Magglio Ordonez vs Tim Salmon: Career Stats Comparison
Magglio Ordonez 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). Magglio Ordonez played 1997–2011 as a hitter; Tim Salmon played 1992–2006 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
Magglio Ordonez (1997–2011) and Tim Salmon (1992–2006) — both broke in during the 1990s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Magglio Ordonez finished with 2,156 hits and 294 home runs; Tim Salmon finished with 1,674 hits and 299 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Tim Salmon, with 299 to Magglio Ordonez's 294.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tim Salmon, with .884 to Magglio Ordonez's .871.
- Who had the higher batting average? Magglio Ordonez, with .309 to Tim Salmon's .282.
- Who had more hits? Magglio Ordonez, with 2,156 to Tim Salmon's 1,674.
- Who drove in more runs? Magglio Ordonez, with 1,236 to Tim Salmon's 1,016.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tim Salmon, with 22,790 career PIV to Magglio Ordonez's 22,173.
- Who won more championships? Tim Salmon, with 1 World Series title to Magglio Ordonez's 0.
Magglio Ordonez
Tim Salmon
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Magglio Ordonez and Tim Salmon. 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 | Magglio Ordonez | Tim Salmon |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 1,848 | 1,672 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 6,978 | 5,934 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,076 | 986 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,156 | 1,674 |
| Doubles | Leads: 426 | 339 |
| Triples | 21 | Leads: 24 |
| Home Runs | 294 | Leads: 299 |
| RBI | Leads: 1,236 | 1,016 |
| Walks | 651 | Leads: 970 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 852 | 1,360 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 94 | 48 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .309 | .282 |
| On-Base % | .369 | Leads: .385 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .502 | .498 |
| OPS | .871 | Leads: .884 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Salmon edges Magglio Ordonez 22,790 to 22,173 — driven by per-season impact — 1,628 PIV per season to 1,478 — rather than by longevity, since Tim Salmon played 14 seasons to Magglio Ordonez's 15. 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).
Magglio Ordonez — top 3 seasons by OPS
Tim Salmon — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Magglio Ordonez leads in hits, RBI, runs, and stolen bases, while Tim Salmon owns home runs, OBP, and OPS. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Magglio Ordonez. Note that PIV actually grades Tim Salmon ahead, which means Magglio Ordonez's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Magglio Ordonez and Tim Salmon careers compare
Magglio Ordonez and Tim Salmon were active at the same time between 1997 and 2006. With 1,848 games against 1,672 across 15 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Magglio Ordonez struck out more than walked (852 to 651); Tim Salmon struck out more than walked (1,360 to 970). Tim Salmon is the more power-leaning hitter, with 299 of 1,674 hits leaving the park. Magglio Ordonez's slugging percentage of .502 tops Tim Salmon's .498. Best seasons: 2007 for Magglio Ordonez (1.029 OPS, 28 HR, 139 RBI, .363 avg) and 1995 for Tim Salmon (1.024 OPS, 34 HR, 105 RBI, .330 avg).
Magglio Ordonez vs Tim Salmon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Magglio Ordonez or Tim Salmon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Magglio Ordonez leads Tim Salmon in 9 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Magglio Ordonez or Tim Salmon hit more home runs?
- Tim Salmon, with 299 to Magglio Ordonez's 294.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tim Salmon, with .884 to Magglio Ordonez's .871.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Magglio Ordonez, with .309 to Tim Salmon's .282.
- Who had more hits?
- Magglio Ordonez, with 2,156 to Tim Salmon's 1,674.