Elmer Flick 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). Elmer Flick played 1898–1910 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
Elmer Flick (1898–1910) and Sam Thompson (1885–1906) — they debuted in the 1890s and the 1880s respectively and share 9 seasons. Elmer Flick finished with 1,752 hits and 48 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 Elmer Flick's 48.
- Who had the higher OPS? Sam Thompson, with .890 to Elmer Flick's .834.
- Who had the higher batting average? Sam Thompson, with .331 to Elmer Flick's .313.
- Who had more hits? Sam Thompson, with 1,988 to Elmer Flick's 1,752.
- Who drove in more runs? Sam Thompson, with 1,308 to Elmer Flick's 756.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Sam Thompson, with 29,910 career PIV to Elmer Flick's 29,192.
Elmer Flick
Sam Thompson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Elmer Flick 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 | Elmer Flick | Sam Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,483 | 1,410 |
| At-Bats not scored | 5,597 | 5,998 |
| Runs | 950 | Leads: 1,261 |
| Hits | 1,752 | Leads: 1,988 |
| Doubles | 268 | Leads: 343 |
| Triples | Leads: 164 | 161 |
| Home Runs | 48 | Leads: 126 |
| RBI | 756 | Leads: 1,308 |
| Walks | Leads: 597 | 452 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 567 | 234 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 330 | 232 |
| Batting Avg | .313 | Leads: .331 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .389 | .384 |
| Slugging % | .445 | Leads: .505 |
| OPS | .834 | Leads: .890 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sam Thompson edges Elmer Flick 29,910 to 29,192 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Sam Thompson played 15 seasons to Elmer Flick's 13, while Elmer Flick carries the higher per-season figure (2,246 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).
Elmer Flick — 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, home runs, and others. Elmer Flick leads 4: triples, walks, stolen bases, 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 Elmer Flick and Sam Thompson careers compare
Elmer Flick and Sam Thompson were active at the same time between 1898 and 1906. The two careers are close in length, 1,483 games for Elmer Flick and 1,410 for Sam Thompson across 13 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Elmer Flick comes out ahead, it is in triples (164 to 161), walks (597 to 452), and stolen bases (330 to 232). At the plate, Elmer Flick walked more often than struck out (597 walks, 567 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.
Elmer Flick vs Sam Thompson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Elmer Flick or Sam Thompson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sam Thompson leads Elmer Flick in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Elmer Flick or Sam Thompson hit more home runs?
- Sam Thompson, with 126 to Elmer Flick's 48.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Sam Thompson, with .890 to Elmer Flick's .834.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Sam Thompson, with .331 to Elmer Flick's .313.
- Who had more hits?
- Sam Thompson, with 1,988 to Elmer Flick's 1,752.