Ken Griffey vs Fred Lynn: Career Stats Comparison
Ken Griffey and Fred Lynn are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ken Griffey played 1973–1991 as a hitter; Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 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
Ken Griffey (1973–1991) and Fred Lynn (1974–1990) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ken Griffey finished with 2,143 hits and 152 home runs; Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Fred Lynn, with 306 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Griffey, with .296 to Fred Lynn's .283.
- Who had more hits? Ken Griffey, with 2,143 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred Lynn, with 1,111 to Ken Griffey's 859.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Lynn, with 25,648 career PIV to Ken Griffey's 15,957.
- Who won more championships? Ken Griffey, with 3 World Series titles to Fred Lynn's 0.
Ken Griffey
Fred Lynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Fred Lynn. 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 | Ken Griffey | Fred Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,097 | 1,969 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,229 | 6,925 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,129 | 1,063 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,143 | 1,960 |
| Doubles | 364 | Leads: 388 |
| Triples | Leads: 77 | 43 |
| Home Runs | 152 | Leads: 306 |
| RBI | 859 | Leads: 1,111 |
| Walks | 719 | Leads: 857 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 898 | 1,116 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 200 | 72 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .283 |
| On-Base % | .359 | Leads: .360 |
| Slugging % | .431 | Leads: .484 |
| OPS | .790 | Leads: .845 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Lynn outpaces Ken Griffey 25,648 to 15,957 — driven by per-season impact — 1,425 PIV per season to 725 — rather than by longevity, since Fred Lynn played 18 seasons to Ken Griffey's 22. 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).
Ken Griffey — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred Lynn leads in home runs, RBI, OBP, and OPS, while Ken Griffey owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred Lynn. PIV agrees: Fred Lynn grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ken Griffey and Fred Lynn careers compare
From 1974 through 1990, Ken Griffey and Fred Lynn were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,097 games for Ken Griffey and 1,969 for Fred Lynn across 22 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (898 to 719), and Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857). Fred Lynn is the more power-leaning hitter, with 306 of 1,960 hits leaving the park. Ken Griffey was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Fred Lynn holds the edge, .484 to .431.
Ken Griffey vs Fred Lynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Ken Griffey or Fred Lynn hit more home runs?
- Fred Lynn, with 306 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Griffey, with .296 to Fred Lynn's .283.
- Who had more hits?
- Ken Griffey, with 2,143 to Fred Lynn's 1,960.