Cal Ripken vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Cal Ripken has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 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 Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs; Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 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 Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Cal Ripken, with .788 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Ted Simmons's 1,389.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Cal Ripken, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Cal Ripken
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Cal Ripken and Ted Simmons. 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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Cal Ripken | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 3,001 | 2,456 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 11,551 | 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,647 | 1,074 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,184 | 2,472 |
| Doubles | Leads: 603 | 483 |
| Triples | 44 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 431 | 248 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,695 | 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,129 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,305 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 36 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .276 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .340 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .447 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .788 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons edges Cal Ripken 20,131 to 19,199 — driven by per-season impact — 959 PIV per season to 914 — rather than by longevity, since Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Cal Ripken's 21. 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
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cal Ripken leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ted Simmons owns batting average and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cal Ripken. Note that PIV actually grades Ted Simmons ahead, which means Cal Ripken's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cal Ripken and Ted Simmons careers compare
Cal Ripken and Ted Simmons were active at the same time between 1981 and 1988. The two careers are close in length, 3,001 games for Cal Ripken and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 21 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Ted Simmons comes out ahead, it is in triples (47 to 44), batting average (.285 to .276), and on-base percentage (.348 to .340). At the plate, Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Cal Ripken is the more power-leaning hitter, with 431 of 3,184 hits leaving the park.
Cal Ripken vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cal Ripken or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cal Ripken leads Ted Simmons in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Cal Ripken or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Cal Ripken, with 431 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Cal Ripken, with .788 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Ted Simmons's 2,472.