Steve Carlton vs Jim Kaat: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 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
Steve Carlton (1965–1988) and Jim Kaat (1959–1983) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Jim Kaat's 4,530.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Jim Kaat's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Kaat's 26,792.
Steve Carlton
Jim Kaat
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 1960s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Jim Kaat |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 283 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 237 |
| Games | 741 | Leads: 898 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 625 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 180 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 31 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 18 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 2,461 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 1,083 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 4,620 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 395 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217.1 | 4,530.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.22 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.25 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 4.89 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton outpaces Jim Kaat 76,502 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 2,833 PIV per season to 957 — rather than by longevity, since Steve Carlton played 27 seasons to Jim Kaat's 28. 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Jim Kaat owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Carlton. PIV agrees: Steve Carlton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Carlton and Jim Kaat careers compare
From 1965 through 1983, Steve Carlton and Jim Kaat were in the majors together. With 741 games against 898 across 27 and 28 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jim Kaat's edges on the table are games (898 to 741), saves (18 to 2), and walks per nine (2.15 to 3.16). The per-nine rows read 7.13 strikeouts and 3.16 walks for Steve Carlton, 4.89 and 2.15 for Jim Kaat. Their roles differ: Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games); Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games). In WHIP, Steve Carlton's 1.25 beats Jim Kaat's 1.26.
Steve Carlton vs Jim Kaat: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Jim Kaat?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Jim Kaat in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.