Jose Canseco vs Fred Lynn: Career Stats Comparison
Jose Canseco has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jose Canseco played 1985–2001 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
Jose Canseco (1985–2001) and Fred Lynn (1974–1990) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jose Canseco finished with 1,877 hits and 462 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 hit more home runs? Jose Canseco, with 462 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jose Canseco, with .867 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred Lynn, with .283 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits? Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.
- Who drove in more runs? Jose Canseco, with 1,407 to Fred Lynn's 1,111.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Fred Lynn, with 25,648 career PIV to Jose Canseco's 24,754.
- Who won more championships? Jose Canseco, with 2 World Series titles to Fred Lynn's 0.
Jose Canseco
Fred Lynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jose Canseco and Fred Lynn. 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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jose Canseco | Fred Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,887 | Leads: 1,969 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,057 | 6,925 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,186 | 1,063 |
| Hits | 1,877 | Leads: 1,960 |
| Doubles | 340 | Leads: 388 |
| Triples | 14 | Leads: 43 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 462 | 306 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,407 | 1,111 |
| Walks | Leads: 906 | 857 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,942 | 1,116 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 200 | 72 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | .353 | Leads: .360 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .484 |
| OPS | Leads: .867 | .845 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fred Lynn edges Jose Canseco 25,648 to 24,754 — driven by per-season impact — 1,425 PIV per season to 1,303 — rather than by longevity, since Fred Lynn played 18 seasons to Jose Canseco'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).
Jose Canseco — top 3 seasons by OPS
Fred Lynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jose Canseco leads in home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Fred Lynn owns hits, batting average, and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jose Canseco. Note that PIV actually grades Fred Lynn ahead, which means Jose Canseco's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jose Canseco and Fred Lynn careers compare
Jose Canseco and Fred Lynn were active at the same time between 1985 and 1990. With 1,887 games against 1,969 across 19 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Jose Canseco struck out more than walked (1,942 to 906), and Fred Lynn struck out more than walked (1,116 to 857). Jose Canseco is the more power-leaning hitter, with 462 of 1,877 hits leaving the park. On the bases, Jose Canseco stole more often per game played (200 steals in 1,887 games for Jose Canseco, 72 in 1,969 for Fred Lynn). Jose Canseco's slugging percentage of .515 tops Fred Lynn's .484.
Jose Canseco vs Fred Lynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jose Canseco or Fred Lynn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jose Canseco leads Fred Lynn in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jose Canseco or Fred Lynn hit more home runs?
- Jose Canseco, with 462 to Fred Lynn's 306.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jose Canseco, with .867 to Fred Lynn's .845.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred Lynn, with .283 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred Lynn, with 1,960 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.