Willie Stargell vs Carl Yastrzemski: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Yastrzemski has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Willie Stargell played 1962–1982 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
Willie Stargell (1962–1982) and Carl Yastrzemski (1961–1983) — both debuted in the 1960s. Willie Stargell finished with 2,232 hits and 475 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 leads the career comparison? Carl Yastrzemski, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Willie Stargell, with 475 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS? Willie Stargell, with .889 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Willie Stargell's .282.
- Who had more hits? Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Willie Stargell's 2,232.
- Who drove in more runs? Carl Yastrzemski, with 1,844 to Willie Stargell's 1,540.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Carl Yastrzemski, with 54,310 career PIV to Willie Stargell's 42,804.
Willie Stargell
Carl Yastrzemski
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Willie Stargell and Carl Yastrzemski. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Willie Stargell | Carl Yastrzemski |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,360 | 3,308 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,927 | 11,988 |
| Runs | 1,194 | Leads: 1,816 |
| Hits | 2,232 | Leads: 3,419 |
| Doubles | 423 | Leads: 646 |
| Triples | 55 | Leads: 59 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 475 | 452 |
| RBI | 1,540 | Leads: 1,844 |
| Walks | 937 | Leads: 1,845 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,936 | 1,393 |
| Stolen Bases | 17 | Leads: 168 |
| Batting Avg | .282 | Leads: .285 |
| On-Base % | .360 | Leads: .379 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .529 | .462 |
| OPS | Leads: .889 | .841 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Yastrzemski leads Willie Stargell 54,310 to 42,804 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,361 PIV per season to 2,038, across 23 seasons to 21. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Willie Stargell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Carl Yastrzemski — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Carl Yastrzemski leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Willie Stargell leads 3: home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. 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 Willie Stargell and Carl Yastrzemski careers compare
From 1962 through 1982, Willie Stargell and Carl Yastrzemski were in the majors together. With 2,360 games against 3,308 across 21 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Willie Stargell comes out ahead, it is in home runs (475 to 452), slugging percentage (.529 to .462), and OPS (.889 to .841). Plate discipline differs: Willie Stargell struck out more than walked (1,936 to 937), but Carl Yastrzemski walked more often than struck out (1,845 walks, 1,393 strikeouts). Willie Stargell is the more power-leaning hitter, with 475 of 2,232 hits leaving the park. Carl Yastrzemski was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Willie Stargell vs Carl Yastrzemski: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Willie Stargell or Carl Yastrzemski?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Yastrzemski leads Willie Stargell in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Willie Stargell or Carl Yastrzemski hit more home runs?
- Willie Stargell, with 475 to Carl Yastrzemski's 452.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Willie Stargell, with .889 to Carl Yastrzemski's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with .285 to Willie Stargell's .282.
- Who had more hits?
- Carl Yastrzemski, with 3,419 to Willie Stargell's 2,232.