Larry Andersen vs Dave Smith: Career Stats Comparison
Larry Andersen has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Larry Andersen played 1975–1994 as a pitcher; Dave Smith played 1980–1992 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
Larry Andersen (1975–1994) and Dave Smith (1980–1992) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Larry Andersen finished with 40 wins and 758 strikeouts; Dave Smith finished with 53 wins and 548 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dave Smith, with 2.67 to Larry Andersen's 3.15.
- Who won more games? Dave Smith, with 53 to Larry Andersen's 40.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Larry Andersen, with 758 to Dave Smith's 548.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dave Smith, with 1.21 to Larry Andersen's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Larry Andersen, with 995.1 to Dave Smith's 809.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Larry Andersen, with 22,588 career Pitcher PIV to Dave Smith's 16,707.
Larry Andersen
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, and the 1970s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Larry Andersen | Dave Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 40 | Leads: 53 |
| Losses not scored | 39 | 53 |
| Games | Leads: 699 | 609 |
| Games Started | 1 | 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 49 | Leads: 216 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 758 | 548 |
| Walks not scored | 311 | 283 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 932 | 700 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 58 | 34 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 995.1 | 809.1 |
| ERA | 3.15 | Leads: 2.67 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.85 | 6.09 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.81 | 3.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Larry Andersen outpaces Dave Smith 22,588 to 16,707 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Larry Andersen played 19 seasons to Dave Smith's 13, while Dave Smith carries the higher per-season figure (1,285 to 1,189). 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).
Larry Andersen
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Dave Smith
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Larry Andersen leads in strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Dave Smith owns wins, ERA, and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Larry Andersen. PIV agrees: Larry Andersen grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Larry Andersen and Dave Smith careers compare
From 1980 through 1992, Larry Andersen and Dave Smith were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 699 games for Larry Andersen and 609 for Dave Smith across 19 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Dave Smith comes out ahead, it is in wins (53 to 40), saves (216 to 49), and ERA (2.67 to 3.15). The per-nine rows read 6.85 strikeouts and 2.81 walks for Larry Andersen, 6.09 and 3.15 for Dave Smith. Larry Andersen worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 699 games, 49 saves), and Dave Smith worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 609 games, 216 saves).
Larry Andersen vs Dave Smith: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Larry Andersen or Dave Smith?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Larry Andersen leads Dave Smith in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dave Smith, with 2.67 to Larry Andersen's 3.15.
- Who won more games?
- Dave Smith, with 53 to Larry Andersen's 40.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Larry Andersen, with 758 to Dave Smith's 548.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dave Smith, with 1.21 to Larry Andersen's 1.25.