Bobby Bonds vs Fred Lynn: Career Stats Comparison
Fred Lynn has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bobby Bonds played 1968–1981 as a hitter; Fred Lynn played 1974–1990 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 Fred Lynn (1974–1990) — they debuted in the 1960s and the 1970s respectively and share 8 seasons. Bobby Bonds finished with 1,886 hits and 332 home runs; Fred Lynn finished with 1,960 hits and 306 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Fred Lynn, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Bobby Bonds, with 332 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS? Fred Lynn, with .845 to Bobby Bonds's .824.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Bobby Bonds's .268.
- Who had more hits? Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Bobby Bonds's 1,886.
- Who drove in more runs? Fred Lynn, with 1,111 to Bobby Bonds's 1,024.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Bonds, with 25,739 career PIV to Fred Lynn's 25,648.
Bobby Bonds
Fred Lynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Bonds and Fred Lynn. 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 | Bobby Bonds | Fred Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,849 | 1,969 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,043 | 6,925 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,258 | 1,063 |
| Hits | 1,886 | Leads: 1,960 |
| Doubles | 302 | Leads: 388 |
| Triples | Leads: 66 | 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 332 | 306 |
| RBI | 1,024 | Leads: 1,111 |
| Walks | Leads: 914 | 857 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,757 | 1,116 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 461 | 72 |
| Batting Avg | .268 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | .353 | Leads: .360 |
| Slugging % | .471 | Leads: .484 |
| OPS | .824 | Leads: .845 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Bonds edges Fred Lynn 25,739 to 25,648 — driven by per-season impact — 1,839 PIV per season to 1,509 — rather than by longevity, since Bobby Bonds played 14 seasons to Fred Lynn's 17. 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).
Bobby Bonds — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Fred Lynn leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: hits, doubles, RBI, batting average, and others. Bobby Bonds leads 5: runs, triples, home runs, walks, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fred Lynn. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Bobby Bonds higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Bonds and Fred Lynn careers compare
From 1974 through 1981, Bobby Bonds and Fred Lynn were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,849 games for Bobby Bonds and 1,969 for Fred Lynn across 14 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Bobby Bonds struck out more than walked (1,757 to 914); Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857). On the bases, Bobby Bonds stole more often per game played (461 steals in 1,849 games for Bobby Bonds, 72 in 1,969 for Fred Lynn). In slugging percentage, Fred Lynn holds the edge, .484 to .471.
Bobby Bonds vs Fred Lynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Bonds or Fred Lynn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fred Lynn leads Bobby Bonds in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Bonds or Fred Lynn hit more home runs?
- Bobby Bonds, with 332 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Fred Lynn, with .845 to Bobby Bonds's .824.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Bobby Bonds's .268.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Bobby Bonds's 1,886.