Ron Santo vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Santo 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). Ron Santo played 1960–1974 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
Ron Santo (1960–1974) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — both broke in during the 1960s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ron Santo finished with 2,254 hits and 342 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? Ron Santo, with 342 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ron Santo, with .826 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Ron Santo's .277.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ron Santo's 2,254.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Ron Santo's 1,331.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ron Santo, with 33,743 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
Ron Santo
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ron Santo 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ron Santo | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,243 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 8,143 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,138 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,254 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 365 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 67 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 342 | 248 |
| RBI | 1,331 | Leads: 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,108 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,343 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 35 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .277 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .362 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .464 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .826 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ron Santo outpaces Ted Simmons 33,743 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 2,250 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Ron Santo played 15 seasons to Ted Simmons's 21. 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).
Ron Santo — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ron Santo leads in home runs, runs, stolen bases, and OBP, while Ted Simmons owns hits, RBI, and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ron Santo. PIV agrees: Ron Santo grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ron Santo and Ted Simmons careers compare
The careers of Ron Santo (1960–1974) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) overlapped from 1968 to 1974, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,243 games against 2,456 across 15 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Ron Santo struck out more than walked (1,343 to 1,108), while Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Ron Santo is the more power-leaning hitter, with 342 of 2,254 hits leaving the park. In on-base percentage, Ron Santo holds the edge, .362 to .348.
Ron Santo vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ron Santo or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ron Santo leads Ted Simmons in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ron Santo or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Ron Santo, with 342 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ron Santo, with .826 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Ron Santo's .277.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Ron Santo's 2,254.