Kevin Brown vs CC Sabathia: Career Stats Comparison
CC Sabathia has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; CC Sabathia played 2001–2019 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 CC Sabathia (2001–2019) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Kevin Brown finished with 211 wins and 2,397 strikeouts; CC Sabathia finished with 251 wins and 3,093 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 CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games? CC Sabathia, with 251 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP? Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? CC Sabathia, with 3,577.1 to Kevin Brown's 3,256.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kevin Brown, with 17 to CC Sabathia's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kevin Brown, with 82,163 career Pitcher PIV to CC Sabathia's 43,212.
Kevin Brown
CC Sabathia
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 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Kevin Brown | CC Sabathia |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 211 | Leads: 251 |
| Losses not scored | 144 | 161 |
| Games | 486 | Leads: 561 |
| Games Started | 476 | Leads: 560 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 72 | 38 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 17 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,397 | Leads: 3,093 |
| Walks not scored | 901 | 1,099 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,079 | 3,404 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 208 | 382 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,256.1 | Leads: 3,577.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.28 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.22 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 6.62 | Leads: 7.78 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.49 | 2.76 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kevin Brown outpaces CC Sabathia 82,163 to 43,212 — driven by per-season impact — 4,324 PIV per season to 2,161 — rather than by longevity, since Kevin Brown played 19 seasons to CC Sabathia's 20. 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)
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, CC Sabathia leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Kevin Brown owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to CC Sabathia. Note that PIV actually grades Kevin Brown ahead, which means CC Sabathia's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Kevin Brown and CC Sabathia careers compare
From 2001 through 2005, Kevin Brown and CC Sabathia were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 486 games for Kevin Brown and 561 for CC Sabathia across 19 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The per-nine rows read 6.62 strikeouts and 2.49 walks for Kevin Brown, 7.78 and 2.76 for CC Sabathia. Both had the same role: Kevin Brown was mainly a starter (476 starts in 486 games); CC Sabathia was mainly a starter (560 starts in 561 games). Kevin Brown allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.22 WHIP to CC Sabathia's 1.26.
Kevin Brown vs CC Sabathia: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kevin Brown or CC Sabathia?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, CC Sabathia leads Kevin Brown in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kevin Brown, with 3.28 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- CC Sabathia, with 251 to Kevin Brown's 211.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Kevin Brown's 2,397.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Kevin Brown, with 1.22 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.