Paul O'Neill vs Tim Raines: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Raines 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). Paul O'Neill played 1985–2001 as a hitter; Tim Raines played 1979–2002 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 O'Neill (1985–2001) and Tim Raines (1979–2002) — they broke in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, which makes the side-by-side worth doing carefully. Paul O'Neill finished with 2,105 hits and 281 home runs; Tim Raines finished with 2,605 hits and 170 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Paul O'Neill, with 281 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS? Paul O'Neill, with .833 to Tim Raines's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tim Raines, with .294 to Paul O'Neill's .288.
- Who had more hits? Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Paul O'Neill's 2,105.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul O'Neill, with 1,269 to Tim Raines's 980.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tim Raines, with 25,763 career PIV to Paul O'Neill's 18,817.
- Who won more championships? Paul O'Neill, with 5 World Series titles to Tim Raines's 2.
Paul O'Neill
Tim Raines
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Paul O'Neill and Tim Raines. 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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Paul O'Neill | Tim Raines |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 2,053 | Leads: 2,502 |
| At-Bats | 7,318 | Leads: 8,872 |
| Runs | 1,041 | Leads: 1,571 |
| Hits | 2,105 | Leads: 2,605 |
| Doubles | Leads: 451 | 430 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 113 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 281 | 170 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,269 | 980 |
| Walks | 892 | Leads: 1,330 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 1,166 | 966 |
| Stolen Bases | 141 | Leads: 808 |
| Batting Avg | .288 | Leads: .294 |
| On-Base % | .363 | Leads: .385 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .470 | .425 |
| OPS | Leads: .833 | .810 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Raines outpaces Paul O'Neill 25,763 to 18,817 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Tim Raines played 24 seasons to Paul O'Neill's 17, while Paul O'Neill carries the higher per-season figure (1,107 to 1,073). 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 O'Neill — top 3 seasons by OPS
Tim Raines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Raines leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Paul O'Neill owns home runs, RBI, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tim Raines. PIV agrees: Tim Raines grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Paul O'Neill and Tim Raines careers compare
From 1985 through 2001, Paul O'Neill and Tim Raines were in the majors together. With 2,053 games against 2,502 across 17 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. At the plate, Paul O'Neill struck out more than walked (1,166 to 892), while Tim Raines walked more often than struck out (1,330 walks, 966 strikeouts). Paul O'Neill is the more power-leaning hitter, with 281 of 2,105 hits leaving the park. Tim Raines was the more frequent base stealer relative to games played. In slugging percentage, Paul O'Neill holds the edge, .470 to .425.
Paul O'Neill vs Tim Raines: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Paul O'Neill or Tim Raines?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Raines leads Paul O'Neill in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Paul O'Neill or Tim Raines hit more home runs?
- Paul O'Neill, with 281 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Paul O'Neill, with .833 to Tim Raines's .810.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tim Raines, with .294 to Paul O'Neill's .288.
- Who had more hits?
- Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Paul O'Neill's 2,105.