Tim Raines vs Lou Whitaker: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Raines has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 14 scored categories on this page (1 further counting total is shown but not scored). Tim Raines played 1979–2002 as a hitter; Lou Whitaker played 1977–1995 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
Tim Raines (1979–2002) and Lou Whitaker (1977–1995) — both broke in during the 1970s, which makes the head-to-head feel like a contemporaries' debate. Tim Raines finished with 2,605 hits and 170 home runs; Lou Whitaker finished with 2,369 hits and 244 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who hit more home runs? Lou Whitaker, with 244 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS? Tim Raines, with .810 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average? Tim Raines, with .294 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits? Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.
- Who drove in more runs? Lou Whitaker, with 1,084 to Tim Raines's 980.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Tim Raines, with 25,763 career PIV to Lou Whitaker's 19,796.
- Who won more championships? Tim Raines, with 2 World Series titles to Lou Whitaker's 1.
Tim Raines
Lou Whitaker
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Tim Raines and Lou Whitaker. 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 | Tim Raines | Lou Whitaker |
|---|---|---|
| Games | Leads: 2,502 | 2,390 |
| At-Bats | Leads: 8,872 | 8,570 |
| Runs | Leads: 1,571 | 1,386 |
| Hits | Leads: 2,605 | 2,369 |
| Doubles | Leads: 430 | 420 |
| Triples | Leads: 113 | 65 |
| Home Runs | 170 | Leads: 244 |
| RBI | 980 | Leads: 1,084 |
| Walks | Leads: 1,330 | 1,197 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 966 | 1,099 |
| Stolen Bases | Leads: 808 | 143 |
| Batting Avg | Leads: .294 | .276 |
| On-Base % | Leads: .385 | .363 |
| Slugging % | .425 | Leads: .426 |
| OPS | Leads: .810 | .789 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Raines leads Lou Whitaker 25,763 to 19,796 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,073 PIV per season to 1,042, across 24 seasons to 19. 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).
Tim Raines — top 3 seasons by OPS
Lou Whitaker — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tim Raines leads in hits, runs, stolen bases, and batting average, while Lou Whitaker owns home runs and RBI. 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 Tim Raines and Lou Whitaker careers compare
From 1979 through 1995, Tim Raines and Lou Whitaker were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 2,502 games for Tim Raines and 2,390 for Lou Whitaker across 24 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Lou Whitaker comes out ahead, it is in home runs (244 to 170), RBI (1,084 to 980), and slugging percentage (.426 to .425). Tim Raines walked more often than struck out (1,330 walks, 966 strikeouts); Lou Whitaker walked more often than struck out (1,197 walks, 1,099 strikeouts).
Tim Raines vs Lou Whitaker: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tim Raines or Lou Whitaker?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Raines leads Lou Whitaker in 11 of the 14 scored categories.
- Did Tim Raines or Lou Whitaker hit more home runs?
- Lou Whitaker, with 244 to Tim Raines's 170.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Tim Raines, with .810 to Lou Whitaker's .789.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Tim Raines, with .294 to Lou Whitaker's .276.
- Who had more hits?
- Tim Raines, with 2,605 to Lou Whitaker's 2,369.