Ken Griffey vs Al Kaline: Career Stats Comparison
Ken Griffey has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ken Griffey played 1989–2010 as a hitter; Al Kaline played 1953–1974 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 (1989–2010) and Al Kaline (1953–1974) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1950s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ken Griffey finished with 2,781 hits and 630 home runs; Al Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Ken Griffey, with 630 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ken Griffey, with .907 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average? Al Kaline, with .297 to Ken Griffey's .284.
- Who had more hits? Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.
- Who drove in more runs? Ken Griffey, with 1,836 to Al Kaline's 1,583.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Al Kaline, with 45,087 career PIV to Ken Griffey's 43,975.
- Who won more championships? Al Kaline, with 1 World Series title to Ken Griffey's 0.
Ken Griffey
Al Kaline
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Al Kaline. 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 1980s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ken Griffey | Al Kaline |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,671 | Leads: 2,834 |
| At-Bats | 9,801 | Leads: 10,116 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,662 | 1,622 |
| Hits | 2,781 | Leads: 3,007 |
| Doubles | Leads: 524 | 498 |
| Triples | 38 | Leads: 75 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 630 | 399 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,836 | 1,583 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,312 | 1,277 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,779 | 1,020 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 184 | 137 |
| Batting Avg | .284 | Leads: .297 |
| On-Base % | .370 | Leads: .376 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .538 | .480 |
| OPS | Leads: .907 | .855 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Al Kaline edges Ken Griffey 45,087 to 43,975 — driven by per-season impact — 2,049 PIV per season to 1,912 — rather than by longevity, since Al Kaline played 22 seasons to Ken Griffey's 23. 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
Al Kaline — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ken Griffey leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Al Kaline owns hits, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ken Griffey. Note that PIV actually grades Al Kaline ahead, which means Ken Griffey's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ken Griffey and Al Kaline careers compare
No season is shared: Al Kaline played 1953–1974, Ken Griffey 1989–2010. With 2,671 games against 2,834 across 23 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (1,779 to 1,312), but Al Kaline walked more often than struck out (1,277 walks, 1,020 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Ken Griffey's hits: 630 of 2,781 for Ken Griffey, 399 of 3,007 for Al Kaline. Ken Griffey was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Ken Griffey holds the edge, .538 to .480.
Ken Griffey vs Al Kaline: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Al Kaline?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ken Griffey leads Al Kaline in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Al Kaline hit more home runs?
- Ken Griffey, with 630 to Al Kaline's 399.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ken Griffey, with .907 to Al Kaline's .855.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Al Kaline, with .297 to Ken Griffey's .284.
- Who had more hits?
- Al Kaline, with 3,007 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.