Mark Grace vs Paul Konerko: Career Stats Comparison
Mark Grace has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Mark Grace played 1988–2003 as a hitter; Paul Konerko played 1997–2014 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
Mark Grace (1988–2003) and Paul Konerko (1997–2014) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1990s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Mark Grace finished with 2,445 hits and 173 home runs; Paul Konerko finished with 2,340 hits and 439 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul Konerko, with 439 to Mark Grace's 173.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Konerko, with .841 to Mark Grace's .825.
- Who had the higher batting average? Mark Grace, with .303 to Paul Konerko's .279.
- Who had more hits? Mark Grace, with 2,445 to Paul Konerko's 2,340.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Konerko, with 1,412 to Mark Grace's 1,146.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Konerko, with 22,710 career PIV to Mark Grace's 21,759.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Mark Grace
Paul Konerko
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mark Grace and Paul Konerko. 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 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mark Grace | Paul Konerko |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,245 | Leads: 2,349 |
| At-Bats | 8,065 | Leads: 8,393 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,179 | 1,162 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,445 | 2,340 |
| Doubles | Leads: 511 | 410 |
| Triples | Leads: 45 | 8 |
| Home Runs | 173 | Leads: 439 |
| RBI | 1,146 | Leads: 1,412 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,075 | 921 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 642 | 1,391 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 70 | 9 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .303 | .279 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .383 | .354 |
| Slugging % | .442 | Leads: .486 |
| OPS | .825 | Leads: .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Konerko edges Mark Grace 22,710 to 21,759 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Konerko played 19 seasons to Mark Grace's 16, while Mark Grace carries the higher per-season figure (1,360 to 1,195). 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).
Mark Grace — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Konerko — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mark Grace leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Paul Konerko owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mark Grace. Note that PIV actually grades Paul Konerko ahead, which means Mark Grace's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mark Grace and Paul Konerko careers compare
From 1997 through 2003, Mark Grace and Paul Konerko were in the majors together. With 2,245 games against 2,349 across 16 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Mark Grace walked more often than struck out (1,075 walks, 642 strikeouts), but Paul Konerko struck out more than walked (1,391 to 921). Home runs make up a larger share of Paul Konerko's hits: 173 of 2,445 for Mark Grace, 439 of 2,340 for Paul Konerko. Mark Grace's on-base percentage of .383 tops Paul Konerko's .354. Paul Konerko owns the better peak by OPS: .911 OPS in 1995 for Mark Grace against .977 OPS in 2010 for Paul Konerko.
Mark Grace vs Paul Konerko: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mark Grace or Paul Konerko?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mark Grace leads Paul Konerko in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mark Grace or Paul Konerko hit more home runs?
- Paul Konerko, with 439 to Mark Grace's 173.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Konerko, with .841 to Mark Grace's .825.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Mark Grace, with .303 to Paul Konerko's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Mark Grace, with 2,445 to Paul Konerko's 2,340.