Ron Cey vs Bobby Grich: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Cey 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). Ron Cey played 1971–1987 as a hitter; Bobby Grich played 1970–1986 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
Ron Cey (1971–1987) and Bobby Grich (1970–1986) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ron Cey finished with 1,868 hits and 316 home runs; Bobby Grich finished with 1,833 hits and 224 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ron Cey, with 316 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ron Cey, with .799 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bobby Grich, with .266 to Ron Cey's .261.
- Who had more hits? Ron Cey, with 1,868 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.
- Who drove in more runs? Ron Cey, with 1,139 to Bobby Grich's 864.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Grich, with 20,680 career PIV to Ron Cey's 19,506.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Bobby Grich
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ron Cey and Bobby Grich. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ron Cey | Bobby Grich |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,073 | 2,008 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,162 | 6,890 |
| Runs | 977 | Leads: 1,033 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,868 | 1,833 |
| Doubles | Leads: 328 | 320 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 47 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 316 | 224 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,139 | 864 |
| Walks | 1,012 | Leads: 1,087 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,235 | 1,278 |
| Stolen Bases | 24 | Leads: 104 |
| Batting Avg | .261 | Leads: .266 |
| On-Base % | .354 | Leads: .371 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .445 | .424 |
| OPS | Leads: .799 | .794 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Grich edges Ron Cey 20,680 to 19,506 — driven by per-season impact — 1,216 PIV per season to 1,147 — rather than by longevity, since Bobby Grich played 17 seasons to Ron Cey's 17. 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).
Ron Cey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Bobby Grich — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Grich leads in runs, stolen bases, batting average, and OBP, while Ron Cey owns hits, home runs, and RBI. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bobby Grich. PIV agrees: Bobby Grich grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ron Cey and Bobby Grich careers compare
Ron Cey and Bobby Grich were active at the same time between 1971 and 1986. With 2,073 games against 2,008 across 17 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Ron Cey struck out more than walked (1,235 to 1,012), and Bobby Grich struck out more than walked (1,278 to 1,087). Ron Cey is the more power-leaning hitter, with 316 of 1,868 hits leaving the park. Bobby Grich was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Ron Cey's slugging percentage of .445 tops Bobby Grich's .424.
Ron Cey vs Bobby Grich: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ron Cey or Bobby Grich?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ron Cey leads Bobby Grich in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ron Cey or Bobby Grich hit more home runs?
- Ron Cey, with 316 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ron Cey, with .799 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bobby Grich, with .266 to Ron Cey's .261.
- Who had more hits?
- Ron Cey, with 1,868 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.