Jeff Bagwell vs Paul Konerko: Career Stats Comparison
Jeff Bagwell has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jeff Bagwell played 1991–2005 as a hitter; Paul Konerko played 1997–2014 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
Jeff Bagwell (1991–2005) and Paul Konerko (1997–2014) — both broke in during the 1990s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Jeff Bagwell finished with 2,314 hits and 449 home runs; Paul Konerko finished with 2,340 hits and 439 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jeff Bagwell, with 449 to Paul Konerko's 439.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jeff Bagwell, with .948 to Paul Konerko's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Paul Konerko's .279.
- Who had more hits? Paul Konerko, with 2,340 to Jeff Bagwell's 2,314.
- Who drove in more runs? Jeff Bagwell, with 1,529 to Paul Konerko's 1,412.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jeff Bagwell, with 47,120 career PIV to Paul Konerko's 22,710.
- Who won more championships? Paul Konerko, with 1 World Series title to Jeff Bagwell's 0.
Jeff Bagwell
Paul Konerko
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jeff Bagwell and Paul Konerko. 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 | Jeff Bagwell | Paul Konerko |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,150 | Leads: 2,349 |
| At-Bats | 7,797 | Leads: 8,393 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,517 | 1,162 |
| Hits | 2,314 | Leads: 2,340 |
| Doubles | Leads: 488 | 410 |
| Triples | Leads: 32 | 8 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 449 | 439 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,529 | 1,412 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,401 | 921 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,558 | 1,391 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 202 | 9 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .279 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .408 | .354 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .540 | .486 |
| OPS | Leads: .948 | .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jeff Bagwell outpaces Paul Konerko 47,120 to 22,710 — driven by per-season impact — 3,141 PIV per season to 1,195 — rather than by longevity, since Jeff Bagwell played 15 seasons to Paul Konerko's 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).
Jeff Bagwell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Konerko — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jeff Bagwell leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Paul Konerko owns hits. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jeff Bagwell. PIV agrees: Jeff Bagwell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jeff Bagwell and Paul Konerko careers compare
Jeff Bagwell and Paul Konerko were active at the same time between 1997 and 2005. The two careers are close in length, 2,150 games for Jeff Bagwell and 2,349 for Paul Konerko across 15 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Paul Konerko comes out ahead, it is in games (2,349 to 2,150), at-bats (8,393 to 7,797), and hits (2,340 to 2,314). At the plate, Jeff Bagwell struck out more than walked (1,558 to 1,401), and Paul Konerko struck out more than walked (1,391 to 921). Jeff Bagwell was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Jeff Bagwell holds the edge, .540 to .486.
Jeff Bagwell vs Paul Konerko: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jeff Bagwell or Paul Konerko?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jeff Bagwell leads Paul Konerko in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jeff Bagwell or Paul Konerko hit more home runs?
- Jeff Bagwell, with 449 to Paul Konerko's 439.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jeff Bagwell, with .948 to Paul Konerko's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Paul Konerko's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Konerko, with 2,340 to Jeff Bagwell's 2,314.