Roger Clemens vs Randy Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Roger Clemens has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Roger Clemens played 1984–2007 as a pitcher; Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 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
Roger Clemens (1984–2007) and Randy Johnson (1988–2009) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Roger Clemens compiled 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts; Randy Johnson put up 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Roger Clemens, with 3.12 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Roger Clemens, with 354 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Roger Clemens's 4,672.
- Who had the better WHIP? Neither — both are at 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Roger Clemens, with 4,916 to Randy Johnson's 4,135.
- Who threw more shutouts? Roger Clemens, with 46 to Randy Johnson's 37.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roger Clemens, with 146,187 career Pitcher PIV to Randy Johnson's 122,530.
Roger Clemens
Randy Johnson
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Roger Clemens | Randy Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 354 | 303 |
| Losses | 184 | 166 |
| Games | Leads: 709 | 618 |
| Games Started | Leads: 707 | 603 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 118 | 100 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 46 | 37 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 2 |
| Strikeouts | 4,672 | Leads: 4,875 |
| Walks | 1,580 | 1,497 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,185 | 3,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 363 | 411 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,916 | 4,135 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.12 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 8.55 | Leads: 10.61 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.89 | 3.26 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roger Clemens leads Randy Johnson 146,187 to 122,530 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (6,091 vs 5,105 per year). 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).
Roger Clemens — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Roger Clemens leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Randy Johnson owns strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Roger Clemens. PIV agrees: Roger Clemens grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Roger Clemens vs Randy Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Roger Clemens or Randy Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Roger Clemens leads Randy Johnson in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Roger Clemens, with 3.12 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Roger Clemens, with 354 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Roger Clemens's 4,672.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Neither — both are at 1.17.