Frank Robinson vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Frank Robinson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Carl Yastrzemski played 1961–1983 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 Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 16 seasons. Frank Robinson finished with 2,943 hits and 586 home runs; Carl Yastrzemski finished with 3,419 hits and 452 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 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Frank Robinson, with 586 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS? Frank Robinson, with .926 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Frank Robinson, with .294 to Carl Yastrzemski's .285.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Frank Robinson's 2,943.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Frank Robinson's 1,812.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Frank Robinson, with 67,113 career PIV to Carl Yastrzemski's 54,310.
Frank Robinson
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Frank Robinson and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,808 | 3,308 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,006 | 11,988 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,829 | 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,943 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 528 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | Leads: 72 | 59 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 586 | 452 |
| RBI | 1,812 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 1,420 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,532 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 204 | 168 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .294 | .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .537 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .926 | .841 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Frank Robinson leads Carl Yastrzemski 67,113 to 54,310 — driven by per-season impact — 3,196 PIV per season to 2,361 — rather than by longevity, since Frank Robinson played 21 seasons to Carl Yastrzemski'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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Frank Robinson leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, triples, home runs, stolen bases, and others. Carl Yastrzemski leads 4: hits, doubles, RBI, and walks. 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
From 1961 through 1976, Frank Robinson and Carl Yastrzemski were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,808 games for Frank Robinson and 3,308 for Carl Yastrzemski across 21 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Carl Yastrzemski comes out ahead, it is in hits (3,419 to 2,943), doubles (646 to 528), and RBI (1,844 to 1,812). Plate discipline differs: Frank Robinson struck out more than walked (1,532 to 1,420), but Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts).
Frank Robinson vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Frank Robinson or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Frank Robinson leads Carl Yastrzemski in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Frank Robinson or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Frank Robinson, with 586 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Frank Robinson, with .926 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Frank Robinson, with .294 to Carl Yastrzemski's .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Frank Robinson's 2,943.