Bert Blyleven vs Kevin Brown: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven 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). Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Kevin Brown played 1986–2005 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
Bert Blyleven (1970–1992) and Kevin Brown (1986–2005) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Bert Blyleven, with 287 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to Kevin Brown's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Bert Blyleven, with 4,970.0 to Kevin Brown's 3,256.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to Kevin Brown's 17.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kevin Brown, with 82,163 career Pitcher PIV to Bert Blyleven's 74,910.
Bert Blyleven
Kevin Brown
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 | Bert Blyleven | Kevin Brown |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 287 | 211 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 144 |
| Games | Leads: 692 | 486 |
| Games Started | Leads: 685 | 476 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 72 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 17 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 2,397 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 901 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 3,079 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 208 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,970.0 | 3,256.1 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 3.28 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.70 | 6.62 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 2.49 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Brown leads Bert Blyleven 82,163 to 74,910 — driven by per-season impact — 4,324 PIV per season to 3,121 — rather than by longevity, since Kevin Brown played 19 seasons to Bert Blyleven's 24. 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).
Bert Blyleven — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Kevin Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bert Blyleven leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Kevin Brown owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bert Blyleven. Note that PIV actually grades Kevin Brown ahead, which means Bert Blyleven's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bert Blyleven and Kevin Brown careers compare
From 1986 through 1992, Bert Blyleven and Kevin Brown were in the majors together. With 692 games against 486 across 24 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Kevin Brown comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.28 to 3.31). By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Kevin Brown struck out 6.62 and walked 2.49. Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games), and Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games). The complete-game row, 242 against 72, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. In WHIP, Bert Blyleven's 1.20 beats Kevin Brown's 1.22.
Bert Blyleven vs Kevin Brown: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or Kevin Brown?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bert Blyleven leads Kevin Brown in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Bert Blyleven, with 287 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to Kevin Brown's 1.22.