Mike Schmidt vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski 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). Mike Schmidt played 1972–1989 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
Mike Schmidt (1972–1989) and Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — 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; 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 hit more home runs? Mike Schmidt, with 548 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mike Schmidt, with .908 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Mike Schmidt's .267.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Mike Schmidt's 2,234.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Mike Schmidt's 1,595.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Mike Schmidt's 49,630.
- Who won more championships? Mike Schmidt, with 1 World Series title to Carl Yastrzemski's 0.
Mike Schmidt
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mike Schmidt and Carl Yastrzemski. 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 | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,404 | Leads: 3,308 |
| At-Bats | 8,352 | Leads: 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,506 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,234 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 408 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | 59 | 59 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 548 | 452 |
| RBI | 1,595 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 1,507 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,883 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 174 | 168 |
| Batting Avg | .267 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .380 | .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .527 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .908 | .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski leads Mike Schmidt 54,310 to 49,630 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons to Mike Schmidt's 18, while Mike Schmidt carries the higher per-season figure (2,757 to 2,361). 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
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Yastrzemski leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Mike Schmidt owns home runs, stolen bases, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Yastrzemski. PIV agrees: Carl Yastrzemski 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 Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
From 1972 through 1983, Mike Schmidt and Carl Yastrzemski were in the majors together. With 2,404 games against 3,308 across 18 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Mike Schmidt struck out more than walked (1,883 to 1,507), while Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 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. Mike Schmidt's slugging percentage of .527 tops Carl Yastrzemski's .462.
Mike Schmidt vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Schmidt or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Mike Schmidt in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mike Schmidt or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Mike Schmidt, with 548 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mike Schmidt, with .908 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Mike Schmidt's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Mike Schmidt's 2,234.