Edgar Martinez vs Mark McGwire: Career Stats Comparison
Edgar Martinez 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). Edgar Martinez played 1987–2004 as a hitter; Mark McGwire played 1986–2001 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
Edgar Martinez (1987–2004) and Mark McGwire (1986–2001) — both broke in during the 1980s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Edgar Martinez finished with 2,247 hits and 309 home runs; Mark McGwire finished with 1,626 hits and 583 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Mark McGwire, with 583 to Edgar Martinez's 309.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mark McGwire, with .982 to Edgar Martinez's .933.
- Who had the higher batting average? Edgar Martinez, with .312 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits? Edgar Martinez, with 2,247 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.
- Who drove in more runs? Mark McGwire, with 1,414 to Edgar Martinez's 1,261.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Mark McGwire, with 44,531 career PIV to Edgar Martinez's 41,586.
- Who won more championships? Mark McGwire, with 1 World Series title to Edgar Martinez's 0.
Edgar Martinez
Mark McGwire
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Edgar Martinez and Mark McGwire. 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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Edgar Martinez | Mark McGwire |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,055 | 1,874 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 7,213 | 6,187 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,219 | 1,167 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,247 | 1,626 |
| Doubles | Leads: 514 | 252 |
| Triples | Leads: 15 | 6 |
| Home Runs | 309 | Leads: 583 |
| RBI | 1,261 | Leads: 1,414 |
| Walks | 1,283 | Leads: 1,317 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,202 | 1,596 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 49 | 12 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .312 | .263 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .418 | .394 |
| Slugging % | .515 | Leads: .588 |
| OPS | .933 | Leads: .982 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mark McGwire edges Edgar Martinez 44,531 to 41,586 — driven by per-season impact — 2,620 PIV per season to 2,310 — rather than by longevity, since Mark McGwire played 17 seasons to Edgar Martinez's 18. 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).
Edgar Martinez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Mark McGwire — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Edgar Martinez leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Mark McGwire owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Edgar Martinez. Note that PIV actually grades Mark McGwire ahead, which means Edgar Martinez's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Edgar Martinez and Mark McGwire careers compare
From 1987 through 2001, Edgar Martinez and Mark McGwire were in the majors together. With 2,055 games against 1,874 across 18 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Plate discipline differs: Edgar Martinez walked more often than struck out (1,283 walks, 1,202 strikeouts), but Mark McGwire struck out more than walked (1,596 to 1,317). Home runs make up a larger share of Mark McGwire's hits: 309 of 2,247 for Edgar Martinez, 583 of 1,626 for Mark McGwire. In slugging percentage, Mark McGwire holds the edge, .588 to .515.
Edgar Martinez vs Mark McGwire: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Edgar Martinez or Mark McGwire?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Edgar Martinez leads Mark McGwire in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Edgar Martinez or Mark McGwire hit more home runs?
- Mark McGwire, with 583 to Edgar Martinez's 309.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mark McGwire, with .982 to Edgar Martinez's .933.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Edgar Martinez, with .312 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits?
- Edgar Martinez, with 2,247 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.