Career: Jim Thome vs Sammy Sosa

[bigh0rt]

Which player would you rather have had over the course of their career? Jim Thome or Sammy Sosa? Just had an interesting talk with a friend, and we both agreed on the same guy. Curious who you'd all take.

[acsguitar]

Sosa

[activechamp2006]

Sosa. Even if he didn't play fair.

[bigh0rt]

Just throwing a few things out there...

Career AVG
Sosa - .274
Thome - .282

Career OBP
Sosa - .345
Thome - .412

Career SLG
Sosa - .537
Thome - .566

HR/AB
Sosa - .0699917
Thome - .0738504

Easy to guess which guy I'm leaning towards right now. Want to see what more people think, and then I'll throw some more out there.

[acsguitar]

What about totals though. Was Thome injured alot more?

[Yoda]

I would lean towards Sosa because his peak is a lot higher than Thome's. He was one of the premier hitters in baseball for about 5 seasons and that to me is worth more than longevity.

[HOOTIE]

I would lean towards Sosa because his peak is a lot higher than Thome's. He was one of the premier hitters in baseball for about 5 seasons and that to me is worth more than longevity.

Comparing their 3 best years

BRAA

Sosa 213
Thome 211

Career

Thome 634
Sosa 401

Sosa gains 30 in defense.

Sosa wins the 3 best years runs created by 81.

Career wise, Sosa only has 96 more runs created in 1,600 more PA.

Thome wins career. But Sosa has a MVP and 60+ hrs, which will be on the voters minds.

[bceagles04]

Steroids aside, from 1998-2001 Sosa had one of the best 4 year stretches by a hitter in the history of the game. If not the best.

That being said, I like Thome much more than Sosa. So I'll take Thome

[The Cow]

I will just say that Sosa is considered by most to be a HOFer and Thome he is borderline or at least he has more work to do. Me I say both are HOFers. Shoe ins, and more deserving than Ripken or Gwynn IMO.

The Cow

[shasty mcnasty]

I'd take Thome myself...obviously, Sosa had the better ceiling (enhanced though it likely was), but Thome has been awesome as well, and i just enjoy watching him hit much more so than sammy. Also, i do prefer character guys, and Thome is about as good a guy as there has been in professional sports. So, for the whole package, I'd take Thome, although Sammy's big years obviously will leave an imprint for most.