Mark McGwire vs Cal Ripken: Career Stats Comparison
Cal Ripken 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). Mark McGwire played 1986–2001 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
Mark McGwire (1986–2001) and Cal Ripken (1981–2001) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Mark McGwire finished with 1,626 hits and 583 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? Mark McGwire, with 583 to Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mark McGwire, with .982 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average? Cal Ripken, with .276 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits? Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.
- Who drove in more runs? Cal Ripken, with 1,695 to Mark McGwire's 1,414.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mark McGwire, with 44,531 career PIV to Cal Ripken's 19,199.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Mark McGwire
Cal Ripken
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mark McGwire 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 | Mark McGwire | Cal Ripken |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,874 | Leads: 3,001 |
| At-Bats | 6,187 | Leads: 11,551 |
| Runs | 1,167 | Leads: 1,647 |
| Hits | 1,626 | Leads: 3,184 |
| Doubles | 252 | Leads: 603 |
| Triples | 6 | Leads: 44 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 583 | 431 |
| RBI | 1,414 | Leads: 1,695 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,317 | 1,129 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,596 | 1,305 |
| Stolen Bases | 12 | Leads: 36 |
| Batting Avg | .263 | Leads: .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .394 | .340 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .588 | .447 |
| OPS | Leads: .982 | .788 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mark McGwire outpaces Cal Ripken 44,531 to 19,199 — driven by per-season impact — 2,620 PIV per season to 914 — rather than by longevity, since Mark McGwire played 17 seasons to Cal Ripken's 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).
Mark McGwire — top 3 seasons by OPS
Cal Ripken — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cal Ripken leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Mark McGwire owns home runs, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cal Ripken. Note that PIV actually grades Mark McGwire ahead, which means Cal Ripken's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mark McGwire and Cal Ripken careers compare
Mark McGwire and Cal Ripken were active at the same time between 1986 and 2001. Cal Ripken has the far longer record, 3,001 games against 1,874 across 17 and 21 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Mark McGwire struck out more than walked (1,596 to 1,317); Cal Ripken struck out more than walked (1,305 to 1,129). Mark McGwire is the more power-leaning hitter, with 583 of 1,626 hits leaving the park. Mark McGwire's slugging percentage of .588 tops Cal Ripken's .447. On the peak-season lists, Mark McGwire's best year is 1998 at 1.222 OPS and Cal Ripken's is 1999 at .952 OPS; Mark McGwire has the stronger single season.
Mark McGwire vs Cal Ripken: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mark McGwire or Cal Ripken?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cal Ripken leads Mark McGwire in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Mark McGwire or Cal Ripken hit more home runs?
- Mark McGwire, with 583 to Cal Ripken's 431.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mark McGwire, with .982 to Cal Ripken's .788.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Cal Ripken, with .276 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits?
- Cal Ripken, with 3,184 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.