Ken Griffey vs Andy Van Slyke: Career Stats Comparison
Ken Griffey has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Andy Van Slyke played 1983–1995 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 Andy Van Slyke (1983–1995) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ken Griffey finished with 2,143 hits and 152 home runs; Andy Van Slyke finished with 1,562 hits and 164 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Andy Van Slyke, with 164 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS? Andy Van Slyke, with .792 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Griffey, with .296 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits? Ken Griffey, with 2,143 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.
- Who drove in more runs? Ken Griffey, with 859 to Andy Van Slyke's 792.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ken Griffey, with 15,957 career PIV to Andy Van Slyke's 11,940.
- Who won more championships? Ken Griffey, with 3 World Series titles to Andy Van Slyke's 0.
Ken Griffey
Andy Van Slyke
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Andy Van Slyke. 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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ken Griffey | Andy Van Slyke |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,097 | 1,658 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,229 | 5,711 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,129 | 835 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,143 | 1,562 |
| Doubles | Leads: 364 | 293 |
| Triples | 77 | Leads: 91 |
| Home Runs | 152 | Leads: 164 |
| RBI | Leads: 859 | 792 |
| Walks | Leads: 719 | 667 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 898 | 1,063 |
| Stolen Bases | 200 | Leads: 245 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .296 | .274 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .359 | .349 |
| Slugging % | .431 | Leads: .443 |
| OPS | .790 | Leads: .792 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ken Griffey outpaces Andy Van Slyke 15,957 to 11,940 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ken Griffey played 22 seasons to Andy Van Slyke's 14, while Andy Van Slyke carries the higher per-season figure (853 to 725). 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
Andy Van Slyke — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ken Griffey leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Andy Van Slyke owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ken Griffey. PIV agrees: Ken Griffey 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 Andy Van Slyke careers compare
From 1983 through 1991, Ken Griffey and Andy Van Slyke were in the majors together. With 2,097 games against 1,658 across 22 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (898 to 719); Andy Van Slyke struck out more than walked (1,063 to 667). Home runs make up a larger share of Andy Van Slyke's hits: 152 of 2,143 for Ken Griffey, 164 of 1,562 for Andy Van Slyke. On the bases, Andy Van Slyke stole more often per game played (200 steals in 2,097 games for Ken Griffey, 245 in 1,658 for Andy Van Slyke).
Ken Griffey vs Andy Van Slyke: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Andy Van Slyke?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ken Griffey leads Andy Van Slyke in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Andy Van Slyke hit more home runs?
- Andy Van Slyke, with 164 to Ken Griffey's 152.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Andy Van Slyke, with .792 to Ken Griffey's .790.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Griffey, with .296 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Ken Griffey, with 2,143 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.