Shane Bieber vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Sandy Koufax has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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 Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — 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; Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Shane Bieber's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Sandy Koufax, with 165 to Shane Bieber's 71.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Shane Bieber's 1,039.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Shane Bieber's 1.13.
- Who pitched more innings? Sandy Koufax, with 2,324.1 to Shane Bieber's 939.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Shane Bieber's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Shane Bieber's 25,160.
Shane Bieber
Sandy Koufax
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 | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 71 | Leads: 165 |
| Losses not scored | 36 | 87 |
| Games | 154 | Leads: 397 |
| Games Started | 152 | Leads: 314 |
| Complete Games | 5 | Leads: 137 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 40 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 9 |
| Strikeouts | 1,039 | Leads: 2,396 |
| Walks not scored | 219 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 841 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 112 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched | 939.0 | Leads: 2,324.1 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.13 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.96 | 9.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.10 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Shane Bieber 63,020 to 25,160 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,252 PIV per season to 3,145, across 12 seasons to 8. 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)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Shane Bieber owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. PIV agrees: Sandy Koufax 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 Sandy Koufax careers compare
No season is shared: Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966, Shane Bieber 2018–present. The table compares 154 games of Shane Bieber with 397 of Sandy Koufax across 8 and 12 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Shane Bieber's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (9.96 to 9.28) and walks per nine (2.10 to 3.16). By rate, Shane Bieber struck out 9.96 and walked 2.10 per nine innings; Sandy Koufax struck out 9.28 and walked 3.16. Both had the same role: Shane Bieber was mainly a starter (152 starts in 154 games); Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games). Shane Bieber's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Shane Bieber vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Shane Bieber or Sandy Koufax?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sandy Koufax leads Shane Bieber in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Shane Bieber's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Sandy Koufax, with 165 to Shane Bieber's 71.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Shane Bieber's 1,039.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Shane Bieber's 1.13.