Bobby Grich vs Barry Larkin: Career Stats Comparison
Barry Larkin 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). Bobby Grich played 1970–1986 as a hitter; Barry Larkin played 1986–2004 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
Bobby Grich (1970–1986) and Barry Larkin (1986–2004) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bobby Grich finished with 1,833 hits and 224 home runs; Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bobby Grich, with 224 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Barry Larkin, with .815 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Bobby Grich's .266.
- Who had more hits? Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.
- Who drove in more runs? Barry Larkin, with 960 to Bobby Grich's 864.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Grich, with 20,680 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Bobby Grich
Barry Larkin
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Grich and Barry Larkin. 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 | Bobby Grich | Barry Larkin |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,008 | Leads: 2,180 |
| At-Bats | 6,890 | Leads: 7,937 |
| Runs | 1,033 | Leads: 1,329 |
| Hits | 1,833 | Leads: 2,340 |
| Doubles | 320 | Leads: 441 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 76 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 224 | 198 |
| RBI | 864 | Leads: 960 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,087 | 939 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,278 | 817 |
| Stolen Bases | 104 | Leads: 379 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .295 |
| On-Base % | .371 | Leads: .371 |
| Slugging % | .424 | Leads: .444 |
| OPS | .794 | Leads: .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Grich leads Barry Larkin 20,680 to 17,788 — driven by per-season impact — 1,216 PIV per season to 936 — rather than by longevity, since Bobby Grich played 17 seasons to Barry Larkin's 19. 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).
Bobby Grich — top 3 seasons by OPS
Barry Larkin — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Barry Larkin leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Bobby Grich owns home runs. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Barry Larkin. Note that PIV actually grades Bobby Grich ahead, which means Barry Larkin's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Grich and Barry Larkin careers compare
Bobby Grich and Barry Larkin were active at the same time between 1986 and 1986. The two careers are close in length, 2,008 games for Bobby Grich and 2,180 for Barry Larkin across 17 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Bobby Grich's edges on the table are home runs (224 to 198) and walks (1,087 to 939). Plate discipline differs: Bobby Grich struck out more than walked (1,278 to 1,087), but Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts). Bobby Grich is the more power-leaning hitter, with 224 of 1,833 hits leaving the park.
Bobby Grich vs Barry Larkin: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Grich or Barry Larkin?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Barry Larkin leads Bobby Grich in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Grich or Barry Larkin hit more home runs?
- Bobby Grich, with 224 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Barry Larkin, with .815 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Bobby Grich's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Barry Larkin, with 2,340 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.