Bert Blyleven vs Tommy John: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Tommy John played 1963–1989 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 Tommy John (1963–1989) — they debuted in the 1970s and the 1960s respectively and share 20 seasons. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Tommy John finished with 288 wins and 2,245 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Bert Blyleven, in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Bert Blyleven, with 3.31 to Tommy John's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Tommy John, with 288 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Tommy John's 2,245.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to Tommy John's 1.28.
- How many innings did each pitch? Bert Blyleven 4,970.0, Tommy John 4,710.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to Tommy John's 46.
Bert Blyleven
Tommy John
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | Tommy John |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 287 | Leads: 288 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 231 |
| Games not scored | 692 | 760 |
| Games Started not scored | 685 | 700 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 162 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 46 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 2,245 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 1,259 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 4,783 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 302 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,970.0 | 4,710.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.31 | 3.34 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.70 | 4.29 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 2.41 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bert Blyleven outpaces Tommy John 74,910 to 39,802 — driven by per-season impact — 3,405 PIV per season to 1,531 — rather than by longevity, since Bert Blyleven played 22 seasons to Tommy John's 26. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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)
Tommy John — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Bert Blyleven leads 7 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, and others. Tommy John leads 1: wins. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bert Blyleven. PIV agrees: Bert Blyleven grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bert Blyleven and Tommy John careers compare
Bert Blyleven and Tommy John were active at the same time between 1970 and 1989. With 692 games against 760 across 22 and 26 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Tommy John comes out ahead, it is in wins (288 to 287). By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Tommy John struck out 4.29 and walked 2.41. Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games), and Tommy John was mainly a starter (700 starts in 760 games). In WHIP, Bert Blyleven's 1.20 beats Tommy John's 1.28.
Bert Blyleven vs Tommy John: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or Tommy John?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bert Blyleven leads Tommy John in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3.31 to Tommy John's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Tommy John, with 288 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Tommy John's 2,245.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to Tommy John's 1.28.