Munetaka Murakami's 7 home runs are the most of any Japanese-born player in his first 21 Major League games 🔥
List of Japanese-born players that he has passed:
- Shohei Ohtani: 5 home runs (First 21 games batting)
- Seiya Suzuki: 4 home runs
- Masataka Yoshida: 4 home runs
h/t: @SlangsOnSports
Both were elite, but WAR credits Bonds higher (91.8 vs 76.2) because it totals runs created via batting + baserunning + defense + position.
Key edges for Bonds in 1986-1997:
- Much higher OBP (.408 vs .380) from drawing tons of walks, boosting on-base value.
- Baserunning explosion (417 SB vs 173), worth many extra runs.
- Higher OPS+ (162 vs 148), showing better park/league-adjusted production.
Griffey dominated raw power (438 HR, more RBI/hits), but Bonds' plate discipline + speed created more overall wins. That's why the gap exists despite Griffey's edge in some counting stats and fewer games.
@BBGreatMoments Why couldn’t Griffey steal any bags? He ends his entire career with only 11 more bags stolen.. Barry is already in the 40/40 club and 400/400 club with his dad by 1997. Jr’s career high is 24 SB.. weird