Jim O'Rourke vs Sam Thompson: Career Stats Comparison
Sam Thompson 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). Jim O'Rourke played 1872–1904 as a hitter; Sam Thompson played 1885–1906 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
Jim O'Rourke (1872–1904) and Sam Thompson (1885–1906) — they debuted in the 1870s and the 1880s respectively and share 20 seasons. Jim O'Rourke finished with 2,639 hits and 62 home runs; Sam Thompson finished with 1,988 hits and 126 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Sam Thompson, in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Sam Thompson, with 126 to Jim O'Rourke's 62.
- Who had the higher OPS? Sam Thompson, with .890 to Jim O'Rourke's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average? Sam Thompson, with .331 to Jim O'Rourke's .310.
- Who had more hits? Jim O'Rourke, with 2,639 to Sam Thompson's 1,988.
- Who drove in more runs? Sam Thompson, with 1,308 to Jim O'Rourke's 1,208.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Sam Thompson, with 29,910 career PIV to Jim O'Rourke's 29,906.
Jim O'Rourke
Sam Thompson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Jim O'Rourke and Sam Thompson. 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 | Jim O'Rourke | Sam Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,999 | 1,410 |
| At-Bats not scored | 8,503 | 5,998 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,729 | 1,261 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,639 | 1,988 |
| Doubles | Leads: 468 | 343 |
| Triples | 149 | Leads: 161 |
| Home Runs | 62 | Leads: 126 |
| RBI | 1,208 | Leads: 1,308 |
| Walks | Leads: 513 | 452 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 362 | 234 |
| Stolen Bases | 229 | Leads: 232 |
| Batting Avg | .310 | Leads: .331 |
| On-Base % | .352 | Leads: .384 |
| Slugging % | .422 | Leads: .505 |
| OPS | .775 | Leads: .890 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sam Thompson edges Jim O'Rourke 29,910 to 29,906 — driven by per-season impact — 1,994 PIV per season to 1,300 — rather than by longevity, since Sam Thompson played 15 seasons to Jim O'Rourke's 23. 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).
Jim O'Rourke — top 3 seasons by OPS
Sam Thompson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Sam Thompson leads 8 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: triples, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and others. Jim O'Rourke leads 4: runs, hits, doubles, and walks. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sam Thompson. PIV agrees: Sam Thompson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim O'Rourke and Sam Thompson careers compare
The careers of Jim O'Rourke (1872–1904) and Sam Thompson (1885–1906) overlapped from 1885 to 1904, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 1,999 games against 1,410 across 23 and 15 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jim O'Rourke comes out ahead, it is in runs (1,729 to 1,261), hits (2,639 to 1,988), and doubles (468 to 343). Jim O'Rourke walked more often than struck out (513 walks, 362 strikeouts); Sam Thompson walked more often than struck out (452 walks, 234 strikeouts). Sam Thompson is the more power-leaning hitter, with 126 of 1,988 hits leaving the park.
Jim O'Rourke vs Sam Thompson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim O'Rourke or Sam Thompson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sam Thompson leads Jim O'Rourke in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Jim O'Rourke or Sam Thompson hit more home runs?
- Sam Thompson, with 126 to Jim O'Rourke's 62.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Sam Thompson, with .890 to Jim O'Rourke's .775.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Sam Thompson, with .331 to Jim O'Rourke's .310.
- Who had more hits?
- Jim O'Rourke, with 2,639 to Sam Thompson's 1,988.