Will Clark vs Don Mattingly: Career Stats Comparison
Will Clark has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Will Clark played 1986–2000 as a hitter; Don Mattingly played 1982–1995 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
Will Clark (1986–2000) and Don Mattingly (1982–1995) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Will Clark finished with 2,176 hits and 284 home runs; Don Mattingly finished with 2,153 hits and 222 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Will Clark, with 284 to Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS? Will Clark, with .880 to Don Mattingly's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Don Mattingly, with .307 to Will Clark's .303.
- Who had more hits? Will Clark, with 2,176 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.
- Who drove in more runs? Will Clark, with 1,205 to Don Mattingly's 1,099.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Will Clark, with 29,924 career PIV to Don Mattingly's 21,189.
Will Clark
Don Mattingly
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Will Clark and Don Mattingly. 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 | Will Clark | Don Mattingly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,976 | 1,785 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,173 | 7,003 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,186 | 1,007 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,176 | 2,153 |
| Doubles | 440 | Leads: 442 |
| Triples | Leads: 47 | 20 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 284 | 222 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,205 | 1,099 |
| Walks | Leads: 937 | 588 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,190 | 444 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 67 | 14 |
| Batting Avg | .303 | Leads: .307 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .384 | .358 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .497 | .471 |
| OPS | Leads: .880 | .830 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Will Clark outpaces Don Mattingly 29,924 to 21,189 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,870 PIV per season to 1,514, across 16 seasons to 14. 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).
Will Clark — top 3 seasons by OPS
Don Mattingly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Will Clark leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Don Mattingly owns batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Will Clark. PIV agrees: Will Clark grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Will Clark and Don Mattingly careers compare
Will Clark and Don Mattingly were active at the same time between 1986 and 1995. With 1,976 games against 1,785 across 16 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Don Mattingly are doubles (442 to 440) and batting average (.307 to .303). Plate discipline differs: Will Clark struck out more than walked (1,190 to 937), but Don Mattingly walked more often than struck out (588 walks, 444 strikeouts). On the peak-season lists, Will Clark's best year is 1989 at .953 OPS and Don Mattingly's is 1986 at .967 OPS; Don Mattingly has the stronger single season.
Will Clark vs Don Mattingly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Will Clark or Don Mattingly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Will Clark leads Don Mattingly in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Will Clark or Don Mattingly hit more home runs?
- Will Clark, with 284 to Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Will Clark, with .880 to Don Mattingly's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Don Mattingly, with .307 to Will Clark's .303.
- Who had more hits?
- Will Clark, with 2,176 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.