Mark McGwire vs Jim Thome: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Thome has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mark McGwire played 1986–2001 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
Mark McGwire (1986–2001) and Jim Thome (1991–2012) — they debuted in the 1980s and the 1990s respectively and share 11 seasons. Mark McGwire finished with 1,626 hits and 583 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 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Jim Thome, with 612 to Mark McGwire's 583.
- Who had the higher OPS? Mark McGwire, with .982 to Jim Thome's .956.
- Who had the higher batting average? Jim Thome, with .276 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits? Jim Thome, with 2,328 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.
- Who drove in more runs? Jim Thome, with 1,699 to Mark McGwire's 1,414.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Jim Thome, with 51,664 career PIV to Mark McGwire's 44,531.
Mark McGwire
Jim Thome
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Mark McGwire 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 | Mark McGwire | Jim Thome |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,874 | 2,543 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,187 | 8,422 |
| Runs | 1,167 | Leads: 1,583 |
| Hits | 1,626 | Leads: 2,328 |
| Doubles | 252 | Leads: 451 |
| Triples | 6 | Leads: 26 |
| Home Runs | 583 | Leads: 612 |
| RBI | 1,414 | Leads: 1,699 |
| Walks | 1,317 | Leads: 1,747 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,596 | 2,548 |
| Stolen Bases | 12 | Leads: 19 |
| Batting Avg | .263 | Leads: .276 |
| On-Base % | .394 | Leads: .402 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .588 | .554 |
| OPS | Leads: .982 | .956 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Thome leads Mark McGwire 51,664 to 44,531 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Thome played 22 seasons to Mark McGwire's 16, while Mark McGwire carries the higher per-season figure (2,783 to 2,348). 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).
Mark McGwire — top 3 seasons by OPS
Jim Thome — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Jim Thome leads 10 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Mark McGwire leads 2: slugging percentage and OPS. 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 Mark McGwire and Jim Thome careers compare
Mark McGwire and Jim Thome were active at the same time between 1991 and 2001. With 1,874 games against 2,543 across 16 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Mark McGwire comes out ahead, it is in slugging percentage (.588 to .554) and OPS (.982 to .956). Mark McGwire struck out more than walked (1,596 to 1,317); Jim Thome struck out more than walked (2,548 to 1,747). Home runs make up a larger share of Mark McGwire's hits: 583 of 1,626 for Mark McGwire, 612 of 2,328 for Jim Thome. Jim Thome's on-base percentage of .402 tops Mark McGwire's .394.
Mark McGwire vs Jim Thome: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mark McGwire or Jim Thome?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Thome leads Mark McGwire in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Mark McGwire or Jim Thome hit more home runs?
- Jim Thome, with 612 to Mark McGwire's 583.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Mark McGwire, with .982 to Jim Thome's .956.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Jim Thome, with .276 to Mark McGwire's .263.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim Thome, with 2,328 to Mark McGwire's 1,626.