Brian Downing vs Dave Parker: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker 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). Brian Downing played 1973–1992 as a hitter; Dave Parker played 1973–1991 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
Brian Downing (1973–1992) and Dave Parker (1973–1991) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Brian Downing finished with 2,099 hits and 275 home runs; Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Parker, with 339 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Parker, with .810 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Parker, with .290 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Brian Downing's 2,099.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Brian Downing's 1,073.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Parker, with 23,542 career PIV to Brian Downing's 22,792.
- Who won more championships? Dave Parker, with 2 World Series titles to Brian Downing's 0.
Brian Downing
Dave Parker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Brian Downing and Dave Parker. 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 | Brian Downing | Dave Parker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,344 | Leads: 2,466 |
| At-Bats | 7,853 | Leads: 9,358 |
| Runs | 1,188 | Leads: 1,272 |
| Hits | 2,099 | Leads: 2,712 |
| Doubles | 360 | Leads: 526 |
| Triples | 28 | Leads: 75 |
| Home Runs | 275 | Leads: 339 |
| RBI | 1,073 | Leads: 1,493 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,197 | 683 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,127 | 1,537 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 154 |
| Batting Avg | .267 | Leads: .290 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .370 | .339 |
| Slugging % | .425 | Leads: .471 |
| OPS | .796 | Leads: .810 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Parker edges Brian Downing 23,542 to 22,792 — driven by per-season impact — 1,177 PIV per season to 1,140 — rather than by longevity, since Dave Parker played 20 seasons to Brian Downing's 20. 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).
Brian Downing — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Parker 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 Dave Parker. PIV agrees: Dave Parker grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Brian Downing and Dave Parker careers compare
From 1973 through 1991, Brian Downing and Dave Parker were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,344 games for Brian Downing and 2,466 for Dave Parker across 20 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Brian Downing's edges on the table are walks (1,197 to 683) and on-base percentage (.370 to .339). Plate discipline differs: Brian Downing walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,127 strikeouts), but Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683). Dave Parker was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Brian Downing's on-base percentage of .370 tops Dave Parker's .339.
Brian Downing vs Dave Parker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Brian Downing or Dave Parker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Parker leads Brian Downing in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Brian Downing or Dave Parker hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Parker, with .810 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Parker, with .290 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Brian Downing's 2,099.