Alvin Davis vs Don Mattingly: Career Stats Comparison
Don Mattingly 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). Alvin Davis played 1984–1992 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
Alvin Davis (1984–1992) and Don Mattingly (1982–1995) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Alvin Davis finished with 1,189 hits and 160 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? Don Mattingly, with 222 to Alvin Davis's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Neither — both are at .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Don Mattingly, with .307 to Alvin Davis's .280.
- Who had more hits? Don Mattingly, with 2,153 to Alvin Davis's 1,189.
- Who drove in more runs? Don Mattingly, with 1,099 to Alvin Davis's 683.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Don Mattingly, with 21,189 career PIV to Alvin Davis's 16,260.
Alvin Davis
Don Mattingly
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Alvin Davis 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 | Alvin Davis | Don Mattingly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,206 | Leads: 1,785 |
| At-Bats | 4,240 | Leads: 7,003 |
| Runs | 568 | Leads: 1,007 |
| Hits | 1,189 | Leads: 2,153 |
| Doubles | 220 | Leads: 442 |
| Triples | 10 | Leads: 20 |
| Home Runs | 160 | Leads: 222 |
| RBI | 683 | Leads: 1,099 |
| Walks | Leads: 685 | 588 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 558 | 444 |
| Stolen Bases | 7 | Leads: 14 |
| Batting Avg | .280 | Leads: .307 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .380 | .358 |
| Slugging % | .450 | Leads: .471 |
| OPS | Leads: .830 | .830 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Don Mattingly leads Alvin Davis 21,189 to 16,260 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Don Mattingly played 14 seasons to Alvin Davis's 9, while Alvin Davis carries the higher per-season figure (1,807 to 1,514). 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).
Alvin Davis — top 3 seasons by OPS
Don Mattingly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Don Mattingly leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Alvin Davis owns OBP and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Don Mattingly. PIV agrees: Don Mattingly grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Alvin Davis and Don Mattingly careers compare
From 1984 through 1992, Alvin Davis and Don Mattingly were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,206 games for Alvin Davis and 1,785 for Don Mattingly across 9 and 14 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Alvin Davis's edges on the table are walks (685 to 588), on-base percentage (.380 to .358), and OPS (.830 to .830). Alvin Davis walked more often than struck out (685 walks, 558 strikeouts); Don Mattingly walked more often than struck out (588 walks, 444 strikeouts). Alvin Davis is the more power-leaning hitter, with 160 of 1,189 hits leaving the park. Don Mattingly's slugging percentage of .471 tops Alvin Davis's .450.
Alvin Davis vs Don Mattingly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Alvin Davis or Don Mattingly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Don Mattingly leads Alvin Davis in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Alvin Davis or Don Mattingly hit more home runs?
- Don Mattingly, with 222 to Alvin Davis's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Neither — both are at .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Don Mattingly, with .307 to Alvin Davis's .280.
- Who had more hits?
- Don Mattingly, with 2,153 to Alvin Davis's 1,189.