Cal Ripken vs Joe Sewell: Career Stats Comparison
Cal Ripken has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 as a hitter; Joe Sewell played 1920–1933 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
Cal Ripken (1981–2001) and Joe Sewell (1920–1933) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1920s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs; Joe Sewell finished with 2,226 hits and 49 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Cal Ripken, with 431 to Joe Sewell's 49.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe Sewell, with .804 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Joe Sewell, with .312 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Joe Sewell's 2,226.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Joe Sewell's 1,055.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Cal Ripken, with 19,199 career PIV to Joe Sewell's 15,785.
- Who won more championships? Joe Sewell, with 2 World Series titles to Cal Ripken's 1.
Cal Ripken
Joe Sewell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Cal Ripken and Joe Sewell. 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 1980s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Cal Ripken | Joe Sewell |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 3,001 | 1,903 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 11,551 | 7,132 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,647 | 1,141 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,184 | 2,226 |
| Doubles | Leads: 603 | 436 |
| Triples | 44 | Leads: 68 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 431 | 49 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,695 | 1,055 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,129 | 842 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,305 | 114 |
| Stolen Bases | 36 | Leads: 74 |
| Batting Avg | .276 | Leads: .312 |
| On-Base % | .340 | Leads: .391 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .447 | .413 |
| OPS | .788 | Leads: .804 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Cal Ripken leads Joe Sewell 19,199 to 15,785 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Cal Ripken played 21 seasons to Joe Sewell's 14, while Joe Sewell carries the higher per-season figure (1,128 to 914). 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).
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Joe Sewell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cal Ripken leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Joe Sewell owns stolen bases, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cal Ripken. PIV agrees: Cal Ripken grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cal Ripken and Joe Sewell careers compare
No season is shared: Joe Sewell played 1920–1933, Cal Ripken 1981–2001. Cal Ripken has the far longer record, 3,001 games against 1,903 across 21 and 14 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. At the plate, Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129), while Joe Sewell walked more often than struck out (842 walks, 114 strikeouts). Cal Ripken is the more power-leaning hitter, with 431 of 3,184 hits leaving the park. Cal Ripken's slugging percentage of .447 tops Joe Sewell's .413. On the peak-season lists, Cal Ripken's best year is 1999 at .952 OPS and Joe Sewell's is 1923 at .935 OPS; Cal Ripken has the stronger single season.
Cal Ripken vs Joe Sewell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cal Ripken or Joe Sewell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cal Ripken leads Joe Sewell in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Cal Ripken or Joe Sewell hit more home runs?
- Cal Ripken, with 431 to Joe Sewell's 49.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe Sewell, with .804 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Joe Sewell, with .312 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Joe Sewell's 2,226.