Frank Robinson vs Pete Rose: Career Stats Comparison
Frank Robinson and Pete Rose are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Frank Robinson played 1956–1976 as a hitter; Pete Rose played 1963–1986 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
Frank Robinson (1956–1976) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 14 seasons. Frank Robinson finished with 2,943 hits and 586 home runs; Pete Rose finished with 4,256 hits and 160 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Who hit more home runs? Frank Robinson, with 586 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Robinson, with .926 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Rose, with .303 to Frank Robinson's .294.
- Who had more hits? Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Frank Robinson's 2,943.
- Who drove in more runs? Frank Robinson, with 1,812 to Pete Rose's 1,314.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Robinson, with 67,113 career PIV to Pete Rose's 40,772.
Frank Robinson
Pete Rose
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Frank Robinson and Pete Rose. 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 | Frank Robinson | Pete Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,808 | 3,562 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,006 | 14,053 |
| Runs | 1,829 | Leads: 2,165 |
| Hits | 2,943 | Leads: 4,256 |
| Doubles | 528 | Leads: 746 |
| Triples | 72 | Leads: 135 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 586 | 160 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,812 | 1,314 |
| Walks | 1,420 | Leads: 1,566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,532 | 1,143 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 204 | 198 |
| Batting Avg | .294 | Leads: .303 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .375 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .537 | .409 |
| OPS | Leads: .926 | .784 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Robinson outpaces Pete Rose 67,113 to 40,772 — driven by per-season impact — 3,196 PIV per season to 1,699 — rather than by longevity, since Frank Robinson played 21 seasons to Pete Rose's 24. 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).
Frank Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Pete Rose — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Frank Robinson and Pete Rose split the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card 6-6. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Frank Robinson higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Frank Robinson and Pete Rose careers compare
The careers of Frank Robinson (1956–1976) and Pete Rose (1963–1986) overlapped from 1963 to 1976, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,808 games against 3,562 across 21 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Frank Robinson struck out more than walked (1,532 to 1,420), but Pete Rose walked more often than struck out (1,566 walks, 1,143 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Frank Robinson's hits: 586 of 2,943 for Frank Robinson, 160 of 4,256 for Pete Rose. Frank Robinson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Frank Robinson's slugging percentage of .537 tops Pete Rose's .409.
Frank Robinson vs Pete Rose: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Frank Robinson or Pete Rose?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 12 scored categories 6–6.
- Did Frank Robinson or Pete Rose hit more home runs?
- Frank Robinson, with 586 to Pete Rose's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Robinson, with .926 to Pete Rose's .784.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Rose, with .303 to Frank Robinson's .294.
- Who had more hits?
- Pete Rose, with 4,256 to Frank Robinson's 2,943.