Alvin Davis vs Fred McGriff: Career Stats Comparison
Fred McGriff has the better career line of the two, leading 13 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; Fred McGriff played 1986–2004 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 Fred McGriff (1986–2004) — 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; Fred McGriff finished with 2,490 hits and 493 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Fred McGriff, with 493 to Alvin Davis's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred McGriff, with .886 to Alvin Davis's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred McGriff, with .284 to Alvin Davis's .280.
- Who had more hits? Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Alvin Davis's 1,189.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred McGriff, with 1,550 to Alvin Davis's 683.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred McGriff, with 37,233 career PIV to Alvin Davis's 16,260.
- Who won more championships? Fred McGriff, with 1 World Series title to Alvin Davis's 0.
Alvin Davis
Fred McGriff
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Alvin Davis and Fred McGriff. 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 | Fred McGriff |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,206 | Leads: 2,460 |
| At-Bats | 4,240 | Leads: 8,757 |
| Runs | 568 | Leads: 1,349 |
| Hits | 1,189 | Leads: 2,490 |
| Doubles | 220 | Leads: 441 |
| Triples | 10 | Leads: 24 |
| Home Runs | 160 | Leads: 493 |
| RBI | 683 | Leads: 1,550 |
| Walks | 685 | Leads: 1,305 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 558 | 1,882 |
| Stolen Bases | 7 | Leads: 72 |
| Batting Avg | .280 | Leads: .284 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .380 | .377 |
| Slugging % | .450 | Leads: .509 |
| OPS | .830 | Leads: .886 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred McGriff outpaces Alvin Davis 37,233 to 16,260 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Fred McGriff played 21 seasons to Alvin Davis's 9, while Alvin Davis carries the higher per-season figure (1,807 to 1,773). 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
Fred McGriff — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred McGriff leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Alvin Davis owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred McGriff. PIV agrees: Fred McGriff 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 Fred McGriff careers compare
Alvin Davis and Fred McGriff were active at the same time between 1986 and 1992. Fred McGriff has the far longer record, 2,460 games against 1,206 across 9 and 21 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Alvin Davis comes out ahead, it is in on-base percentage (.380 to .377). At the plate, Alvin Davis walked more often than struck out (685 walks, 558 strikeouts), while Fred McGriff struck out more than walked (1,882 to 1,305). Home runs make up a larger share of Fred McGriff's hits: 160 of 1,189 for Alvin Davis, 493 of 2,490 for Fred McGriff. Fred McGriff's slugging percentage of .509 tops Alvin Davis's .450.
Alvin Davis vs Fred McGriff: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Alvin Davis or Fred McGriff?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred McGriff leads Alvin Davis in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Alvin Davis or Fred McGriff hit more home runs?
- Fred McGriff, with 493 to Alvin Davis's 160.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred McGriff, with .886 to Alvin Davis's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred McGriff, with .284 to Alvin Davis's .280.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Alvin Davis's 1,189.