Pete Browning vs Sam Thompson: Career Stats Comparison
Sam Thompson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Pete Browning played 1882–1894 as a hitter; Sam Thompson played 1885–1906 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
Pete Browning (1882–1894) and Sam Thompson (1885–1906) — both debuted in the 1880s. Pete Browning finished with 1,646 hits and 46 home runs; Sam Thompson finished with 1,988 hits and 126 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Sam Thompson, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Sam Thompson, with 126 to Pete Browning's 46.
- Who had the higher OPS? Sam Thompson, with .890 to Pete Browning's .869.
- Who had the higher batting average? Pete Browning, with .341 to Sam Thompson's .331.
- Who had more hits? Sam Thompson, with 1,988 to Pete Browning's 1,646.
- Who drove in more runs? Sam Thompson, with 1,308 to Pete Browning's 659.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Sam Thompson, with 29,910 career PIV to Pete Browning's 28,876.
Pete Browning
Sam Thompson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Pete Browning and Sam Thompson. 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 | Pete Browning | Sam Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,183 | 1,410 |
| At-Bats not scored | 4,820 | 5,998 |
| Runs | 954 | Leads: 1,261 |
| Hits | 1,646 | Leads: 1,988 |
| Doubles | 295 | Leads: 343 |
| Triples | 85 | Leads: 161 |
| Home Runs | 46 | Leads: 126 |
| RBI | 659 | Leads: 1,308 |
| Walks | Leads: 466 | 452 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 245 | 234 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 258 | 232 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .341 | .331 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .403 | .384 |
| Slugging % | .467 | Leads: .505 |
| OPS | .869 | Leads: .890 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sam Thompson edges Pete Browning 29,910 to 28,876 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Sam Thompson played 15 seasons to Pete Browning's 13, while Pete Browning carries the higher per-season figure (2,221 to 1,994). 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).
Pete Browning — top 3 seasons by OPS
Sam Thompson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Sam Thompson leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Pete Browning leads 4: walks, stolen bases, batting average, and on-base percentage. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sam Thompson. PIV agrees: Sam Thompson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Pete Browning and Sam Thompson careers compare
Pete Browning and Sam Thompson were active at the same time between 1885 and 1894. The two careers are close in length, 1,183 games for Pete Browning and 1,410 for Sam Thompson across 13 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Pete Browning comes out ahead, it is in walks (466 to 452), stolen bases (258 to 232), and batting average (.341 to .331). At the plate, Pete Browning walked more often than struck out (466 walks, 245 strikeouts), and Sam Thompson walked more often than struck out (452 walks, 234 strikeouts). Sam Thompson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 126 of 1,988 hits leaving the park.
Pete Browning vs Sam Thompson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Browning or Sam Thompson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sam Thompson leads Pete Browning in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Pete Browning or Sam Thompson hit more home runs?
- Sam Thompson, with 126 to Pete Browning's 46.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Sam Thompson, with .890 to Pete Browning's .869.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Pete Browning, with .341 to Sam Thompson's .331.
- Who had more hits?
- Sam Thompson, with 1,988 to Pete Browning's 1,646.