Brian Downing vs Darryl Strawberry: Career Stats Comparison
Brian Downing has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Darryl Strawberry played 1983–1999 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 Darryl Strawberry (1983–1999) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Brian Downing finished with 2,099 hits and 275 home runs; Darryl Strawberry finished with 1,401 hits and 335 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Darryl Strawberry, with 335 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS? Darryl Strawberry, with .862 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average? Brian Downing, with .267 to Darryl Strawberry's .259.
- Who had more hits? Brian Downing, with 2,099 to Darryl Strawberry's 1,401.
- Who drove in more runs? Brian Downing, with 1,073 to Darryl Strawberry's 1,000.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Brian Downing, with 22,792 career PIV to Darryl Strawberry's 22,150.
- Who won more championships? Darryl Strawberry, with 4 World Series titles to Brian Downing's 0.
Brian Downing
Darryl Strawberry
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Brian Downing and Darryl Strawberry. 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 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Brian Downing | Darryl Strawberry |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,344 | 1,583 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,853 | 5,418 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,188 | 898 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,099 | 1,401 |
| Doubles | Leads: 360 | 256 |
| Triples | 28 | Leads: 38 |
| Home Runs | 275 | Leads: 335 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,073 | 1,000 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,197 | 816 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,127 | 1,352 |
| Stolen Bases | 50 | Leads: 221 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .267 | .259 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .370 | .357 |
| Slugging % | .425 | Leads: .505 |
| OPS | .796 | Leads: .862 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Brian Downing edges Darryl Strawberry 22,792 to 22,150 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Brian Downing played 20 seasons to Darryl Strawberry's 17, while Darryl Strawberry carries the higher per-season figure (1,303 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).
Brian Downing — top 3 seasons by OPS
Darryl Strawberry — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Brian Downing leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Darryl Strawberry owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Brian Downing. PIV agrees: Brian Downing 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 Darryl Strawberry careers compare
From 1983 through 1992, Brian Downing and Darryl Strawberry were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,344 games for Brian Downing and 1,583 for Darryl Strawberry across 20 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Plate discipline differs: Brian Downing walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,127 strikeouts), but Darryl Strawberry struck out more than walked (1,352 to 816). Darryl Strawberry is the more power-leaning hitter, with 335 of 1,401 hits leaving the park. Darryl Strawberry was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Darryl Strawberry's slugging percentage of .505 tops Brian Downing's .425.
Brian Downing vs Darryl Strawberry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Brian Downing or Darryl Strawberry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Brian Downing leads Darryl Strawberry in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Brian Downing or Darryl Strawberry hit more home runs?
- Darryl Strawberry, with 335 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Darryl Strawberry, with .862 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Brian Downing, with .267 to Darryl Strawberry's .259.
- Who had more hits?
- Brian Downing, with 2,099 to Darryl Strawberry's 1,401.