Mark Grace vs Don Mattingly: Career Stats Comparison
Mark Grace has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; 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
Mark Grace (1988–2003) and Don Mattingly (1982–1995) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Mark Grace finished with 2,445 hits and 173 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? Don Mattingly, with 222 to Mark Grace's 173.
- Who had the higher OPS? Don Mattingly, with .830 to Mark Grace's .825.
- Who had the higher batting average? Don Mattingly, with .307 to Mark Grace's .303.
- Who had more hits? Mark Grace, with 2,445 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.
- Who drove in more runs? Mark Grace, with 1,146 to Don Mattingly's 1,099.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mark Grace, with 21,759 career PIV to Don Mattingly's 21,189.
- Who won more championships? Mark Grace, with 1 World Series title to Don Mattingly's 0.
Mark Grace
Don Mattingly
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mark Grace 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 | Mark Grace | Don Mattingly |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,245 | 1,785 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,065 | 7,003 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,179 | 1,007 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,445 | 2,153 |
| Doubles | Leads: 511 | 442 |
| Triples | Leads: 45 | 20 |
| Home Runs | 173 | Leads: 222 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,146 | 1,099 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,075 | 588 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 642 | 444 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 70 | 14 |
| Batting Avg | .303 | Leads: .307 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .383 | .358 |
| Slugging % | .442 | Leads: .471 |
| OPS | .825 | Leads: .830 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mark Grace edges Don Mattingly 21,759 to 21,189 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Mark Grace played 16 seasons to Don Mattingly's 14, while Don Mattingly carries the higher per-season figure (1,514 to 1,360). 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
Don Mattingly — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mark Grace leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Don Mattingly owns home runs, batting average, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mark Grace. PIV agrees: Mark Grace grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mark Grace and Don Mattingly careers compare
From 1988 through 1995, Mark Grace and Don Mattingly were in the majors together. With 2,245 games against 1,785 across 16 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Don Mattingly comes out ahead, it is in home runs (222 to 173), batting average (.307 to .303), and slugging percentage (.471 to .442). At the plate, Mark Grace walked more often than struck out (1,075 walks, 642 strikeouts), and Don Mattingly walked more often than struck out (588 walks, 444 strikeouts). Don Mattingly is the more power-leaning hitter, with 222 of 2,153 hits leaving the park. In slugging percentage, Don Mattingly holds the edge, .471 to .442.
Mark Grace vs Don Mattingly: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mark Grace or Don Mattingly?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mark Grace leads Don Mattingly in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mark Grace or Don Mattingly hit more home runs?
- Don Mattingly, with 222 to Mark Grace's 173.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Don Mattingly, with .830 to Mark Grace's .825.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Don Mattingly, with .307 to Mark Grace's .303.
- Who had more hits?
- Mark Grace, with 2,445 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.