Bert Blyleven vs Tom Seaver: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven and Tom Seaver are close to even, splitting the 12 statistical categories compared on this page 6–6. Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Tom Seaver played 1967–1986 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 Tom Seaver (1967–1986) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bert Blyleven compiled 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Tom Seaver put up 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Tom Seaver, with 311 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Tom Seaver's 3,640.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Bert Blyleven, with 4,970 to Tom Seaver's 4,782.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Seaver, with 61 to Bert Blyleven's 60.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tom Seaver, with 79,192 career Pitcher PIV to Bert Blyleven's 74,910.
Bert Blyleven
Tom Seaver
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | Tom Seaver |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 287 | Leads: 311 |
| Losses | 250 | 205 |
| Games | Leads: 692 | 656 |
| Games Started | Leads: 685 | 647 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 231 |
| Shutouts | 60 | Leads: 61 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 3,640 |
| Walks | 1,322 | 1,390 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,632 | 3,971 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 430 | 380 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,970 | 4,782 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.12 |
| K/9 | 6.70 | Leads: 6.85 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Seaver edges Bert Blyleven 79,192 to 74,910 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,600 vs 3,121 per year). 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)
Tom Seaver — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tom Seaver leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Bert Blyleven owns strikeouts and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Seaver. PIV agrees: Tom Seaver grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Bert Blyleven vs Tom Seaver: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Seaver, with 311 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Tom Seaver's 3,640.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.