Steve Carlton vs Curt Schilling: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton 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). Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Curt Schilling played 1988–2007 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 Curt Schilling (1988–2007) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Curt Schilling finished with 216 wins and 3,116 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 Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Curt Schilling's 3,116.
- Who had the better WHIP? Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Curt Schilling's 3,261.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Curt Schilling's 20.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Curt Schilling, with 98,246 career Pitcher PIV to Steve Carlton's 76,502.
Steve Carlton
Curt Schilling
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Curt Schilling |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 216 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 146 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 569 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 436 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 83 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 20 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 22 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 3,116 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 711 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 2,998 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 347 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217.1 | 3,261.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.22 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 7.13 | Leads: 8.60 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 1.96 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Schilling leads Steve Carlton 98,246 to 76,502 — driven by per-season impact — 4,678 PIV per season to 2,833 — rather than by longevity, since Curt Schilling played 21 seasons to Steve Carlton's 27. 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)
Curt Schilling — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Curt Schilling owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Carlton. Note that PIV actually grades Curt Schilling ahead, which means Steve Carlton's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Carlton and Curt Schilling careers compare
Steve Carlton and Curt Schilling were active at the same time between 1988 and 1988. With 741 games against 569 across 27 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Curt Schilling comes out ahead, it is in saves (22 to 2), WHIP (1.14 to 1.25), and strikeouts per nine (8.60 to 7.13). By rate, Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Curt Schilling struck out 8.60 and walked 1.96. Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games), and Curt Schilling was mainly a starter (436 starts in 569 games). Complete games (254 to 83) show how differently the two eras used starters.
Steve Carlton vs Curt Schilling: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Curt Schilling?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Curt Schilling in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Curt Schilling's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Curt Schilling's 3,116.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.