Fred McGriff vs Eddie Murray: Career Stats Comparison
Eddie Murray has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fred McGriff played 1986–2004 as a hitter; Eddie Murray played 1977–1997 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
Fred McGriff (1986–2004) and Eddie Murray (1977–1997) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1970s respectively and share 12 seasons. Fred McGriff finished with 2,490 hits and 493 home runs; Eddie Murray finished with 3,255 hits and 504 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Eddie Murray, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Eddie Murray, with 504 to Fred McGriff's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred McGriff, with .886 to Eddie Murray's .836.
- Who had the higher batting average? Eddie Murray, with .287 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits? Eddie Murray, with 3,255 to Fred McGriff's 2,490.
- Who drove in more runs? Eddie Murray, with 1,917 to Fred McGriff's 1,550.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Eddie Murray, with 37,651 career PIV to Fred McGriff's 37,233.
Fred McGriff
Eddie Murray
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred McGriff and Eddie Murray. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Fred McGriff | Eddie Murray |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,460 | 3,026 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,757 | 11,336 |
| Runs | 1,349 | Leads: 1,627 |
| Hits | 2,490 | Leads: 3,255 |
| Doubles | 441 | Leads: 560 |
| Triples | 24 | Leads: 35 |
| Home Runs | 493 | Leads: 504 |
| RBI | 1,550 | Leads: 1,917 |
| Walks | 1,305 | Leads: 1,333 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,882 | 1,516 |
| Stolen Bases | 72 | Leads: 110 |
| Batting Avg | .284 | Leads: .287 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .377 | .359 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .509 | .476 |
| OPS | Leads: .886 | .836 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Eddie Murray edges Fred McGriff 37,651 to 37,233 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Eddie Murray played 21 seasons to Fred McGriff's 19, while Fred McGriff carries the higher per-season figure (1,960 to 1,793). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Fred McGriff — top 3 seasons by OPS
Eddie Murray — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Eddie Murray leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Fred McGriff leads 3: on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Eddie Murray. PIV agrees: Eddie Murray grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fred McGriff and Eddie Murray careers compare
From 1986 through 1997, Fred McGriff and Eddie Murray were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,460 games for Fred McGriff and 3,026 for Eddie Murray across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Fred McGriff's edges on the table are on-base percentage (.377 to .359), slugging percentage (.509 to .476), and OPS (.886 to .836). Fred McGriff struck out more than walked (1,882 to 1,305); Eddie Murray struck out more than walked (1,516 to 1,333). Eddie Murray was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Fred McGriff's slugging percentage of .509 tops Eddie Murray's .476.
Fred McGriff vs Eddie Murray: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred McGriff or Eddie Murray?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Eddie Murray leads Fred McGriff in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Fred McGriff or Eddie Murray hit more home runs?
- Eddie Murray, with 504 to Fred McGriff's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred McGriff, with .886 to Eddie Murray's .836.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Eddie Murray, with .287 to Fred McGriff's .284.
- Who had more hits?
- Eddie Murray, with 3,255 to Fred McGriff's 2,490.