Kevin Brown vs Randy Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Kevin Brown played 1986–2005 as a pitcher; Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 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
Kevin Brown (1986–2005) and Randy Johnson (1988–2009) — both debuted in the 1980s. Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts; Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Randy Johnson, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Kevin Brown's 1.22.
- How many innings did each pitch? Kevin Brown 3,256.1, Randy Johnson 4,135.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Kevin Brown's 17.
Kevin Brown
Randy Johnson
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 | Kevin Brown | Randy Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 211 | Leads: 303 |
| Losses not scored | 144 | 166 |
| Games not scored | 486 | 618 |
| Games Started not scored | 476 | 603 |
| Complete Games | 72 | Leads: 100 |
| Shutouts | 17 | Leads: 37 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,397 | Leads: 4,875 |
| Walks not scored | 901 | 1,497 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,079 | 3,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 411 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,256.1 | 4,135.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.28 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.22 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 6.62 | Leads: 10.61 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 3.26 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Kevin Brown 122,530 to 82,163 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,570 PIV per season to 4,324, across 22 seasons to 19. 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).
Kevin Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Randy Johnson leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Kevin Brown leads 2: ERA and walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson careers compare
Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson were active at the same time between 1988 and 2005. The two careers are close in length, 486 games for Kevin Brown and 618 for Randy Johnson across 19 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Kevin Brown comes out ahead, it is in ERA (3.28 to 3.29) and walks per nine (2.49 to 3.26). By rate, Kevin Brown struck out 6.62 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26. Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games), and Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games).
Kevin Brown vs Randy Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kevin Brown or Randy Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Kevin Brown in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Kevin Brown's 1.22.