Ken Griffey vs Joe Morgan: Career Stats Comparison
Joe Morgan 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). Ken Griffey played 1973–1991 as a hitter; Joe Morgan played 1963–1984 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 Joe Morgan (1963–1984) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ken Griffey finished with 2,143 hits and 152 home runs; Joe Morgan finished with 2,517 hits and 268 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Joe Morgan, with 268 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS? Joe Morgan, with .819 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Griffey, with .296 to Joe Morgan's .271.
- Who had more hits? Joe Morgan, with 2,517 to Ken Griffey's 2,143.
- Who drove in more runs? Joe Morgan, with 1,133 to Ken Griffey's 859.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Joe Morgan, with 39,255 career PIV to Ken Griffey's 15,957.
- Who won more championships? Ken Griffey, with 3 World Series titles to Joe Morgan's 2.
Ken Griffey
Joe Morgan
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan. 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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ken Griffey | Joe Morgan |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,097 | Leads: 2,649 |
| At-Bats | 7,229 | Leads: 9,277 |
| Runs | 1,129 | Leads: 1,650 |
| Hits | 2,143 | Leads: 2,517 |
| Doubles | 364 | Leads: 449 |
| Triples | 77 | Leads: 96 |
| Home Runs | 152 | Leads: 268 |
| RBI | 859 | Leads: 1,133 |
| Walks | 719 | Leads: 1,865 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 898 | 1,015 |
| Stolen Bases | 200 | Leads: 689 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .271 |
| On-Base % | .359 | Leads: .392 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .431 | .427 |
| OPS | .790 | Leads: .819 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Joe Morgan outpaces Ken Griffey 39,255 to 15,957 — driven by per-season impact — 1,784 PIV per season to 725 — rather than by longevity, since Joe Morgan played 22 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
Joe Morgan — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Joe Morgan leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ken Griffey owns batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Joe Morgan. PIV agrees: Joe Morgan 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 Joe Morgan careers compare
From 1973 through 1984, Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan were in the majors together. With 2,097 games against 2,649 across 22 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Ken Griffey comes out ahead, it is in batting average (.296 to .271) and slugging percentage (.431 to .427). Plate discipline differs: Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (898 to 719), but Joe Morgan walked more often than struck out (1,865 walks, 1,015 strikeouts). Joe Morgan is the more power-leaning hitter, with 268 of 2,517 hits leaving the park. Joe Morgan was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Ken Griffey vs Joe Morgan: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Joe Morgan?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Joe Morgan leads Ken Griffey in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Joe Morgan hit more home runs?
- Joe Morgan, with 268 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Joe Morgan, with .819 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Griffey, with .296 to Joe Morgan's .271.
- Who had more hits?
- Joe Morgan, with 2,517 to Ken Griffey's 2,143.