Barry Larkin vs Fred McGriff: Career Stats Comparison
Fred McGriff has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Barry Larkin played 1986–2004 as a hitter; Fred McGriff played 1986–2004 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
Barry Larkin (1986–2004) and Fred McGriff (1986–2004) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Barry Larkin finished with 2,340 hits and 198 home runs; Fred McGriff finished with 2,490 hits and 493 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Fred McGriff, with 493 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred McGriff, with .886 to Barry Larkin's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average? Barry Larkin, with .295 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits? Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred McGriff, with 1,550 to Barry Larkin's 960.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred McGriff, with 37,233 career PIV to Barry Larkin's 17,788.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Barry Larkin
Fred McGriff
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Barry Larkin and Fred McGriff. 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 | Barry Larkin | Fred McGriff |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,180 | Leads: 2,460 |
| At-Bats | 7,937 | Leads: 8,757 |
| Runs | 1,329 | Leads: 1,349 |
| Hits | 2,340 | Leads: 2,490 |
| Doubles | 441 | 441 |
| Triples | Leads: 76 | 24 |
| Home Runs | 198 | Leads: 493 |
| RBI | 960 | Leads: 1,550 |
| Walks | 939 | Leads: 1,305 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 817 | 1,882 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 379 | 72 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .295 | .284 |
| On-Base % | .371 | Leads: .377 |
| Slugging % | .444 | Leads: .509 |
| OPS | .815 | Leads: .886 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred McGriff outpaces Barry Larkin 37,233 to 17,788 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,773 PIV per season to 936, across 21 seasons to 19. 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).
Barry Larkin — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred McGriff — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fred McGriff leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Barry Larkin owns stolen bases and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred McGriff. PIV agrees: Fred McGriff grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Barry Larkin and Fred McGriff careers compare
Barry Larkin and Fred McGriff were active at the same time between 1986 and 2004. With 2,180 games against 2,460 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Barry Larkin comes out ahead, it is in triples (76 to 24), stolen bases (379 to 72), and batting average (.295 to .284). Plate discipline differs: Barry Larkin walked more often than struck out (939 walks, 817 strikeouts), but Fred McGriff struck out more than walked (1,882 to 1,305). Fred McGriff is the more power-leaning hitter, with 493 of 2,490 hits leaving the park.
Barry Larkin vs Fred McGriff: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Barry Larkin or Fred McGriff?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred McGriff leads Barry Larkin in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Barry Larkin or Fred McGriff hit more home runs?
- Fred McGriff, with 493 to Barry Larkin's 198.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred McGriff, with .886 to Barry Larkin's .815.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Barry Larkin, with .295 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Barry Larkin's 2,340.