Fred McGriff vs Jim Thome: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Thome has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fred McGriff played 1986–2004 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
Fred McGriff (1986–2004) and Jim Thome (1991–2012) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1990s respectively and share 14 seasons. Fred McGriff finished with 2,490 hits and 493 home runs; 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 leads the career comparison? Jim Thome, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Thome, with 612 to Fred McGriff's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS? Jim Thome, with .956 to Fred McGriff's .886.
- Who had the higher batting average? Fred McGriff, with .284 to Jim Thome's .276.
- Who had more hits? Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Jim Thome's 2,328.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Thome, with 1,699 to Fred McGriff's 1,550.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Thome, with 51,664 career PIV to Fred McGriff's 37,233.
Fred McGriff
Jim Thome
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Fred McGriff and Jim Thome. 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 | Fred McGriff | Jim Thome |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 2,460 | 2,543 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,757 | 8,422 |
| Runs | 1,349 | Leads: 1,583 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,490 | 2,328 |
| Doubles | 441 | Leads: 451 |
| Triples | 24 | Leads: 26 |
| Home Runs | 493 | Leads: 612 |
| RBI | 1,550 | Leads: 1,699 |
| Walks | 1,305 | Leads: 1,747 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,882 | 2,548 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 72 | 19 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .284 | .276 |
| On-Base % | .377 | Leads: .402 |
| Slugging % | .509 | Leads: .554 |
| OPS | .886 | Leads: .956 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Thome outpaces Fred McGriff 51,664 to 37,233 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,348 PIV per season to 1,960, across 22 seasons to 19. 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).
Fred McGriff — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Thome — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Jim Thome leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, doubles, triples, home runs, and others. Fred McGriff leads 3: hits, stolen bases, and batting average. 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 Fred McGriff and Jim Thome careers compare
Fred McGriff and Jim Thome were active at the same time between 1991 and 2004. The two careers are close in length, 2,460 games for Fred McGriff and 2,543 for Jim Thome across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Fred McGriff comes out ahead, it is in hits (2,490 to 2,328), stolen bases (72 to 19), and batting average (.284 to .276). At the plate, Fred McGriff struck out more than walked (1,882 to 1,305), and Jim Thome struck out more than walked (2,548 to 1,747).
Fred McGriff vs Jim Thome: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fred McGriff or Jim Thome?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Thome leads Fred McGriff in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Fred McGriff or Jim Thome hit more home runs?
- Jim Thome, with 612 to Fred McGriff's 493.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Jim Thome, with .956 to Fred McGriff's .886.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Fred McGriff, with .284 to Jim Thome's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Fred McGriff, with 2,490 to Jim Thome's 2,328.