Jim Edmonds vs Tim Salmon: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Edmonds 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). Jim Edmonds played 1993–2010 as a hitter; Tim Salmon played 1992–2006 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
Jim Edmonds (1993–2010) and Tim Salmon (1992–2006) — both broke in during the 1990s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Jim Edmonds finished with 1,949 hits and 393 home runs; Tim Salmon finished with 1,674 hits and 299 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Edmonds, with 393 to Tim Salmon's 299.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Edmonds, with .903 to Tim Salmon's .884.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Edmonds, with .284 to Tim Salmon's .282.
- Who had more hits? Jim Edmonds, with 1,949 to Tim Salmon's 1,674.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Edmonds, with 1,199 to Tim Salmon's 1,016.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Edmonds, with 28,444 career PIV to Tim Salmon's 22,790.
- Who won more championships? Both — each won 1 World Series title.
Jim Edmonds
Tim Salmon
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon. 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 | Jim Edmonds | Tim Salmon |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,011 | 1,672 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,858 | 5,934 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,251 | 986 |
| Hits | Leads: 1,949 | 1,674 |
| Doubles | Leads: 437 | 339 |
| Triples | Leads: 25 | 24 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 393 | 299 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,199 | 1,016 |
| Walks | Leads: 998 | 970 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,729 | 1,360 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 67 | 48 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .284 | .282 |
| On-Base % | .376 | Leads: .385 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .527 | .498 |
| OPS | Leads: .903 | .884 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Edmonds leads Tim Salmon 28,444 to 22,790 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Edmonds played 19 seasons to Tim Salmon's 14, while Tim Salmon carries the higher per-season figure (1,628 to 1,497). 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).
Jim Edmonds — top 3 seasons by OPS
Tim Salmon — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Edmonds leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Tim Salmon owns OBP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Edmonds. PIV agrees: Jim Edmonds grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon careers compare
From 1993 through 2006, Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,011 games for Jim Edmonds and 1,672 for Tim Salmon across 19 and 14 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Tim Salmon's edges on the table are on-base percentage (.385 to .376). Jim Edmonds struck out more than walked (1,729 to 998); Tim Salmon struck out more than walked (1,360 to 970). In slugging percentage, Jim Edmonds holds the edge, .527 to .498. Jim Edmonds owns the better peak by OPS: 1.061 OPS in 2004 for Jim Edmonds against 1.024 OPS in 1995 for Tim Salmon.
Jim Edmonds vs Tim Salmon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Edmonds or Tim Salmon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Edmonds leads Tim Salmon in 13 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jim Edmonds or Tim Salmon hit more home runs?
- Jim Edmonds, with 393 to Tim Salmon's 299.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Edmonds, with .903 to Tim Salmon's .884.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Edmonds, with .284 to Tim Salmon's .282.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Edmonds, with 1,949 to Tim Salmon's 1,674.