Ken Griffey vs Cal Ripken: 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 1989–2010 as a hitter; Cal Ripken played 1981–2001 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 Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — 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; Cal Ripken finished with 3,184 hits and 431 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 Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ken Griffey, with .907 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Ken Griffey, with .284 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.
- Who drove in more runs? Ken Griffey, with 1,836 to Cal Ripken's 1,695.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Ken Griffey, with 43,975 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Cal Ripken, with 1 World Series title to Ken Griffey's 0.
Ken Griffey
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ken Griffey and Cal Ripken. 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 | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,671 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 9,801 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,662 | 1,647 |
| Hits | 2,781 | Leads: 3,184 |
| Doubles | 524 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | 38 | Leads: 44 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 630 | 431 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,836 | 1,695 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,312 | 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,779 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 184 | 36 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .284 | .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .370 | .340 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .538 | .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .907 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ken Griffey outpaces Cal Ripken 43,975 to 19,199 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,912 PIV per season to 914, across 23 seasons to 21. 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
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ken Griffey leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Cal Ripken owns hits. 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 Cal Ripken careers compare
Ken Griffey and Cal Ripken were active at the same time between 1989 and 2001. With 2,671 games against 3,001 across 23 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Ken Griffey struck out more than walked (1,779 to 1,312), and Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Ken Griffey is the more power-leaning hitter, with 630 of 2,781 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Ken Griffey stole more often per game played (184 steals in 2,671 games for Ken Griffey, 36 in 3,001 for Cal Ripken). In on-base percentage, Ken Griffey holds the edge, .370 to .340.
Ken Griffey vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ken Griffey or Cal Ripken?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ken Griffey leads Cal Ripken in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ken Griffey or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Ken Griffey, with 630 to Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ken Griffey, with .907 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Ken Griffey, with .284 to Cal Ripken's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Ken Griffey's 2,781.