Ted Simmons vs Lou Whitaker: 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). Ted Simmons played 1968–1988 as a hitter; Lou Whitaker played 1977–1995 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
Ted Simmons (1968–1988) and Lou Whitaker (1977–1995) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ted Simmons finished with 2,472 hits and 248 home runs; Lou Whitaker finished with 2,369 hits and 244 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ted Simmons, with 248 to Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS? Lou Whitaker, with .789 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ted Simmons, with .285 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits? Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.
- Who drove in more runs? Ted Simmons, with 1,389 to Lou Whitaker's 1,084.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ted Simmons, with 20,131 career PIV to Lou Whitaker's 19,796.
- Who won more championships? Lou Whitaker, with 1 World Series title to Ted Simmons's 0.
Ted Simmons
Lou Whitaker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ted Simmons and Lou Whitaker. 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 1960s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ted Simmons | Lou Whitaker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,456 | 2,390 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,680 | 8,570 |
| Runs | 1,074 | Leads: 1,386 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,472 | 2,369 |
| Doubles | Leads: 483 | 420 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 65 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 248 | 244 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,389 | 1,084 |
| Walks | 855 | Leads: 1,197 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 694 | 1,099 |
| Stolen Bases | 21 | Leads: 143 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .285 | .276 |
| On-Base % | .348 | Leads: .363 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .437 | .426 |
| OPS | .785 | Leads: .789 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ted Simmons edges Lou Whitaker 20,131 to 19,796 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ted Simmons played 21 seasons to Lou Whitaker's 19, while Lou Whitaker carries the higher per-season figure (1,042 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).
Ted Simmons — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lou Whitaker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ted Simmons leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and batting average, while Lou Whitaker owns runs, stolen bases, and OBP. 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 Ted Simmons and Lou Whitaker careers compare
Ted Simmons and Lou Whitaker were active at the same time between 1977 and 1988. With 2,456 games against 2,390 across 21 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ted Simmons walked more often than struck out (855 walks, 694 strikeouts); Lou Whitaker walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,099 strikeouts). On the bases, Lou Whitaker stole more often per game played (21 steals in 2,456 games for Ted Simmons, 143 in 2,390 for Lou Whitaker). In on-base percentage, Lou Whitaker holds the edge, .363 to .348.
Ted Simmons vs Lou Whitaker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ted Simmons or Lou Whitaker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ted Simmons leads Lou Whitaker in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ted Simmons or Lou Whitaker hit more home runs?
- Ted Simmons, with 248 to Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Lou Whitaker, with .789 to Ted Simmons's .785.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ted Simmons, with .285 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Ted Simmons, with 2,472 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.