Bobby Bonds vs Dave Kingman: Career Stats Comparison
Bobby Bonds has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bobby Bonds played 1968–1981 as a hitter; Dave Kingman played 1971–1986 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 Dave Kingman (1971–1986) — 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; Dave Kingman finished with 1,575 hits and 442 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Kingman, with 442 to Bobby Bonds's 332.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bobby Bonds, with .824 to Dave Kingman's .780.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bobby Bonds, with .268 to Dave Kingman's .236.
- Who had more hits? Bobby Bonds, with 1,886 to Dave Kingman's 1,575.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Kingman, with 1,210 to Bobby Bonds's 1,024.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Bonds, with 25,739 career PIV to Dave Kingman's 11,278.
- Who won more championships? Dave Kingman, with 1 World Series title to Bobby Bonds's 0.
Bobby Bonds
Dave Kingman
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Bonds and Dave Kingman. 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 | Dave Kingman |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,849 | Leads: 1,941 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,043 | 6,677 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,258 | 901 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,886 | 1,575 |
| Doubles | Leads: 302 | 240 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 25 |
| Home Runs | 332 | Leads: 442 |
| RBI | 1,024 | Leads: 1,210 |
| Walks | Leads: 914 | 608 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,757 | 1,816 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 461 | 85 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .268 | .236 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .353 | .302 |
| Slugging % | .471 | Leads: .478 |
| OPS | Leads: .824 | .780 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Bonds outpaces Dave Kingman 25,739 to 11,278 — driven by per-season impact — 1,716 PIV per season to 594 — rather than by longevity, since Bobby Bonds played 15 seasons to Dave Kingman'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).
Bobby Bonds — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Kingman — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Bonds leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Dave Kingman owns home runs and RBI. 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 Dave Kingman careers compare
From 1971 through 1981, Bobby Bonds and Dave Kingman were in the majors together. With 1,849 games against 1,941 across 15 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Dave Kingman comes out ahead, it is in games (1,941 to 1,849), home runs (442 to 332), and RBI (1,210 to 1,024). Bobby Bonds struck out more than walked (1,757 to 914); Dave Kingman struck out more than walked (1,816 to 608). Dave Kingman is the more power-leaning hitter, with 442 of 1,575 hits leaving the park.
Bobby Bonds vs Dave Kingman: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Bonds or Dave Kingman?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bobby Bonds leads Dave Kingman in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Bonds or Dave Kingman hit more home runs?
- Dave Kingman, with 442 to Bobby Bonds's 332.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bobby Bonds, with .824 to Dave Kingman's .780.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bobby Bonds, with .268 to Dave Kingman's .236.
- Who had more hits?
- Bobby Bonds, with 1,886 to Dave Kingman's 1,575.