Ken Griffey vs Rafael Palmeiro: Career Stats Comparison
Rafael Palmeiro 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; Rafael Palmeiro played 1986–2005 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 Rafael Palmeiro (1986–2005) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Ken Griffey finished with 2,781 hits and 630 home runs; Rafael Palmeiro finished with 3,020 hits and 569 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 Rafael Palmeiro's 569.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ken Griffey, with .907 to Rafael Palmeiro's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average? Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Ken Griffey's .284.
- Who had more hits? Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.
- Who drove in more runs? Ken Griffey, with 1,836 to Rafael Palmeiro's 1,835.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ken Griffey, with 43,975 career PIV to Rafael Palmeiro's 42,814.
Ken Griffey
Rafael Palmeiro
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Rafael Palmeiro. 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 | Rafael Palmeiro |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,671 | Leads: 2,831 |
| At-Bats | 9,801 | Leads: 10,472 |
| Runs | 1,662 | Leads: 1,663 |
| Hits | 2,781 | Leads: 3,020 |
| Doubles | 524 | Leads: 585 |
| Triples | 38 | 38 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 630 | 569 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,836 | 1,835 |
| Walks | 1,312 | Leads: 1,353 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,779 | 1,348 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 184 | 97 |
| Batting Avg | .284 | Leads: .288 |
| On-Base % | .370 | Leads: .371 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .538 | .515 |
| OPS | Leads: .907 | .885 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ken Griffey edges Rafael Palmeiro 43,975 to 42,814 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Ken Griffey played 23 seasons to Rafael Palmeiro's 20, while Rafael Palmeiro carries the higher per-season figure (2,141 to 1,912). 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
Rafael Palmeiro — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ken Griffey leads in home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and OPS, while Rafael Palmeiro owns hits, runs, and batting average. 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 Rafael Palmeiro careers compare
From 1989 through 2005, Ken Griffey and Rafael Palmeiro were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,671 games for Ken Griffey and 2,831 for Rafael Palmeiro across 23 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. At the plate, Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (1,779 to 1,312), while Rafael Palmeiro walked more often than struck out (1,353 walks, 1,348 strikeouts). Ken Griffey was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Rafael Palmeiro's on-base percentage of .371 tops Ken Griffey's .370.
Ken Griffey vs Rafael Palmeiro: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Rafael Palmeiro?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rafael Palmeiro leads Ken Griffey in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Rafael Palmeiro hit more home runs?
- Ken Griffey, with 630 to Rafael Palmeiro's 569.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ken Griffey, with .907 to Rafael Palmeiro's .885.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with .288 to Ken Griffey's .284.
- Who had more hits?
- Rafael Palmeiro, with 3,020 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.