Jose Canseco vs Luis Gonzalez: Career Stats Comparison
Luis Gonzalez has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jose Canseco played 1985–2001 as a hitter; Luis Gonzalez played 1990–2008 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
Jose Canseco (1985–2001) and Luis Gonzalez (1990–2008) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1990s respectively and share 12 seasons. Jose Canseco finished with 1,877 hits and 462 home runs; Luis Gonzalez finished with 2,591 hits and 354 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Luis Gonzalez, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jose Canseco, with 462 to Luis Gonzalez's 354.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jose Canseco, with .867 to Luis Gonzalez's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average? Luis Gonzalez, with .283 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits? Luis Gonzalez, with 2,591 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.
- Who drove in more runs? Luis Gonzalez, with 1,439 to Jose Canseco's 1,407.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jose Canseco, with 24,754 career PIV to Luis Gonzalez's 24,585.
Jose Canseco
Luis Gonzalez
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jose Canseco and Luis Gonzalez. 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 | Jose Canseco | Luis Gonzalez |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,887 | 2,591 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,057 | 9,157 |
| Runs | 1,186 | Leads: 1,412 |
| Hits | 1,877 | Leads: 2,591 |
| Doubles | 340 | Leads: 596 |
| Triples | 14 | Leads: 68 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 462 | 354 |
| RBI | 1,407 | Leads: 1,439 |
| Walks | 906 | Leads: 1,155 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,942 | 1,218 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 200 | 128 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | .353 | Leads: .367 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .479 |
| OPS | Leads: .867 | .845 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jose Canseco edges Luis Gonzalez 24,754 to 24,585 — driven by per-season impact — 1,456 PIV per season to 1,294 — rather than by longevity, since Jose Canseco played 17 seasons to Luis Gonzalez's 19. 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).
Jose Canseco — top 3 seasons by OPS
Luis Gonzalez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Luis Gonzalez leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Jose Canseco leads 4: home runs, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Luis Gonzalez. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Jose Canseco higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jose Canseco and Luis Gonzalez careers compare
Jose Canseco and Luis Gonzalez were active at the same time between 1990 and 2001. The two careers are close in length, 1,887 games for Jose Canseco and 2,591 for Luis Gonzalez across 17 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Jose Canseco's edges on the table are home runs (462 to 354), stolen bases (200 to 128), and slugging percentage (.515 to .479). Jose Canseco struck out more than walked (1,942 to 906); Luis Gonzalez struck out more than walked (1,218 to 1,155). Jose Canseco is the more power-leaning hitter, with 462 of 1,877 hits leaving the park.
Jose Canseco vs Luis Gonzalez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jose Canseco or Luis Gonzalez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Luis Gonzalez leads Jose Canseco in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jose Canseco or Luis Gonzalez hit more home runs?
- Jose Canseco, with 462 to Luis Gonzalez's 354.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jose Canseco, with .867 to Luis Gonzalez's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Luis Gonzalez, with .283 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Luis Gonzalez, with 2,591 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.