Ryne Sandberg vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ted Simmons has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ryne Sandberg played 1981–1997 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
Ryne Sandberg (1981–1997) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ryne Sandberg finished with 2,386 hits and 282 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? Ryne Sandberg, with 282 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryne Sandberg, with .795 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Neither — both are at .285.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ryne Sandberg's 2,386.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Ryne Sandberg's 1,061.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Ryne Sandberg's 17,776.
Ryne Sandberg
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ryne Sandberg 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 | Ryne Sandberg | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,164 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 8,385 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,318 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,386 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 403 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 282 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,061 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | 761 | Leads: 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,260 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 344 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .285 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .344 | Leads: .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .452 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .795 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons leads Ryne Sandberg 20,131 to 17,776 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Ryne Sandberg's 16, while Ryne Sandberg carries the higher per-season figure (1,111 to 959). 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).
Ryne Sandberg — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Ryne Sandberg owns home runs, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ted Simmons. PIV agrees: Ted Simmons grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ryne Sandberg and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1981 through 1988, Ryne Sandberg and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,164 games for Ryne Sandberg and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 16 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Ryne Sandberg struck out more than walked (1,260 to 761), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ryne Sandberg was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Ryne Sandberg holds the edge, .452 to .437.
Ryne Sandberg vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ryne Sandberg or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Ryne Sandberg in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ryne Sandberg or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ryne Sandberg, with 282 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryne Sandberg, with .795 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Neither — both are at .285.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ryne Sandberg's 2,386.