Dave Parker vs Andy Van Slyke: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Parker has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Dave Parker played 1973–1991 as a hitter; Andy Van Slyke played 1983–1995 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
Dave Parker (1973–1991) and Andy Van Slyke (1983–1995) — they broke in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Dave Parker finished with 2,712 hits and 339 home runs; Andy Van Slyke finished with 1,562 hits and 164 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Dave Parker, with 339 to Andy Van Slyke's 164.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Parker, with .810 to Andy Van Slyke's .792.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Parker, with .290 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits? Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Parker, with 1,493 to Andy Van Slyke's 792.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Parker, with 23,542 career PIV to Andy Van Slyke's 11,940.
- Who won more championships? Dave Parker, with 2 World Series titles to Andy Van Slyke's 0.
Dave Parker
Andy Van Slyke
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Dave Parker and Andy Van Slyke. 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 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dave Parker | Andy Van Slyke |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,466 | 1,658 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 9,358 | 5,711 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,272 | 835 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,712 | 1,562 |
| Doubles | Leads: 526 | 293 |
| Triples | 75 | Leads: 91 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 339 | 164 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,493 | 792 |
| Walks | Leads: 683 | 667 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,537 | 1,063 |
| Stolen Bases | 154 | Leads: 245 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .290 | .274 |
| On-Base % | .339 | Leads: .349 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .471 | .443 |
| OPS | Leads: .810 | .792 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Parker outpaces Andy Van Slyke 23,542 to 11,940 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,177 PIV per season to 853, across 20 seasons to 14. 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).
Dave Parker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Andy Van Slyke — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Parker leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Andy Van Slyke owns stolen bases and OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Parker. PIV agrees: Dave Parker grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dave Parker and Andy Van Slyke careers compare
From 1983 through 1991, Dave Parker and Andy Van Slyke were in the majors together. With 2,466 games against 1,658 across 20 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Andy Van Slyke comes out ahead, it is in triples (91 to 75), stolen bases (245 to 154), and on-base percentage (.349 to .339). Dave Parker struck out more than walked (1,537 to 683); Andy Van Slyke struck out more than walked (1,063 to 667). Andy Van Slyke was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In on-base percentage, Andy Van Slyke holds the edge, .349 to .339.
Dave Parker vs Andy Van Slyke: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dave Parker or Andy Van Slyke?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Parker leads Andy Van Slyke in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Dave Parker or Andy Van Slyke hit more home runs?
- Dave Parker, with 339 to Andy Van Slyke's 164.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Parker, with .810 to Andy Van Slyke's .792.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Parker, with .290 to Andy Van Slyke's .274.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Parker, with 2,712 to Andy Van Slyke's 1,562.