Frank Robinson vs Rusty Staub: 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; Rusty Staub played 1963–1985 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 Rusty Staub (1963–1985) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 14 seasons. Frank Robinson finished with 2,943 hits and 586 home runs; Rusty Staub finished with 2,716 hits and 292 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 Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Robinson, with .926 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average? Frank Robinson, with .294 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits? Frank Robinson, with 2,943 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.
- Who drove in more runs? Frank Robinson, with 1,812 to Rusty Staub's 1,466.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Robinson, with 67,113 career PIV to Rusty Staub's 30,346.
Frank Robinson
Rusty Staub
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Frank Robinson and Rusty Staub. 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 | Rusty Staub |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,808 | 2,951 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,006 | 9,720 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,829 | 1,189 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,943 | 2,716 |
| Doubles | Leads: 528 | 499 |
| Triples | Leads: 72 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 586 | 292 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,812 | 1,466 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,420 | 1,255 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,532 | 888 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 204 | 47 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .294 | .279 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .362 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .537 | .431 |
| OPS | Leads: .926 | .793 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Robinson outpaces Rusty Staub 67,113 to 30,346 — driven by per-season impact — 3,196 PIV per season to 1,319 — rather than by longevity, since Frank Robinson played 21 seasons to Rusty Staub's 23. 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
Rusty Staub — 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. Rusty Staub 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 Rusty Staub careers compare
From 1963 through 1976, Frank Robinson and Rusty Staub were in the majors together. With 2,808 games against 2,951 across 21 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Frank Robinson leads every scored row of the table. At the plate, Frank Robinson struck out more than walked (1,532 to 1,420), while Rusty Staub walked more often than struck out (1,255 walks, 888 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Frank Robinson's hits: 586 of 2,943 for Frank Robinson, 292 of 2,716 for Rusty Staub.
Frank Robinson vs Rusty Staub: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Frank Robinson or Rusty Staub?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Frank Robinson leads Rusty Staub in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Frank Robinson or Rusty Staub hit more home runs?
- Frank Robinson, with 586 to Rusty Staub's 292.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Robinson, with .926 to Rusty Staub's .793.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Frank Robinson, with .294 to Rusty Staub's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Frank Robinson, with 2,943 to Rusty Staub's 2,716.