Hardy Richardson played 1879–1892 as a hitter; Deacon White played 1871–1890 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
Hardy Richardson (1879–1892) and Deacon White (1871–1890) — both broke in during the 1870s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Hardy Richardson finished with 1,694 hits and 73 home runs; Deacon White finished with 2,067 hits and 24 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Hardy Richardson, with 73 to Deacon White's 24.
- Who had the higher OPS? Hardy Richardson, with .781 to Deacon White's .740.
- Who had the higher batting average? Deacon White, with .312 to Hardy Richardson's .299.
- Who had more hits? Deacon White, with 2,067 to Hardy Richardson's 1,694.
- Who drove in more runs? Deacon White, with 988 to Hardy Richardson's 828.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Hardy Richardson, with 20,601 career PIV to Deacon White's 19,258.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Hardy Richardson
Deacon White
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Hardy Richardson and Deacon White. 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 | Hardy Richardson | Deacon White |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,334 | Leads: 1,560 |
| At-Bats | 5,657 | Leads: 6,624 |
| Runs | 1,127 | Leads: 1,140 |
| Hits | 1,694 | Leads: 2,067 |
| Doubles | Leads: 305 | 270 |
| Triples | Leads: 126 | 98 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 73 | 24 |
| RBI | 828 | Leads: 988 |
| Walks | Leads: 377 | 308 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 446 | 221 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 207 | 70 |
| Batting Avg | .299 | Leads: .312 |
| On-Base % | .344 | Leads: .346 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .437 | .393 |
| OPS | Leads: .781 | .740 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hardy Richardson edges Deacon White 20,601 to 19,258 — driven by per-season impact — 1,373 PIV per season to 963 — rather than by longevity, since Hardy Richardson played 15 seasons to Deacon White'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).
Hardy Richardson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Deacon White — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Deacon White leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Hardy Richardson owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Deacon White. Note that PIV actually grades Hardy Richardson ahead, which means Deacon White's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Hardy Richardson and Deacon White careers compare
From 1879 through 1890, Hardy Richardson and Deacon White were in the majors together. With 1,334 games against 1,560 across 15 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Hardy Richardson struck out more than walked (446 to 377), while Deacon White walked more often than struck out (308 walks, 221 strikeouts). Hardy Richardson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 73 of 1,694 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Hardy Richardson stole more often per game played (207 steals in 1,334 games for Hardy Richardson, 70 in 1,560 for Deacon White). In slugging percentage, Hardy Richardson holds the edge, .437 to .393.
Hardy Richardson vs Deacon White: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Hardy Richardson or Deacon White hit more home runs?
- Hardy Richardson, with 73 to Deacon White's 24.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Hardy Richardson, with .781 to Deacon White's .740.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Deacon White, with .312 to Hardy Richardson's .299.
- Who had more hits?
- Deacon White, with 2,067 to Hardy Richardson's 1,694.