Tony Gwynn vs Jim Rice: Career Stats Comparison
Tony Gwynn 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). Tony Gwynn played 1982–2001 as a hitter; Jim Rice played 1974–1989 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
Tony Gwynn (1982–2001) and Jim Rice (1974–1989) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1970s respectively and share 8 seasons. Tony Gwynn finished with 3,141 hits and 135 home runs; Jim Rice finished with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Tony Gwynn, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Rice, with 382 to Tony Gwynn's 135.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Rice, with .854 to Tony Gwynn's .847.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tony Gwynn, with .338 to Jim Rice's .298.
- Who had more hits? Tony Gwynn, with 3,141 to Jim Rice's 2,452.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Rice, with 1,451 to Tony Gwynn's 1,138.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Rice, with 31,418 career PIV to Tony Gwynn's 30,602.
Tony Gwynn
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Tony Gwynn and Jim Rice. 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 | Tony Gwynn | Jim Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,440 | 2,089 |
| At-Bats not scored | 9,288 | 8,225 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,383 | 1,249 |
| Hits | Leads: 3,141 | 2,452 |
| Doubles | Leads: 543 | 373 |
| Triples | Leads: 85 | 79 |
| Home Runs | 135 | Leads: 382 |
| RBI | 1,138 | Leads: 1,451 |
| Walks | Leads: 790 | 670 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 434 | 1,423 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 319 | 58 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .338 | .298 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .388 | .352 |
| Slugging % | .459 | Leads: .502 |
| OPS | .847 | Leads: .854 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Rice edges Tony Gwynn 31,418 to 30,602 — driven by per-season impact — 1,964 PIV per season to 1,530 — rather than by longevity, since Jim Rice played 16 seasons to Tony Gwynn's 20. 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).
Tony Gwynn — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Rice — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Tony Gwynn leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Jim Rice leads 4: home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tony Gwynn. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Jim Rice higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tony Gwynn and Jim Rice careers compare
Tony Gwynn and Jim Rice were active at the same time between 1982 and 1989. With 2,440 games against 2,089 across 20 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jim Rice's edges on the table are home runs (382 to 135), RBI (1,451 to 1,138), and slugging percentage (.502 to .459). Plate discipline differs: Tony Gwynn walked more often than struck out (790 walks, 434 strikeouts), but Jim Rice struck out more than walked (1,423 to 670). Jim Rice is the more power-leaning hitter, with 382 of 2,452 hits leaving the park. Tony Gwynn was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played.
Tony Gwynn vs Jim Rice: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tony Gwynn or Jim Rice?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tony Gwynn leads Jim Rice in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Tony Gwynn or Jim Rice hit more home runs?
- Jim Rice, with 382 to Tony Gwynn's 135.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Rice, with .854 to Tony Gwynn's .847.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tony Gwynn, with .338 to Jim Rice's .298.
- Who had more hits?
- Tony Gwynn, with 3,141 to Jim Rice's 2,452.