Steve Carlton vs Tom Seaver: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver are close to even, splitting the 8 scored categories on this page 4–4 (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Tom Seaver played 1967–1986 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 Tom Seaver (1967–1986) — both debuted in the 1960s. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Tom Seaver finished with 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA? Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Tom Seaver's 311.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Tom Seaver's 3,640.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- How many innings did each pitch? Steve Carlton 5,217.1, Tom Seaver 4,782.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Seaver, with 61 to Steve Carlton's 55.
Steve Carlton
Tom Seaver
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 | Steve Carlton | Tom Seaver |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 311 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 205 |
| Games not scored | 741 | 656 |
| Games Started not scored | 709 | 647 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 231 |
| Shutouts | 55 | Leads: 61 |
| Saves not scored | 2 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 3,640 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 1,390 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 3,971 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 380 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 5,217.1 | 4,782.2 |
| ERA | 3.22 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.12 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 6.85 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Seaver edges Steve Carlton 79,192 to 76,502 — driven by per-season impact — 3,960 PIV per season to 3,188 — rather than by longevity, since Tom Seaver played 20 seasons to Steve Carlton's 24. 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tom Seaver — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver split the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card 4-4. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Tom Seaver higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver careers compare
The careers of Steve Carlton (1965–1988) and Tom Seaver (1967–1986) overlapped from 1967 to 1986, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 741 games against 656 across 24 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Tom Seaver's edges on the table are shutouts (61 to 55), ERA (2.86 to 3.22), and WHIP (1.12 to 1.25). By rate, Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Tom Seaver struck out 6.85 and walked 2.62. Both had the same role: Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games); Tom Seaver was mainly a starter (647 starts in 656 games).
Steve Carlton vs Tom Seaver: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Tom Seaver?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Tom Seaver's 311.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Tom Seaver's 3,640.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.