Rick Aguilera vs Tom Gordon: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Gordon has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Rick Aguilera played 1985–2000 as a pitcher; Tom Gordon played 1988–2009 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Rick Aguilera (1985–2000) and Tom Gordon (1988–2009) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rick Aguilera finished with 86 wins and 1,030 strikeouts; Tom Gordon finished with 138 wins and 1,928 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rick Aguilera, with 3.57 to Tom Gordon's 3.96.
- Who won more games? Tom Gordon, with 138 to Rick Aguilera's 86.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Gordon, with 1,928 to Rick Aguilera's 1,030.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Tom Gordon's 1.36.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Gordon, with 2,108.0 to Rick Aguilera's 1,291.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Gordon, with 4 to Rick Aguilera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tom Gordon, with 29,014 career Pitcher PIV to Rick Aguilera's 17,939.
Rick Aguilera
Tom Gordon
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. 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 | Rick Aguilera | Tom Gordon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 86 | Leads: 138 |
| Losses not scored | 81 | 126 |
| Games | 732 | Leads: 890 |
| Games Started | 89 | Leads: 203 |
| Complete Games | 10 | Leads: 18 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 4 |
| Saves | Leads: 318 | 158 |
| Strikeouts | 1,030 | Leads: 1,928 |
| Walks not scored | 351 | 977 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,233 | 1,889 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 138 | 176 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,291.1 | Leads: 2,108.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.57 | 3.96 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.36 |
| K/9 | 7.18 | Leads: 8.23 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.45 | 4.17 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Gordon outpaces Rick Aguilera 29,014 to 17,939 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,319 PIV per season to 944, across 22 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 ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Rick Aguilera — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tom Gordon — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tom Gordon leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Rick Aguilera owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Gordon. PIV agrees: Tom Gordon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rick Aguilera and Tom Gordon careers compare
From 1988 through 2000, Rick Aguilera and Tom Gordon were in the majors together. With 732 games against 890 across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Rick Aguilera are saves (318 to 158), ERA (3.57 to 3.96), and WHIP (1.23 to 1.36). By rate, Rick Aguilera struck out 7.18 and walked 2.45 per nine innings; Tom Gordon struck out 8.23 and walked 4.17. Rick Aguilera worked mostly in relief (89 starts in 732 games, 318 saves), while Tom Gordon split time between starting and relief (203 starts in 890 games). Rick Aguilera allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Tom Gordon's 1.36.
Rick Aguilera vs Tom Gordon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rick Aguilera or Tom Gordon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tom Gordon leads Rick Aguilera in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rick Aguilera, with 3.57 to Tom Gordon's 3.96.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Gordon, with 138 to Rick Aguilera's 86.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Gordon, with 1,928 to Rick Aguilera's 1,030.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rick Aguilera, with 1.23 to Tom Gordon's 1.36.