Harold Baines vs Dale Murphy: Career Stats Comparison
Harold Baines has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Harold Baines played 1980–2001 as a hitter; Dale Murphy played 1976–1993 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
Harold Baines (1980–2001) and Dale Murphy (1976–1993) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Harold Baines finished with 2,866 hits and 384 home runs; Dale Murphy finished with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dale Murphy, with 398 to Harold Baines's 384.
- Who had the higher OPS? Harold Baines, with .820 to Dale Murphy's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average? Harold Baines, with .289 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits? Harold Baines, with 2,866 to Dale Murphy's 2,111.
- Who drove in more runs? Harold Baines, with 1,628 to Dale Murphy's 1,266.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Harold Baines, with 25,497 career PIV to Dale Murphy's 24,431.
Harold Baines
Dale Murphy
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Harold Baines and Dale Murphy. 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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Harold Baines | Dale Murphy |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,830 | 2,180 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,908 | 7,960 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,299 | 1,197 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,866 | 2,111 |
| Doubles | Leads: 488 | 350 |
| Triples | Leads: 49 | 39 |
| Home Runs | 384 | Leads: 398 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,628 | 1,266 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,062 | 986 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,441 | 1,748 |
| Stolen Bases | 34 | Leads: 161 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .289 | .265 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .356 | .346 |
| Slugging % | .465 | Leads: .469 |
| OPS | Leads: .820 | .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Harold Baines edges Dale Murphy 25,497 to 24,431 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Harold Baines played 27 seasons to Dale Murphy's 19, while Dale Murphy carries the higher per-season figure (1,286 to 944). 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).
Harold Baines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dale Murphy — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Harold Baines leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Dale Murphy owns home runs and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Harold Baines. PIV agrees: Harold Baines grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Harold Baines and Dale Murphy careers compare
From 1980 through 1993, Harold Baines and Dale Murphy were in the majors together. With 2,830 games against 2,180 across 27 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Dale Murphy's edges on the table are home runs (398 to 384), stolen bases (161 to 34), and slugging percentage (.469 to .465). Harold Baines struck out more than walked (1,441 to 1,062); Dale Murphy struck out more than walked (1,748 to 986). Dale Murphy is the more power-leaning hitter, with 398 of 2,111 hits leaving the park.
Harold Baines vs Dale Murphy: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Harold Baines or Dale Murphy?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Harold Baines leads Dale Murphy in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Harold Baines or Dale Murphy hit more home runs?
- Dale Murphy, with 398 to Harold Baines's 384.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Harold Baines, with .820 to Dale Murphy's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Harold Baines, with .289 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits?
- Harold Baines, with 2,866 to Dale Murphy's 2,111.