Mike Schmidt vs Ted Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Mike Schmidt has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Mike Schmidt played 1972–1989 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
Mike Schmidt (1972–1989) and Ted Simmons (1968–1988) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Mike Schmidt finished with 2,234 hits and 548 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? Mike Schmidt, with 548 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mike Schmidt, with .908 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Mike Schmidt's .267.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Mike Schmidt's 2,234.
- Who drove in more runs? Mike Schmidt, with 1,595 to Ted Simmons's 1,389.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mike Schmidt, with 49,630 career PIV to Ted Simmons's 20,131.
- Who won more championships? Mike Schmidt, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Mike Schmidt
Ted Simmons
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mike Schmidt 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 1970s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mike Schmidt | Ted Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,404 | Leads: 2,456 |
| At-Bats | 8,352 | Leads: 8,680 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,506 | 1,074 |
| Hits | 2,234 | Leads: 2,472 |
| Doubles | 408 | Leads: 483 |
| Triples | Leads: 59 | 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 548 | 248 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,595 | 1,389 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,507 | 855 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,883 | 694 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 174 | 21 |
| Batting Avg | .267 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .380 | .348 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .527 | .437 |
| OPS | Leads: .908 | .785 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Schmidt outpaces Ted Simmons 49,630 to 20,131 — driven by per-season impact — 2,757 PIV per season to 959 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Schmidt played 18 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).
Mike Schmidt — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mike Schmidt leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Ted Simmons owns hits and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mike Schmidt. PIV agrees: Mike Schmidt grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Schmidt and Ted Simmons careers compare
From 1972 through 1988, Mike Schmidt and Ted Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,404 games for Mike Schmidt and 2,456 for Ted Simmons across 18 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Plate discipline differs: Mike Schmidt struck out more than walked (1,883 to 1,507), but Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts). Mike Schmidt is the more power-leaning hitter, with 548 of 2,234 hits leaving the park. Mike Schmidt was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Mike Schmidt holds the edge, .380 to .348.
Mike Schmidt vs Ted Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Schmidt or Ted Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mike Schmidt leads Ted Simmons in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mike Schmidt or Ted Simmons hit more home runs?
- Mike Schmidt, with 548 to Ted Simmons's 248.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mike Schmidt, with .908 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Mike Schmidt's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Mike Schmidt's 2,234.