Jose Canseco vs Bernie Williams: Career Stats Comparison
Bernie Williams 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). Jose Canseco played 1985–2001 as a hitter; Bernie Williams played 1991–2006 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 Bernie Williams (1991–2006) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1990s respectively and share 11 seasons. Jose Canseco finished with 1,877 hits and 462 home runs; Bernie Williams finished with 2,336 hits and 287 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Bernie Williams, in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jose Canseco, with 462 to Bernie Williams's 287.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jose Canseco, with .867 to Bernie Williams's .858.
- Who had the higher batting average? Bernie Williams, with .297 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits? Bernie Williams, with 2,336 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.
- Who drove in more runs? Jose Canseco, with 1,407 to Bernie Williams's 1,257.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jose Canseco, with 24,754 career PIV to Bernie Williams's 24,401.
Jose Canseco
Bernie Williams
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jose Canseco and Bernie Williams. 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 | Bernie Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,887 | 2,076 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,057 | 7,869 |
| Runs | 1,186 | Leads: 1,366 |
| Hits | 1,877 | Leads: 2,336 |
| Doubles | 340 | Leads: 449 |
| Triples | 14 | Leads: 55 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 462 | 287 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,407 | 1,257 |
| Walks | 906 | Leads: 1,069 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,942 | 1,212 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 200 | 147 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .297 |
| On-Base % | .353 | Leads: .381 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .477 |
| OPS | Leads: .867 | .858 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jose Canseco edges Bernie Williams 24,754 to 24,401 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jose Canseco played 17 seasons to Bernie Williams's 16, while Bernie Williams carries the higher per-season figure (1,525 to 1,456). 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
Bernie Williams — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Bernie Williams leads 7 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Jose Canseco leads 5: home runs, RBI, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and others. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bernie Williams. 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 Bernie Williams careers compare
Jose Canseco and Bernie Williams were active at the same time between 1991 and 2001. The two careers are close in length, 1,887 games for Jose Canseco and 2,076 for Bernie Williams across 17 and 16 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Jose Canseco struck out more than walked (1,942 to 906); Bernie Williams struck out more than walked (1,212 to 1,069). Jose Canseco is the more power-leaning hitter, with 462 of 1,877 hits leaving the park. Jose Canseco was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Jose Canseco holds the edge, .515 to .477.
Jose Canseco vs Bernie Williams: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jose Canseco or Bernie Williams?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bernie Williams leads Jose Canseco in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jose Canseco or Bernie Williams hit more home runs?
- Jose Canseco, with 462 to Bernie Williams's 287.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jose Canseco, with .867 to Bernie Williams's .858.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Bernie Williams, with .297 to Jose Canseco's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Bernie Williams, with 2,336 to Jose Canseco's 1,877.