Bobby Grich vs Paul Molitor: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Molitor has the better career line of the two, leading 13 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; Paul Molitor played 1978–1998 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 Paul Molitor (1978–1998) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Bobby Grich finished with 1,833 hits and 224 home runs; Paul Molitor finished with 3,319 hits and 234 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul Molitor, with 234 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul Molitor, with .817 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Molitor, with .306 to Bobby Grich's .266.
- Who had more hits? Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Molitor, with 1,307 to Bobby Grich's 864.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Molitor, with 29,073 career PIV to Bobby Grich's 20,680.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Bobby Grich
Paul Molitor
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Grich and Paul Molitor. 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 | Bobby Grich | Paul Molitor |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,008 | Leads: 2,683 |
| At-Bats | 6,890 | Leads: 10,835 |
| Runs | 1,033 | Leads: 1,782 |
| Hits | 1,833 | Leads: 3,319 |
| Doubles | 320 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 47 | Leads: 114 |
| Home Runs | 224 | Leads: 234 |
| RBI | 864 | Leads: 1,307 |
| Walks | 1,087 | Leads: 1,094 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,278 | 1,244 |
| Stolen Bases | 104 | Leads: 504 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .306 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .369 |
| Slugging % | .424 | Leads: .448 |
| OPS | .794 | Leads: .817 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Molitor outpaces Bobby Grich 29,073 to 20,680 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,384 PIV per season to 1,216, across 21 seasons to 17. 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
Paul Molitor — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Molitor leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Bobby Grich owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Molitor. PIV agrees: Paul Molitor grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Grich and Paul Molitor careers compare
The careers of Bobby Grich (1970–1986) and Paul Molitor (1978–1998) overlapped from 1978 to 1986, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,008 games against 2,683 across 17 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bobby Grich comes out ahead, it is in on-base percentage (.371 to .369). At the plate, Bobby Grich struck out more than walked (1,278 to 1,087), and Paul Molitor struck out more than walked (1,244 to 1,094). Bobby Grich is the more power-leaning hitter, with 224 of 1,833 hits leaving the park. Paul Molitor was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Bobby Grich vs Paul Molitor: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Grich or Paul Molitor?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Molitor leads Bobby Grich in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Grich or Paul Molitor hit more home runs?
- Paul Molitor, with 234 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul Molitor, with .817 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Molitor, with .306 to Bobby Grich's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Molitor, with 3,319 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.