Bobby Bonilla vs Andy Van Slyke: Career Stats Comparison
Bobby Bonilla has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Bobby Bonilla played 1986–2001 as a hitter; Andy Van Slyke played 1983–1995 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 Bonilla (1986–2001) and Andy Van Slyke (1983–1995) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Bobby Bonilla finished with 2,010 hits and 287 home runs; Andy Van Slyke finished with 1,562 hits and 164 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Bobby Bonilla, with 287 to Andy Van Slyke's 164.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bobby Bonilla, with .829 to Andy Van Slyke's .792.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bobby Bonilla, with .279 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits? Bobby Bonilla, with 2,010 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.
- Who drove in more runs? Bobby Bonilla, with 1,173 to Andy Van Slyke's 792.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Bobby Bonilla, with 19,507 career PIV to Andy Van Slyke's 11,940.
- Who won more championships? Bobby Bonilla, with 1 World Series title to Andy Van Slyke's 0.
Bobby Bonilla
Andy Van Slyke
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke. 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 | Bobby Bonilla | Andy Van Slyke |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,113 | 1,658 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,213 | 5,711 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,084 | 835 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,010 | 1,562 |
| Doubles | Leads: 408 | 293 |
| Triples | 61 | Leads: 91 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 287 | 164 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,173 | 792 |
| Walks | Leads: 912 | 667 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,204 | 1,063 |
| Stolen Bases | 45 | Leads: 245 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .279 | .274 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .358 | .349 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .472 | .443 |
| OPS | Leads: .829 | .792 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Bonilla outpaces Andy Van Slyke 19,507 to 11,940 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,027 PIV per season to 853, across 19 seasons to 14. 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 Bonilla — top 3 seasons by OPS
Andy Van Slyke — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Bonilla leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Andy Van Slyke owns stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bobby Bonilla. PIV agrees: Bobby Bonilla grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke careers compare
Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke were active at the same time between 1986 and 1995. The two careers are close in length, 2,113 games for Bobby Bonilla and 1,658 for Andy Van Slyke across 19 and 14 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Andy Van Slyke comes out ahead, it is in triples (91 to 61) and stolen bases (245 to 45). Bobby Bonilla struck out more than walked (1,204 to 912); Andy Van Slyke struck out more than walked (1,063 to 667). Home runs make up a larger share of Bobby Bonilla's hits: 287 of 2,010 for Bobby Bonilla, 164 of 1,562 for Andy Van Slyke.
Bobby Bonilla vs Andy Van Slyke: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bobby Bonilla or Andy Van Slyke?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bobby Bonilla leads Andy Van Slyke in 12 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Bobby Bonilla or Andy Van Slyke hit more home runs?
- Bobby Bonilla, with 287 to Andy Van Slyke's 164.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bobby Bonilla, with .829 to Andy Van Slyke's .792.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bobby Bonilla, with .279 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Bobby Bonilla, with 2,010 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.