Sammy Sosa vs Dave Winfield: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Winfield 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). Sammy Sosa played 1989–2007 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
Sammy Sosa (1989–2007) and Dave Winfield (1973–1995) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Sammy Sosa finished with 2,408 hits and 609 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 hit more home runs? Sammy Sosa, with 609 to Dave Winfield's 465.
- Who had the higher OPS? Sammy Sosa, with .878 to Dave Winfield's .827.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Winfield, with .283 to Sammy Sosa's .273.
- Who had more hits? Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Sammy Sosa's 2,408.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Winfield, with 1,833 to Sammy Sosa's 1,667.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Winfield, with 34,842 career PIV to Sammy Sosa's 30,009.
- Who won more championships? Dave Winfield, with 1 World Series title to Sammy Sosa's 0.
Sammy Sosa
Dave Winfield
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Sammy Sosa and Dave Winfield. 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 | Sammy Sosa | Dave Winfield |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,354 | Leads: 2,973 |
| At-Bats | 8,813 | Leads: 11,003 |
| Runs | 1,475 | Leads: 1,669 |
| Hits | 2,408 | Leads: 3,110 |
| Doubles | 379 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | 45 | Leads: 88 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 609 | 465 |
| RBI | 1,667 | Leads: 1,833 |
| Walks | 929 | Leads: 1,216 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,306 | 1,686 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 234 | 223 |
| Batting Avg | .273 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | .344 | Leads: .353 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .534 | .475 |
| OPS | Leads: .878 | .827 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Winfield leads Sammy Sosa 34,842 to 30,009 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Dave Winfield played 23 seasons to Sammy Sosa's 19, while Sammy Sosa carries the higher per-season figure (1,579 to 1,515). 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).
Sammy Sosa — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Winfield — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Winfield leads in hits, RBI, runs, and batting average, while Sammy Sosa owns home runs, stolen bases, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dave Winfield. PIV agrees: Dave Winfield grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Sammy Sosa and Dave Winfield careers compare
From 1989 through 1995, Sammy Sosa and Dave Winfield were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,354 games for Sammy Sosa and 2,973 for Dave Winfield across 19 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Sammy Sosa comes out ahead, it is in home runs (609 to 465), stolen bases (234 to 223), and slugging percentage (.534 to .475). Sammy Sosa struck out more than walked (2,306 to 929); Dave Winfield struck out more than walked (1,686 to 1,216). Sammy Sosa is the more power-leaning hitter, with 609 of 2,408 hits leaving the park.
Sammy Sosa vs Dave Winfield: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Sammy Sosa or Dave Winfield?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Winfield leads Sammy Sosa in 10 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Sammy Sosa or Dave Winfield hit more home runs?
- Sammy Sosa, with 609 to Dave Winfield's 465.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Sammy Sosa, with .878 to Dave Winfield's .827.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Winfield, with .283 to Sammy Sosa's .273.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Sammy Sosa's 2,408.