Shane Bieber vs Jim Bunning: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Bunning has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Shane Bieber has played 2018–present as a pitcher; Jim Bunning played 1955–1971 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
Shane Bieber (2018–present) and Jim Bunning (1955–1971) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Shane Bieber has 71 wins and 1,039 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Jim Bunning finished with 224 wins and 2,855 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Bunning, with 3.27 to Shane Bieber's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Jim Bunning, with 224 to Shane Bieber's 71.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Shane Bieber's 1,039.
- Who had the better WHIP? Shane Bieber, with 1.13 to Jim Bunning's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Bunning, with 3,760.1 to Shane Bieber's 939.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Bunning, with 40 to Shane Bieber's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jim Bunning, with 44,929 career Pitcher PIV to Shane Bieber's 25,160.
Shane Bieber
Jim Bunning
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 2010s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Shane Bieber is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Shane Bieber | Jim Bunning |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 71 | Leads: 224 |
| Losses not scored | 36 | 184 |
| Games | 154 | Leads: 591 |
| Games Started | 152 | Leads: 519 |
| Complete Games | 5 | Leads: 151 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 40 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 16 |
| Strikeouts | 1,039 | Leads: 2,855 |
| Walks not scored | 219 | 1,000 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 841 | 3,433 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 112 | 372 |
| Innings Pitched | 939.0 | Leads: 3,760.1 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 3.27 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.13 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.96 | 6.83 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.10 | 2.39 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Bunning outpaces Shane Bieber 44,929 to 25,160 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jim Bunning played 18 seasons to Shane Bieber's 8, while Shane Bieber carries the higher per-season figure (3,145 to 2,496). 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).
Shane Bieber — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Bunning — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Bunning leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Shane Bieber owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Bunning. PIV agrees: Jim Bunning grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Shane Bieber and Jim Bunning careers compare
Jim Bunning (1955–1971) was finished before Shane Bieber (2018–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Jim Bunning has the far longer record, 591 games against 154 across 8 and 18 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Shane Bieber comes out ahead, it is in WHIP (1.13 to 1.18), strikeouts per nine (9.96 to 6.83), and walks per nine (2.10 to 2.39). By rate, Shane Bieber struck out 9.96 and walked 2.10 per nine innings; Jim Bunning struck out 6.83 and walked 2.39. Both had the same role: Shane Bieber was mainly a starter (152 starts in 154 games); Jim Bunning was mainly a starter (519 starts in 591 games). Because Shane Bieber is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Shane Bieber vs Jim Bunning: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Shane Bieber or Jim Bunning?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Bunning leads Shane Bieber in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Bunning, with 3.27 to Shane Bieber's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Bunning, with 224 to Shane Bieber's 71.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Shane Bieber's 1,039.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Shane Bieber, with 1.13 to Jim Bunning's 1.18.