Jim Edmonds vs Sammy Sosa: Career Stats Comparison
Sammy Sosa has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Sammy Sosa played 1989–2007 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 Sammy Sosa (1989–2007) — they broke in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jim Edmonds finished with 1,949 hits and 393 home runs; Sammy Sosa finished with 2,408 hits and 609 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Sammy Sosa, with 609 to Jim Edmonds's 393.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Edmonds, with .903 to Sammy Sosa's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Edmonds, with .284 to Sammy Sosa's .273.
- Who had more hits? Sammy Sosa, with 2,408 to Jim Edmonds's 1,949.
- Who drove in more runs? Sammy Sosa, with 1,667 to Jim Edmonds's 1,199.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Sammy Sosa, with 30,009 career PIV to Jim Edmonds's 28,444.
- Who won more championships? Jim Edmonds, with 1 World Series title to Sammy Sosa's 0.
Jim Edmonds
Sammy Sosa
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Edmonds and Sammy Sosa. 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, and the 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jim Edmonds | Sammy Sosa |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,011 | Leads: 2,354 |
| At-Bats | 6,858 | Leads: 8,813 |
| Runs | 1,251 | Leads: 1,475 |
| Hits | 1,949 | Leads: 2,408 |
| Doubles | Leads: 437 | 379 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 45 |
| Home Runs | 393 | Leads: 609 |
| RBI | 1,199 | Leads: 1,667 |
| Walks | Leads: 998 | 929 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,729 | 2,306 |
| Stolen Bases | 67 | Leads: 234 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .284 | .273 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .376 | .344 |
| Slugging % | .527 | Leads: .534 |
| OPS | Leads: .903 | .878 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sammy Sosa edges Jim Edmonds 30,009 to 28,444 — driven by per-season impact — 1,579 PIV per season to 1,497 — rather than by longevity, since Sammy Sosa played 19 seasons to Jim Edmonds's 19. 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
Sammy Sosa — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sammy Sosa leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Jim Edmonds owns batting average, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sammy Sosa. PIV agrees: Sammy Sosa 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 Sammy Sosa careers compare
Jim Edmonds and Sammy Sosa were active at the same time between 1993 and 2007. With 2,011 games against 2,354 across 19 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jim Edmonds struck out more than walked (1,729 to 998); Sammy Sosa struck out more than walked (2,306 to 929). On the bases, Sammy Sosa stole more often per game played (67 steals in 2,011 games for Jim Edmonds, 234 in 2,354 for Sammy Sosa). In on-base percentage, Jim Edmonds holds the edge, .376 to .344.
Jim Edmonds vs Sammy Sosa: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Edmonds or Sammy Sosa?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sammy Sosa leads Jim Edmonds in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jim Edmonds or Sammy Sosa hit more home runs?
- Sammy Sosa, with 609 to Jim Edmonds's 393.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Edmonds, with .903 to Sammy Sosa's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Edmonds, with .284 to Sammy Sosa's .273.
- Who had more hits?
- Sammy Sosa, with 2,408 to Jim Edmonds's 1,949.