Zack Wheat vs Ken Williams: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Wheat has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Zack Wheat played 1909–1927 as a hitter; Ken Williams played 1915–1929 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
Zack Wheat (1909–1927) and Ken Williams (1915–1929) — they debuted in the 1900s and the 1910s respectively and share 13 seasons. Zack Wheat finished with 2,884 hits and 132 home runs; Ken Williams finished with 1,552 hits and 196 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Zack Wheat, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Ken Williams, with 196 to Zack Wheat's 132.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ken Williams, with .924 to Zack Wheat's .817.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Williams, with .319 to Zack Wheat's .317.
- Who had more hits? Zack Wheat, with 2,884 to Ken Williams's 1,552.
- Who drove in more runs? Zack Wheat, with 1,248 to Ken Williams's 913.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Zack Wheat, with 30,370 career PIV to Ken Williams's 26,593.
Zack Wheat
Ken Williams
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Zack Wheat and Ken Williams. 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 | Zack Wheat | Ken Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,410 | 1,397 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,106 | 4,862 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,289 | 860 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,884 | 1,552 |
| Doubles | Leads: 476 | 285 |
| Triples | Leads: 172 | 77 |
| Home Runs | 132 | Leads: 196 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,248 | 913 |
| Walks | Leads: 650 | 566 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 572 | 287 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 205 | 154 |
| Batting Avg | .317 | Leads: .319 |
| On-Base % | .367 | Leads: .393 |
| Slugging % | .450 | Leads: .530 |
| OPS | .817 | Leads: .924 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Wheat leads Ken Williams 30,370 to 26,593 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Zack Wheat played 19 seasons to Ken Williams's 14, while Ken Williams carries the higher per-season figure (1,900 to 1,598). 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).
Zack Wheat — top 3 seasons by OPS
Ken Williams — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Zack Wheat leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Ken Williams leads 5: home runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Zack Wheat. PIV agrees: Zack Wheat grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Zack Wheat and Ken Williams careers compare
From 1915 through 1927, Zack Wheat and Ken Williams were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Zack Wheat appeared in 2,410 games to Ken Williams's 1,397. Zack Wheat walked more often than struck out (650 walks, 572 strikeouts); Ken Williams walked more often than struck out (566 walks, 287 strikeouts). Ken Williams is the more power-leaning hitter, with 196 of 1,552 hits leaving the park. Ken Williams was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Ken Williams holds the edge, .530 to .450.
Zack Wheat vs Ken Williams: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Zack Wheat or Ken Williams?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Zack Wheat leads Ken Williams in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Zack Wheat or Ken Williams hit more home runs?
- Ken Williams, with 196 to Zack Wheat's 132.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ken Williams, with .924 to Zack Wheat's .817.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Williams, with .319 to Zack Wheat's .317.
- Who had more hits?
- Zack Wheat, with 2,884 to Ken Williams's 1,552.