Vida Blue vs Carl Hubbell: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Hubbell 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). Vida Blue played 1969–1986 as a pitcher; Carl Hubbell played 1928–1943 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
Vida Blue (1969–1986) and Carl Hubbell (1928–1943) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1920s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Vida Blue finished with 209 wins and 2,175 strikeouts; Carl Hubbell finished with 253 wins and 1,677 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Carl Hubbell, with 2.98 to Vida Blue's 3.27.
- Who won more games? Carl Hubbell, with 253 to Vida Blue's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Vida Blue, with 2,175 to Carl Hubbell's 1,677.
- Who had the better WHIP? Carl Hubbell, with 1.17 to Vida Blue's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Carl Hubbell, with 3,590.1 to Vida Blue's 3,343.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Vida Blue, with 37 to Carl Hubbell's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Carl Hubbell, with 54,753 career Pitcher PIV to Vida Blue's 26,790.
Vida Blue
Carl Hubbell
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 1960s and the 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Vida Blue | Carl Hubbell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 209 | Leads: 253 |
| Losses not scored | 161 | 154 |
| Games | 502 | Leads: 535 |
| Games Started | Leads: 473 | 431 |
| Complete Games | 143 | Leads: 260 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 36 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 33 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,175 | 1,677 |
| Walks not scored | 1,185 | 725 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 3,461 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 263 | 227 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,343.1 | Leads: 3,590.1 |
| ERA | 3.27 | Leads: 2.98 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.85 | 4.20 |
| BB/9 | 3.19 | Leads: 1.82 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Hubbell outpaces Vida Blue 54,753 to 26,790 — driven by per-season impact — 3,422 PIV per season to 1,576 — rather than by longevity, since Carl Hubbell played 16 seasons to Vida Blue's 17. 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).
Vida Blue — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Carl Hubbell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Hubbell leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Vida Blue owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Hubbell. PIV agrees: Carl Hubbell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Vida Blue and Carl Hubbell careers compare
No season is shared: Carl Hubbell played 1928–1943, Vida Blue 1969–1986. With 502 games against 535 across 17 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Vida Blue's edges on the table are starts (473 to 431), shutouts (37 to 36), and strikeouts (2,175 to 1,677). By rate, Vida Blue struck out 5.85 and walked 3.19 per nine innings; Carl Hubbell struck out 4.20 and walked 1.82. Both had the same role: Vida Blue was mainly a starter (473 starts in 502 games); Carl Hubbell was mainly a starter (431 starts in 535 games). In WHIP, Carl Hubbell's 1.17 beats Vida Blue's 1.23.
Vida Blue vs Carl Hubbell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Vida Blue or Carl Hubbell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Hubbell leads Vida Blue in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Carl Hubbell, with 2.98 to Vida Blue's 3.27.
- Who won more games?
- Carl Hubbell, with 253 to Vida Blue's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Vida Blue, with 2,175 to Carl Hubbell's 1,677.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Carl Hubbell, with 1.17 to Vida Blue's 1.23.