Cecil Fielder 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). Cecil Fielder played 1985–1998 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
Cecil Fielder (1985–1998) and Don Mattingly (1982–1995) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Cecil Fielder finished with 1,313 hits and 319 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? Cecil Fielder, with 319 to Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS? Don Mattingly, with .830 to Cecil Fielder's .827.
- Who had the higher batting average? Don Mattingly, with .307 to Cecil Fielder's .255.
- Who had more hits? Don Mattingly, with 2,153 to Cecil Fielder's 1,313.
- Who drove in more runs? Don Mattingly, with 1,099 to Cecil Fielder's 1,008.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Don Mattingly, with 21,189 career PIV to Cecil Fielder's 13,970.
- Who won more championships? Cecil Fielder, with 1 World Series title to Don Mattingly's 0.
Cecil Fielder
Don Mattingly
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Cecil Fielder 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 | Cecil Fielder | Don Mattingly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,470 | Leads: 1,785 |
| At-Bats | 5,157 | Leads: 7,003 |
| Runs | 744 | Leads: 1,007 |
| Hits | 1,313 | Leads: 2,153 |
| Doubles | 200 | Leads: 442 |
| Triples | 7 | Leads: 20 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 319 | 222 |
| RBI | 1,008 | Leads: 1,099 |
| Walks | Leads: 693 | 588 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,316 | 444 |
| Stolen Bases | 2 | Leads: 14 |
| Batting Avg | .255 | Leads: .307 |
| On-Base % | .345 | Leads: .358 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .482 | .471 |
| OPS | .827 | Leads: .830 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Don Mattingly outpaces Cecil Fielder 21,189 to 13,970 — driven by per-season impact — 1,514 PIV per season to 931 — rather than by longevity, since Don Mattingly played 14 seasons to Cecil Fielder's 15. 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).
Cecil Fielder — top 3 seasons by OPS
Don Mattingly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Don Mattingly leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Cecil Fielder owns home runs. 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 Cecil Fielder and Don Mattingly careers compare
From 1985 through 1995, Cecil Fielder and Don Mattingly were in the majors together. With 1,470 games against 1,785 across 15 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Cecil Fielder are home runs (319 to 222), walks (693 to 588), and slugging percentage (.482 to .471). Plate discipline differs: Cecil Fielder struck out more than walked (1,316 to 693), but Don Mattingly walked more often than struck out (588 walks, 444 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Cecil Fielder's hits: 319 of 1,313 for Cecil Fielder, 222 of 2,153 for Don Mattingly. In on-base percentage, Don Mattingly holds the edge, .358 to .345.
Cecil Fielder vs Don Mattingly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cecil Fielder or Don Mattingly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Don Mattingly leads Cecil Fielder in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Cecil Fielder or Don Mattingly hit more home runs?
- Cecil Fielder, with 319 to Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Don Mattingly, with .830 to Cecil Fielder's .827.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Don Mattingly, with .307 to Cecil Fielder's .255.
- Who had more hits?
- Don Mattingly, with 2,153 to Cecil Fielder's 1,313.