Roger Clemens vs Walter Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Walter Johnson 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). Roger Clemens played 1984–2007 as a pitcher; Walter Johnson played 1907–1927 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 Walter Johnson (1907–1927) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1900s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Roger Clemens finished with 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts; Walter Johnson finished with 417 wins and 3,509 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Walter Johnson, with 2.17 to Roger Clemens's 3.12.
- Who won more games? Walter Johnson, with 417 to Roger Clemens's 354.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Walter Johnson's 3,509.
- Who had the better WHIP? Walter Johnson, with 1.06 to Roger Clemens's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Walter Johnson, with 5,914.2 to Roger Clemens's 4,916.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Walter Johnson, with 110 to Roger Clemens's 46.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roger Clemens, with 146,187 career Pitcher PIV to Walter Johnson's 124,021.
Roger Clemens
Walter 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. 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 1980s and the 1900s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Roger Clemens | Walter Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 354 | Leads: 417 |
| Losses not scored | 184 | 279 |
| Games | 709 | Leads: 802 |
| Games Started | Leads: 707 | 666 |
| Complete Games | 118 | Leads: 531 |
| Shutouts | 46 | Leads: 110 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 34 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,672 | 3,509 |
| Walks not scored | 1,580 | 1,363 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,185 | 4,913 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 363 | 97 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,916.2 | Leads: 5,914.2 |
| ERA | 3.12 | Leads: 2.17 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.06 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.55 | 5.34 |
| BB/9 | 2.89 | Leads: 2.07 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roger Clemens leads Walter Johnson 146,187 to 124,021 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 6,091 PIV per season to 5,906, across 24 seasons to 21. 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).
Roger Clemens — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Walter Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Walter Johnson leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Roger Clemens owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Walter Johnson. Note that PIV actually grades Roger Clemens ahead, which means Walter Johnson's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Roger Clemens and Walter Johnson careers compare
No season is shared: Walter Johnson played 1907–1927, Roger Clemens 1984–2007. With 709 games against 802 across 24 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Roger Clemens comes out ahead, it is in starts (707 to 666), strikeouts (4,672 to 3,509), and strikeouts per nine (8.55 to 5.34). By rate, Roger Clemens struck out 8.55 and walked 2.89 per nine innings; Walter Johnson struck out 5.34 and walked 2.07. Roger Clemens was mainly a starter (707 starts in 709 games), and Walter Johnson was mainly a starter (666 starts in 802 games). The complete-game row, 118 against 531, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games.
Roger Clemens vs Walter Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Roger Clemens or Walter Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Walter Johnson leads Roger Clemens in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Walter Johnson, with 2.17 to Roger Clemens's 3.12.
- Who won more games?
- Walter Johnson, with 417 to Roger Clemens's 354.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Walter Johnson's 3,509.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Walter Johnson, with 1.06 to Roger Clemens's 1.17.