Lou Whitaker vs Dave Winfield: Career Stats Comparison
Dave Winfield has the better career line of the two, leading 13 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Lou Whitaker played 1977–1995 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
Lou Whitaker (1977–1995) and Dave Winfield (1973–1995) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Lou Whitaker finished with 2,369 hits and 244 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? Dave Winfield, with 465 to Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS? Dave Winfield, with .827 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average? Dave Winfield, with .283 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits? Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.
- Who drove in more runs? Dave Winfield, with 1,833 to Lou Whitaker's 1,084.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Dave Winfield, with 34,842 career PIV to Lou Whitaker's 19,796.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Lou Whitaker
Dave Winfield
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Lou Whitaker 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lou Whitaker | Dave Winfield |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,390 | Leads: 2,973 |
| At-Bats | 8,570 | Leads: 11,003 |
| Runs | 1,386 | Leads: 1,669 |
| Hits | 2,369 | Leads: 3,110 |
| Doubles | 420 | Leads: 540 |
| Triples | 65 | Leads: 88 |
| Home Runs | 244 | Leads: 465 |
| RBI | 1,084 | Leads: 1,833 |
| Walks | 1,197 | Leads: 1,216 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,099 | 1,686 |
| Stolen Bases | 143 | Leads: 223 |
| Batting Avg | .276 | Leads: .283 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .363 | .353 |
| Slugging % | .426 | Leads: .475 |
| OPS | .789 | Leads: .827 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dave Winfield outpaces Lou Whitaker 34,842 to 19,796 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,515 PIV per season to 1,042, across 23 seasons to 19. 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).
Lou Whitaker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Dave Winfield — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dave Winfield leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Lou Whitaker owns OBP. 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 Lou Whitaker and Dave Winfield careers compare
Lou Whitaker and Dave Winfield were active at the same time between 1977 and 1995. With 2,390 games against 2,973 across 19 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Lou Whitaker comes out ahead, it is in on-base percentage (.363 to .353). Plate discipline differs: Lou Whitaker walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,099 strikeouts), but 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. On the bases, Dave Winfield stole more often per game played (143 steals in 2,390 games for Lou Whitaker, 223 in 2,973 for Dave Winfield).
Lou Whitaker vs Dave Winfield: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lou Whitaker or Dave Winfield?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dave Winfield leads Lou Whitaker in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Lou Whitaker or Dave Winfield hit more home runs?
- Dave Winfield, with 465 to Lou Whitaker's 244.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Dave Winfield, with .827 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Dave Winfield, with .283 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Dave Winfield, with 3,110 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.