Bobby Bonds vs Brian Downing: Career Stats Comparison
Bobby Bonds and Brian Downing are close to even, splitting the 14 scored categories on this page 7–7 (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bobby Bonds played 1968–1981 as a hitter; Brian Downing played 1973–1992 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
Bobby Bonds (1968–1981) and Brian Downing (1973–1992) — they broke in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Bobby Bonds finished with 1,886 hits and 332 home runs; Brian Downing finished with 2,099 hits and 275 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bobby Bonds, with 332 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bobby Bonds, with .824 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bobby Bonds, with .268 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits? Brian Downing, with 2,099 to Bobby Bonds's 1,886.
- Who drove in more runs? Brian Downing, with 1,073 to Bobby Bonds's 1,024.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Bonds, with 25,739 career PIV to Brian Downing's 22,792.
Bobby Bonds
Brian Downing
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Bonds and Brian Downing. 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, and the 1960s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bobby Bonds | Brian Downing |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,849 | Leads: 2,344 |
| At-Bats | 7,043 | Leads: 7,853 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,258 | 1,188 |
| Hits | 1,886 | Leads: 2,099 |
| Doubles | 302 | Leads: 360 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 28 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 332 | 275 |
| RBI | 1,024 | Leads: 1,073 |
| Walks | 914 | Leads: 1,197 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,757 | 1,127 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 461 | 50 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .268 | .267 |
| On-Base % | .353 | Leads: .370 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .471 | .425 |
| OPS | Leads: .824 | .796 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Bonds leads Brian Downing 25,739 to 22,792 — driven by per-season impact — 1,716 PIV per season to 1,140 — rather than by longevity, since Bobby Bonds played 15 seasons to Brian Downing's 20. 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).
Bobby Bonds — top 3 seasons by OPS
Brian Downing — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Bonds leads in home runs, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Brian Downing owns hits, RBI, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bobby Bonds. PIV agrees: Bobby Bonds grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Bonds and Brian Downing careers compare
Bobby Bonds and Brian Downing were active at the same time between 1973 and 1981. With 1,849 games against 2,344 across 15 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Bobby Bonds struck out more than walked (1,757 to 914), while Brian Downing walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,127 strikeouts). Bobby Bonds is the more power-leaning hitter, with 332 of 1,886 hits leaving the park. Bobby Bonds was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Brian Downing's on-base percentage of .370 tops Bobby Bonds's .353.
Bobby Bonds vs Brian Downing: Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Bobby Bonds or Brian Downing hit more home runs?
- Bobby Bonds, with 332 to Brian Downing's 275.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bobby Bonds, with .824 to Brian Downing's .796.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bobby Bonds, with .268 to Brian Downing's .267.
- Who had more hits?
- Brian Downing, with 2,099 to Bobby Bonds's 1,886.