Rickey Henderson vs Dave Winfield: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Winfield 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). Rickey Henderson played 1979–2003 as a hitter; Dave Winfield played 1973–1995 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
Rickey Henderson (1979–2003) and Dave Winfield (1973–1995) — both debuted in the 1970s. Rickey Henderson finished with 3,055 hits and 297 home runs; Dave Winfield finished with 3,110 hits and 465 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Dave Winfield, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Winfield, with 465 to Rickey Henderson's 297.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Winfield, with .827 to Rickey Henderson's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Winfield, with .283 to Rickey Henderson's .279.
- Who had more hits? Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Rickey Henderson's 3,055.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Winfield, with 1,833 to Rickey Henderson's 1,115.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Rickey Henderson, with 37,642 career PIV to Dave Winfield's 34,842.
Rickey Henderson
Dave Winfield
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield. 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 | Rickey Henderson | Dave Winfield |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 3,081 | 2,973 |
| At-Bats not scored | 10,961 | 11,003 |
| Runs | Leads: 2,295 | 1,669 |
| Hits | 3,055 | Leads: 3,110 |
| Doubles | 510 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | 66 | Leads: 88 |
| Home Runs | 297 | Leads: 465 |
| RBI | 1,115 | Leads: 1,833 |
| Walks | Leads: 2,190 | 1,216 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,694 | 1,686 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 1,406 | 223 |
| Batting Avg | .279 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .401 | .353 |
| Slugging % | .419 | Leads: .475 |
| OPS | .820 | Leads: .827 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rickey Henderson edges Dave Winfield 37,642 to 34,842 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rickey Henderson played 25 seasons to Dave Winfield's 22, while Dave Winfield carries the higher per-season figure (1,584 to 1,506). 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).
Rickey Henderson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Winfield — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Dave Winfield leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: hits, doubles, triples, home runs, and others. Rickey Henderson leads 4: runs, walks, stolen bases, and on-base percentage. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Winfield. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Rickey Henderson higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield careers compare
From 1979 through 1995, Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 3,081 games for Rickey Henderson and 2,973 for Dave Winfield across 25 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Rickey Henderson are runs (2,295 to 1,669), walks (2,190 to 1,216), and stolen bases (1,406 to 223). At the plate, Rickey Henderson walked more often than struck out (2,190 walks, 1,694 strikeouts), while Dave Winfield struck out more than walked (1,686 to 1,216). Dave Winfield is the more power-leaning hitter, with 465 of 3,110 hits leaving the park.
Rickey Henderson vs Dave Winfield: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rickey Henderson or Dave Winfield?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Winfield leads Rickey Henderson in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Rickey Henderson or Dave Winfield hit more home runs?
- Dave Winfield, with 465 to Rickey Henderson's 297.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Winfield, with .827 to Rickey Henderson's .820.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Winfield, with .283 to Rickey Henderson's .279.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Rickey Henderson's 3,055.