Kevin Brown vs Rick Reuschel: Career Stats Comparison
Rick Reuschel 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). Kevin Brown played 1986–2005 as a pitcher; Rick Reuschel played 1972–1991 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 Rick Reuschel (1972–1991) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts; Rick Reuschel finished with 214 wins and 2,015 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 Rick Reuschel's 3.37.
- Who won more games? Rick Reuschel, with 214 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to Rick Reuschel's 2,015.
- Who had the better WHIP? Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to Rick Reuschel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Rick Reuschel, with 3,548.1 to Kevin Brown's 3,256.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Rick Reuschel, with 26 to Kevin Brown's 17.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kevin Brown, with 82,163 career Pitcher PIV to Rick Reuschel's 52,650.
Kevin Brown
Rick Reuschel
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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Kevin Brown | Rick Reuschel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 211 | Leads: 214 |
| Losses not scored | 144 | 191 |
| Games | 486 | Leads: 557 |
| Games Started | 476 | Leads: 529 |
| Complete Games | 72 | Leads: 102 |
| Shutouts | 17 | Leads: 26 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,397 | 2,015 |
| Walks not scored | 901 | 935 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,079 | 3,588 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 221 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,256.1 | Leads: 3,548.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.28 | 3.37 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.22 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.62 | 5.11 |
| BB/9 | 2.49 | Leads: 2.37 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Brown outpaces Rick Reuschel 82,163 to 52,650 — driven by per-season impact — 4,324 PIV per season to 2,507 — rather than by longevity, since Kevin Brown played 19 seasons to Rick Reuschel's 21. 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).
Kevin Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Rick Reuschel — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kevin Brown leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Rick Reuschel owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Kevin Brown. PIV agrees: Kevin Brown 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 Rick Reuschel careers compare
From 1986 through 1991, Kevin Brown and Rick Reuschel were in the majors together. With 486 games against 557 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Kevin Brown's edges on the table are strikeouts (2,397 to 2,015), ERA (3.28 to 3.37), and WHIP (1.22 to 1.27). The per-nine rows read 6.62 strikeouts and 2.49 walks for Kevin Brown, 5.11 and 2.37 for Rick Reuschel. Both had the same role: Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games); Rick Reuschel was mainly a starter (529 starts in 557 games). In WHIP, Kevin Brown's 1.22 beats Rick Reuschel's 1.27.
Kevin Brown vs Rick Reuschel: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kevin Brown or Rick Reuschel?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rick Reuschel leads Kevin Brown in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to Rick Reuschel's 3.37.
- Who won more games?
- Rick Reuschel, with 214 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kevin Brown, with 2,397 to Rick Reuschel's 2,015.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to Rick Reuschel's 1.27.