| Barry Bonds
Bonds is a three-time MVP and the only player ever to hit 400 homers and steal 400 bases. Andy Lyons/Allsport |
By Lonny Krasnow, CNNSI.com
Barry Bonds is in a class by himself -- literally. No other player in major-league history has 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases.
Bonds has 451 homers and 462 thefts with an eye on 500/500. Only three other players qualify for the 300/300 club: Willie Mays (660 and 338), Andre Dawson (436 and 314) and Bobby Bonds (332 and 461).
In the '90s, Bonds and Griffey were the only players to average at least 30 doubles, 30 homers, 100 runs and 100 RBI per season.
They both hit .302 for the decade and while Griffey had a slight edge in homers (382 to 361) and RBI (1,091 to 1,076), Bonds scored 89 more runs and stole 192 more stolen bases.
Bonds also has superior plate discipline, leading the league in walks five times. As a result, he beats Junior in the one stat that measures the overall hitting ability of a player -- OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage). Bonds has a career OPS of .968 compared to Griffey's .946.
Bonds recently joined a select group of players who had 1,000 or more RBI, runs and walks to go along with a 1.000 OPS during a decade. The others -- Babe Ruth (1920s), Lou Gehrig (1930s) and Jimmie Foxx (1930s).
How valuable is Bonds? He's one of eight men to win three MVP awards, claiming the hardware in 1990, 1992 and 1993. Griffey won his only MVP in 1997.
Furthermore, Bonds has shown no signs of slowing down. After reaching his 35th birthday last summer, Bonds hit .364 with a .766 slugging percentage in August and September. And I don't think Pac Bell Park will cost him any power numbers as he approaches 40.
When you stop and think about the elite players of our generation, you have to start with Bonds. Barry Bonds. | Ken Griffey Jr.
Griffey is a 10-time All-Star and the youngest player to reach the 400 home run plateau. Tom Hauck/Allsport |
By Duane Cross, CNNSI.com
Comparing Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds, two of the most potent offensive weapons of their era, is akin to the arguments 40 years ago between fans of Willie, Mickey and The Duke. It's almost six of one, half a dozen of the other. Almost.
In the Touch 'Em All era, Griffey stands out as a more consistent home-run producer, averaging 36 homers per season during his 11-year career, including back-to-back seasons of 56. Through 14 seasons, Bonds is averaging 32, with a career high of 46.
After all, isn't that what today's fans want -- the long ball? The argument should end there. Griffey hits more dongs. Period.
But let's have some fun with the calculator ...
Both players are durable, averaging about 140 games per season. Griffey produces 158 hits, while Bonds averages 144. Griffey also nips Bonds in runs produced (runs plus RBI minus home runs). Junior produces 1.18 runs per game; Bonds averages 1.15. Both players have a runs-scored and a RBI title on their resume. Griffey has won two total-base titles to one for Bonds.
Extra-base hit production (doubles plus triples) also is hotly contested. Bonds wins, averaging 35 extra-base hits to Griffey's 32. However, add in round-trippers (after all, a homer is an extra-base hit), and The Kid rises to the top again: 68-67.
Griffey holds a 4-1 advantage in home run titles, but Bonds leads 3-1 in slugging titles. However, Junior's .569 slugging percentage is 10 points higher than Bonds'.
Bonds' base-on-balls totals are impressive, averaging 102 per season to Griffey's 68. And Bonds' base stealing (33-15 over Griffey) turns walks into doubles. But what fan wants to pay $20 to see a slugger steal bases?
After all, it's all about the long ball. Or so it seems if you're to win the Griffey-Bonds debate. |
