Ken Griffey vs Tim Raines: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Raines 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; Tim Raines played 1979–2002 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 Tim Raines (1979–2002) — 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; Tim Raines finished with 2,605 hits and 170 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Tim Raines, with 170 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tim Raines, with .810 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Griffey, with .296 to Tim Raines's .294.
- Who had more hits? Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Ken Griffey's 2,143.
- Who drove in more runs? Tim Raines, with 980 to Ken Griffey's 859.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tim Raines, with 25,763 career PIV to Ken Griffey's 15,957.
- Who won more championships? Ken Griffey, with 3 World Series titles to Tim Raines's 2.
Ken Griffey
Tim Raines
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Tim Raines. 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 | Tim Raines |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,097 | Leads: 2,502 |
| At-Bats | 7,229 | Leads: 8,872 |
| Runs | 1,129 | Leads: 1,571 |
| Hits | 2,143 | Leads: 2,605 |
| Doubles | 364 | Leads: 430 |
| Triples | 77 | Leads: 113 |
| Home Runs | 152 | Leads: 170 |
| RBI | 859 | Leads: 980 |
| Walks | 719 | Leads: 1,330 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 898 | 966 |
| Stolen Bases | 200 | Leads: 808 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .294 |
| On-Base % | .359 | Leads: .385 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .431 | .425 |
| OPS | .790 | Leads: .810 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Raines outpaces Ken Griffey 25,763 to 15,957 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,073 PIV per season to 725, across 24 seasons to 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
Tim Raines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Raines 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 Tim Raines. PIV agrees: Tim Raines 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 Tim Raines careers compare
From 1979 through 1991, Ken Griffey and Tim Raines were in the majors together. With 2,097 games against 2,502 across 22 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ken Griffey's edges on the table are batting average (.296 to .294) and slugging percentage (.431 to .425). At the plate, Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (898 to 719), while Tim Raines walked more often than struck out (1,330 walks, 966 strikeouts). Tim Raines was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Ken Griffey holds the edge, .431 to .425.
Ken Griffey vs Tim Raines: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Tim Raines?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Raines leads Ken Griffey in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Tim Raines hit more home runs?
- Tim Raines, with 170 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tim Raines, with .810 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Griffey, with .296 to Tim Raines's .294.
- Who had more hits?
- Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Ken Griffey's 2,143.