Ryan Howard vs Paul Konerko: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Konerko has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Ryan Howard played 2004–2016 as a hitter; Paul Konerko played 1997–2014 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
Ryan Howard (2004–2016) and Paul Konerko (1997–2014) — they broke in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Ryan Howard finished with 1,475 hits and 382 home runs; Paul Konerko finished with 2,340 hits and 439 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul Konerko, with 439 to Ryan Howard's 382.
- Who had the higher OPS? Ryan Howard, with .859 to Paul Konerko's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Konerko, with .279 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits? Paul Konerko, with 2,340 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Konerko, with 1,412 to Ryan Howard's 1,194.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Konerko, with 22,710 career PIV to Ryan Howard's 19,167.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Ryan Howard
Paul Konerko
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Ryan Howard and Paul Konerko. 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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Ryan Howard | Paul Konerko |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,572 | Leads: 2,349 |
| At-Bats | 5,707 | Leads: 8,393 |
| Runs | 848 | Leads: 1,162 |
| Hits | 1,475 | Leads: 2,340 |
| Doubles | 277 | Leads: 410 |
| Triples | Leads: 21 | 8 |
| Home Runs | 382 | Leads: 439 |
| RBI | 1,194 | Leads: 1,412 |
| Walks | 709 | Leads: 921 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,843 | 1,391 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 12 | 9 |
| Batting Avg | .258 | Leads: .279 |
| On-Base % | .343 | Leads: .354 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .515 | .486 |
| OPS | Leads: .859 | .841 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Konerko leads Ryan Howard 22,710 to 19,167 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Konerko played 19 seasons to Ryan Howard's 13, while Ryan Howard carries the higher per-season figure (1,474 to 1,195). 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).
Ryan Howard — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Konerko — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Konerko leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Ryan Howard owns stolen bases and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Konerko. PIV agrees: Paul Konerko grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Ryan Howard and Paul Konerko careers compare
From 2004 through 2014, Ryan Howard and Paul Konerko were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,572 games for Ryan Howard and 2,349 for Paul Konerko across 13 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Ryan Howard are triples (21 to 8), stolen bases (12 to 9), and slugging percentage (.515 to .486). Ryan Howard struck out more than walked (1,843 to 709); Paul Konerko struck out more than walked (1,391 to 921). Ryan Howard is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 1,475 hits leaving the park.
Ryan Howard vs Paul Konerko: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ryan Howard or Paul Konerko?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Konerko leads Ryan Howard in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Ryan Howard or Paul Konerko hit more home runs?
- Paul Konerko, with 439 to Ryan Howard's 382.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Ryan Howard, with .859 to Paul Konerko's .841.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Konerko, with .279 to Ryan Howard's .258.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Konerko, with 2,340 to Ryan Howard's 1,475.