Paul Goldschmidt vs Jim Thome: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Thome has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Paul Goldschmidt has played 2011–present as a hitter; Jim Thome played 1991–2012 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
Paul Goldschmidt (2011–present) and Jim Thome (1991–2012) — they broke in during the 2010s and the 1990s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Paul Goldschmidt has 2,277 hits and 390 home runs through October 6, 2026; Jim Thome finished with 2,328 hits and 612 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Thome, with 612 to Paul Goldschmidt's 390.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Thome, with .956 to Paul Goldschmidt's .877.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Goldschmidt, with .286 to Jim Thome's .276.
- Who had more hits? Jim Thome, with 2,328 to Paul Goldschmidt's 2,277.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Thome, with 1,699 to Paul Goldschmidt's 1,284.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Thome, with 51,664 career PIV to Paul Goldschmidt's 35,401.
Paul Goldschmidt
Jim Thome
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul Goldschmidt and Jim Thome. 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 2010s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Goldschmidt is still active — his totals below are current through October 6, 2026.
| Statistic | Paul Goldschmidt | Jim Thome |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,179 | Leads: 2,543 |
| At-Bats | 7,953 | Leads: 8,422 |
| Runs | 1,324 | Leads: 1,583 |
| Hits | 2,277 | Leads: 2,328 |
| Doubles | Leads: 490 | 451 |
| Triples | 25 | Leads: 26 |
| Home Runs | 390 | Leads: 612 |
| RBI | 1,284 | Leads: 1,699 |
| Walks | 1,115 | Leads: 1,747 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 2,065 | 2,548 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 175 | 19 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .286 | .276 |
| On-Base % | .375 | Leads: .402 |
| Slugging % | .501 | Leads: .554 |
| OPS | .877 | Leads: .956 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Thome outpaces Paul Goldschmidt 51,664 to 35,401 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Thome played 25 seasons to Paul Goldschmidt's 15, while Paul Goldschmidt carries the higher per-season figure (2,360 to 2,067). 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).
Paul Goldschmidt — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Thome — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Thome leads in hits, home runs, RBI, and runs, while Paul Goldschmidt owns stolen bases and batting average. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Thome. PIV agrees: Jim Thome grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul Goldschmidt and Jim Thome careers compare
From 2011 through 2012, Paul Goldschmidt and Jim Thome were in the majors together. With 2,179 games against 2,543 across 15 and 25 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Paul Goldschmidt comes out ahead, it is in doubles (490 to 451), stolen bases (175 to 19), and batting average (.286 to .276). Paul Goldschmidt struck out more than walked (2,065 to 1,115); Jim Thome struck out more than walked (2,548 to 1,747). Home runs make up a larger share of Jim Thome's hits: 390 of 2,277 for Paul Goldschmidt, 612 of 2,328 for Jim Thome. Paul Goldschmidt was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. Paul Goldschmidt's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Paul Goldschmidt vs Jim Thome: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul Goldschmidt or Jim Thome?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Thome leads Paul Goldschmidt in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul Goldschmidt or Jim Thome hit more home runs?
- Jim Thome, with 612 to Paul Goldschmidt's 390.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Thome, with .956 to Paul Goldschmidt's .877.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Goldschmidt, with .286 to Jim Thome's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Thome, with 2,328 to Paul Goldschmidt's 2,277.