Bobby Grich vs Dale Murphy: Career Stats Comparison
Dale Murphy 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). Bobby Grich played 1970–1986 as a hitter; Dale Murphy played 1976–1993 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 Dale Murphy (1976–1993) — 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; Dale Murphy finished with 2,111 hits and 398 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dale Murphy, with 398 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dale Murphy, with .815 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bobby Grich, with .266 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits? Dale Murphy, with 2,111 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.
- Who drove in more runs? Dale Murphy, with 1,266 to Bobby Grich's 864.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dale Murphy, with 24,431 career PIV to Bobby Grich's 20,680.
- Who won more championships? Bobby Grich, with 1 World Series title to Dale Murphy's 0.
Bobby Grich
Dale Murphy
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Grich and Dale Murphy. 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 | Dale Murphy |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,008 | Leads: 2,180 |
| At-Bats | 6,890 | Leads: 7,960 |
| Runs | 1,033 | Leads: 1,197 |
| Hits | 1,833 | Leads: 2,111 |
| Doubles | 320 | Leads: 350 |
| Triples | Leads: 47 | 39 |
| Home Runs | 224 | Leads: 398 |
| RBI | 864 | Leads: 1,266 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,087 | 986 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,278 | 1,748 |
| Stolen Bases | 104 | Leads: 161 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .266 | .265 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .371 | .346 |
| Slugging % | .424 | Leads: .469 |
| OPS | .794 | Leads: .815 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dale Murphy leads Bobby Grich 24,431 to 20,680 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,286 PIV per season to 1,216, across 19 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
Dale Murphy — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dale Murphy leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Bobby Grich owns batting average and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dale Murphy. PIV agrees: Dale Murphy 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 Dale Murphy careers compare
Bobby Grich and Dale Murphy were active at the same time between 1976 and 1986. With 2,008 games against 2,180 across 17 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bobby Grich comes out ahead, it is in triples (47 to 39), walks (1,087 to 986), and batting average (.266 to .265). Bobby Grich struck out more than walked (1,278 to 1,087); Dale Murphy struck out more than walked (1,748 to 986). Dale Murphy is the more power-leaning hitter, with 398 of 2,111 hits leaving the park. Dale Murphy was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Dale Murphy's slugging percentage of .469 tops Bobby Grich's .424.
Bobby Grich vs Dale Murphy: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Grich or Dale Murphy?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dale Murphy leads Bobby Grich in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Grich or Dale Murphy hit more home runs?
- Dale Murphy, with 398 to Bobby Grich's 224.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dale Murphy, with .815 to Bobby Grich's .794.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bobby Grich, with .266 to Dale Murphy's .265.
- Who had more hits?
- Dale Murphy, with 2,111 to Bobby Grich's 1,833.