Jim Gilliam vs Jackie Robinson: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Gilliam has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Jim Gilliam played 1953–1966 as a hitter; Jackie Robinson played 1947–1956 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 Gilliam (1953–1966) and Jackie Robinson (1947–1956) — they broke in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Jim Gilliam finished with 2,021 hits and 65 home runs; Jackie Robinson finished with 1,568 hits and 141 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jackie Robinson, with 141 to Jim Gilliam's 65.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jackie Robinson, with .887 to Jim Gilliam's .715.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jackie Robinson, with .313 to Jim Gilliam's .266.
- Who had more hits? Jim Gilliam, with 2,021 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.
- Who drove in more runs? Jackie Robinson, with 764 to Jim Gilliam's 624.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jackie Robinson, with 25,382 career PIV to Jim Gilliam's 4,555.
- Who won more championships? Jim Gilliam, with 4 World Series titles to Jackie Robinson's 1.
Jim Gilliam
Jackie Robinson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim Gilliam and Jackie Robinson. 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 1950s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jim Gilliam | Jackie Robinson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,094 | 1,418 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,600 | 5,006 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,255 | 974 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,021 | 1,568 |
| Doubles | Leads: 325 | 287 |
| Triples | Leads: 80 | 55 |
| Home Runs | 65 | Leads: 141 |
| RBI | 624 | Leads: 764 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,102 | 756 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 416 | 291 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 219 | 203 |
| Batting Avg | .266 | Leads: .313 |
| On-Base % | .360 | Leads: .410 |
| Slugging % | .355 | Leads: .477 |
| OPS | .715 | Leads: .887 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jackie Robinson outpaces Jim Gilliam 25,382 to 4,555 — driven by per-season impact — 2,307 PIV per season to 268 — rather than by longevity, since Jackie Robinson played 11 seasons to Jim Gilliam's 17. 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 Gilliam — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jackie Robinson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jackie Robinson leads in home runs, RBI, batting average, and OBP, while Jim Gilliam owns hits, runs, and stolen bases. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jackie Robinson. PIV agrees: Jackie Robinson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Gilliam and Jackie Robinson careers compare
From 1953 through 1956, Jim Gilliam and Jackie Robinson were in the majors together. With 2,094 games against 1,418 across 17 and 11 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Jim Gilliam walked more often than struck out (1,102 walks, 416 strikeouts), and Jackie Robinson walked more often than struck out (756 walks, 291 strikeouts). Jackie Robinson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 141 of 1,568 hits leaving the park. Jackie Robinson was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Jackie Robinson holds the edge, .477 to .355.
Jim Gilliam vs Jackie Robinson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Gilliam or Jackie Robinson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Gilliam leads Jackie Robinson in 8 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Jim Gilliam or Jackie Robinson hit more home runs?
- Jackie Robinson, with 141 to Jim Gilliam's 65.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jackie Robinson, with .887 to Jim Gilliam's .715.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jackie Robinson, with .313 to Jim Gilliam's .266.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Gilliam, with 2,021 to Jackie Robinson's 1,568.