Jeff Bagwell vs Mark McGwire: Career Stats Comparison
Jeff Bagwell has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jeff Bagwell played 1991–2005 as a hitter; Mark McGwire played 1986–2001 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
Jeff Bagwell (1991–2005) and Mark McGwire (1986–2001) — they debuted in the 1990s and the 1980s respectively and share 11 seasons. Jeff Bagwell finished with 2,314 hits and 449 home runs; Mark McGwire finished with 1,626 hits and 583 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Jeff Bagwell, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Mark McGwire, with 583 to Jeff Bagwell's 449.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mark McGwire, with .982 to Jeff Bagwell's .948.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits? Jeff Bagwell, with 2,314 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.
- Who drove in more runs? Jeff Bagwell, with 1,529 to Mark McGwire's 1,414.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jeff Bagwell, with 47,120 career PIV to Mark McGwire's 44,531.
Jeff Bagwell
Mark McGwire
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jeff Bagwell and Mark McGwire. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. 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 | Jeff Bagwell | Mark McGwire |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,150 | 1,874 |
| At-Bats not scored | 7,797 | 6,187 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,517 | 1,167 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,314 | 1,626 |
| Doubles | Leads: 488 | 252 |
| Triples | Leads: 32 | 6 |
| Home Runs | 449 | Leads: 583 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,529 | 1,414 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,401 | 1,317 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,558 | 1,596 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 202 | 12 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .297 | .263 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .408 | .394 |
| Slugging % | .540 | Leads: .588 |
| OPS | .948 | Leads: .982 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jeff Bagwell edges Mark McGwire 47,120 to 44,531 — driven by per-season impact — 3,141 PIV per season to 2,783 — rather than by longevity, since Jeff Bagwell played 15 seasons to Mark McGwire's 16. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Jeff Bagwell — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mark McGwire — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Jeff Bagwell leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Mark McGwire leads 3: home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jeff Bagwell. PIV agrees: Jeff Bagwell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jeff Bagwell and Mark McGwire careers compare
The careers of Jeff Bagwell (1991–2005) and Mark McGwire (1986–2001) overlapped from 1991 to 2001, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 2,150 games against 1,874 across 15 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Mark McGwire's edges on the table are home runs (583 to 449), slugging percentage (.588 to .540), and OPS (.982 to .948). Jeff Bagwell struck out more than walked (1,558 to 1,401); Mark McGwire struck out more than walked (1,596 to 1,317). Mark McGwire is the more power-leaning hitter, with 583 of 1,626 hits leaving the park. Jeff Bagwell was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Jeff Bagwell vs Mark McGwire: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jeff Bagwell or Mark McGwire?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jeff Bagwell leads Mark McGwire in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jeff Bagwell or Mark McGwire hit more home runs?
- Mark McGwire, with 583 to Jeff Bagwell's 449.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mark McGwire, with .982 to Jeff Bagwell's .948.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jeff Bagwell, with .297 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits?
- Jeff Bagwell, with 2,314 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.