Chili Davis vs Brian Downing: Career Stats Comparison
Chili Davis 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). Chili Davis played 1981–1999 as a hitter; Brian Downing played 1973–1992 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
Chili Davis (1981–1999) and Brian Downing (1973–1992) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Chili Davis finished with 2,380 hits and 350 home runs; Brian Downing finished with 2,099 hits and 275 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Chili Davis, with 350 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS? Chili Davis, with .811 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average? Chili Davis, with .274 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits? Chili Davis, with 2,380 to Brian Downing's 2,099.
- Who drove in more runs? Chili Davis, with 1,372 to Brian Downing's 1,073.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Brian Downing, with 22,792 career PIV to Chili Davis's 21,833.
- Who won more championships? Chili Davis, with 3 World Series titles to Brian Downing's 0.
Chili Davis
Brian Downing
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Chili Davis and Brian Downing. 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 | Chili Davis | Brian Downing |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,436 | 2,344 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,673 | 7,853 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,240 | 1,188 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,380 | 2,099 |
| Doubles | Leads: 424 | 360 |
| Triples | Leads: 30 | 28 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 350 | 275 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,372 | 1,073 |
| Walks | 1,194 | Leads: 1,197 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,698 | 1,127 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 142 | 50 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .274 | .267 |
| On-Base % | .360 | Leads: .370 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .451 | .425 |
| OPS | Leads: .811 | .796 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brian Downing edges Chili Davis 22,792 to 21,833 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Brian Downing played 20 seasons to Chili Davis's 19, while Chili Davis carries the higher per-season figure (1,149 to 1,140). 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).
Chili Davis — top 3 seasons by OPS
Brian Downing — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Chili Davis leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Brian Downing owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Chili Davis. Note that PIV actually grades Brian Downing ahead, which means Chili Davis's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Chili Davis and Brian Downing careers compare
Chili Davis and Brian Downing were active at the same time between 1981 and 1992. With 2,436 games against 2,344 across 19 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Brian Downing's edges on the table are walks (1,197 to 1,194) and on-base percentage (.370 to .360). At the plate, Chili Davis struck out more than walked (1,698 to 1,194), while Brian Downing walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,127 strikeouts). Chili Davis was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Chili Davis's slugging percentage of .451 tops Brian Downing's .425.
Chili Davis vs Brian Downing: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Chili Davis or Brian Downing?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Chili Davis leads Brian Downing in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Chili Davis or Brian Downing hit more home runs?
- Chili Davis, with 350 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Chili Davis, with .811 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Chili Davis, with .274 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Chili Davis, with 2,380 to Brian Downing's 2,099.