Steve Carlton vs Frank Tanana: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Frank Tanana played 1973–1993 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 Frank Tanana (1973–1993) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Frank Tanana finished with 240 wins and 2,773 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 Frank Tanana's 3.66.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Frank Tanana's 240.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Frank Tanana's 2,773.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Frank Tanana's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Frank Tanana's 4,188.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Frank Tanana's 34.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Frank Tanana's 5,624.
Steve Carlton
Frank Tanana
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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Frank Tanana |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 240 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 236 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 638 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 616 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 143 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 34 |
| Saves | Leads: 2 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 2,773 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 1,255 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 4,063 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 448 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217.1 | 4,188.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.22 | 3.66 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.25 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 5.96 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.70 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton outpaces Frank Tanana 76,502 to 5,624 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,833 PIV per season to 245, across 27 seasons to 23. 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)
Frank Tanana — 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 Frank Tanana 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 Frank Tanana careers compare
Steve Carlton and Frank Tanana were active at the same time between 1973 and 1988. With 741 games against 638 across 27 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Frank Tanana comes out ahead, it is in walks per nine (2.70 to 3.16). By rate, Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Frank Tanana struck out 5.96 and walked 2.70. Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games), and Frank Tanana was mainly a starter (616 starts in 638 games). In WHIP, Steve Carlton's 1.25 beats Frank Tanana's 1.27.
Steve Carlton vs Frank Tanana: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Frank Tanana?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Frank Tanana in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Frank Tanana's 3.66.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Frank Tanana's 240.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Frank Tanana's 2,773.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Frank Tanana's 1.27.