Frank Robinson vs Willie Stargell: Career Stats Comparison
Frank Robinson has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Frank Robinson played 1956–1976 as a hitter; Willie Stargell played 1962–1982 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 Willie Stargell (1962–1982) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 15 seasons. Frank Robinson finished with 2,943 hits and 586 home runs; Willie Stargell finished with 2,232 hits and 475 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Frank Robinson, in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Frank Robinson, with 586 to Willie Stargell's 475.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Robinson, with .926 to Willie Stargell's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average? Frank Robinson, with .294 to Willie Stargell's .282.
- Who had more hits? Frank Robinson, with 2,943 to Willie Stargell's 2,232.
- Who drove in more runs? Frank Robinson, with 1,812 to Willie Stargell's 1,540.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Robinson, with 67,113 career PIV to Willie Stargell's 42,804.
Frank Robinson
Willie Stargell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell. 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 | Willie Stargell |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,808 | 2,360 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,006 | 7,927 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,829 | 1,194 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,943 | 2,232 |
| Doubles | Leads: 528 | 423 |
| Triples | Leads: 72 | 55 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 586 | 475 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,812 | 1,540 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,420 | 937 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,532 | 1,936 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 204 | 17 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .294 | .282 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .360 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .537 | .529 |
| OPS | Leads: .926 | .889 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Robinson outpaces Willie Stargell 67,113 to 42,804 — driven by per-season impact — 3,196 PIV per season to 2,038 — rather than by longevity, since Frank Robinson played 21 seasons to Willie Stargell's 21. 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
Willie Stargell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Frank Robinson leads 12 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Willie Stargell leads 0: no scored category. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Frank Robinson. PIV agrees: Frank Robinson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell careers compare
Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell were active at the same time between 1962 and 1976. The two careers are close in length, 2,808 games for Frank Robinson and 2,360 for Willie Stargell across 21 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Every scored category on the table goes to Frank Robinson. Frank Robinson struck out more than walked (1,532 to 1,420); Willie Stargell struck out more than walked (1,936 to 937). On the bases, Frank Robinson stole more often per game played (204 steals in 2,808 games for Frank Robinson, 17 in 2,360 for Willie Stargell). Frank Robinson's on-base percentage of .389 tops Willie Stargell's .360.
Frank Robinson vs Willie Stargell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Frank Robinson or Willie Stargell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Frank Robinson leads Willie Stargell in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Frank Robinson or Willie Stargell hit more home runs?
- Frank Robinson, with 586 to Willie Stargell's 475.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Robinson, with .926 to Willie Stargell's .889.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Frank Robinson, with .294 to Willie Stargell's .282.
- Who had more hits?
- Frank Robinson, with 2,943 to Willie Stargell's 2,232.