Don Mattingly vs Fred McGriff: Career Stats Comparison
Fred McGriff has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Don Mattingly played 1982–1995 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
Don Mattingly (1982–1995) and Fred McGriff (1986–2004) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Don Mattingly finished with 2,153 hits and 222 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 Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred McGriff, with .886 to Don Mattingly's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average? Don Mattingly, with .307 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits? Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred McGriff, with 1,550 to Don Mattingly's 1,099.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred McGriff, with 37,233 career PIV to Don Mattingly's 21,189.
- Who won more championships? Fred McGriff, with 1 World Series title to Don Mattingly's 0.
Don Mattingly
Fred McGriff
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Don Mattingly 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 | Don Mattingly | Fred McGriff |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,785 | Leads: 2,460 |
| At-Bats | 7,003 | Leads: 8,757 |
| Runs | 1,007 | Leads: 1,349 |
| Hits | 2,153 | Leads: 2,490 |
| Doubles | Leads: 442 | 441 |
| Triples | 20 | Leads: 24 |
| Home Runs | 222 | Leads: 493 |
| RBI | 1,099 | Leads: 1,550 |
| Walks | 588 | Leads: 1,305 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 444 | 1,882 |
| Stolen Bases | 14 | Leads: 72 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .307 | .284 |
| On-Base % | .358 | Leads: .377 |
| Slugging % | .471 | Leads: .509 |
| OPS | .830 | Leads: .886 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred McGriff outpaces Don Mattingly 37,233 to 21,189 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,773 PIV per season to 1,514, across 21 seasons to 14. 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).
Don Mattingly — 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 Don Mattingly owns 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 Don Mattingly and Fred McGriff careers compare
From 1986 through 1995, Don Mattingly and Fred McGriff were in the majors together. With 1,785 games against 2,460 across 14 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Don Mattingly are doubles (442 to 441) and batting average (.307 to .284). Plate discipline differs: Don Mattingly walked more often than struck out (588 walks, 444 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. Fred McGriff's on-base percentage of .377 tops Don Mattingly's .358.
Don Mattingly vs Fred McGriff: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Don Mattingly or Fred McGriff?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred McGriff leads Don Mattingly in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Don Mattingly or Fred McGriff hit more home runs?
- Fred McGriff, with 493 to Don Mattingly's 222.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred McGriff, with .886 to Don Mattingly's .830.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Don Mattingly, with .307 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Don Mattingly's 2,153.