Roger Clemens vs Cy Young: Career Stats Comparison
Cy Young has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Cy Young played 1890–1911 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 Cy Young (1890–1911) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1890s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Roger Clemens finished with 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts; Cy Young finished with 511 wins and 2,803 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Cy Young, with 2.63 to Roger Clemens's 3.12.
- Who won more games? Cy Young, with 511 to Roger Clemens's 354.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Cy Young's 2,803.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cy Young, with 1.13 to Roger Clemens's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Cy Young, with 7,356.0 to Roger Clemens's 4,916.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Cy Young, with 76 to Roger Clemens's 46.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Roger Clemens, with 146,187 career Pitcher PIV to Cy Young's 141,398.
Roger Clemens
Cy Young
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 1890s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Roger Clemens | Cy Young |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 354 | Leads: 511 |
| Losses not scored | 184 | 315 |
| Games | 709 | Leads: 906 |
| Games Started | 707 | Leads: 815 |
| Complete Games | 118 | Leads: 749 |
| Shutouts | 46 | Leads: 76 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 18 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,672 | 2,803 |
| Walks not scored | 1,580 | 1,217 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,185 | 7,092 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 363 | 138 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,916.2 | Leads: 7,356.0 |
| ERA | 3.12 | Leads: 2.63 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.55 | 3.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.89 | Leads: 1.49 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Roger Clemens edges Cy Young 146,187 to 141,398 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Roger Clemens played 24 seasons to Cy Young's 23, while Cy Young carries the higher per-season figure (6,148 to 6,091). 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)
Cy Young — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cy Young 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 Cy Young. Note that PIV actually grades Roger Clemens ahead, which means Cy Young's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Roger Clemens and Cy Young careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Cy Young's ended in 1911, and Roger Clemens debuted in 1984. With 709 games against 906 across 24 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Roger Clemens comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (4,672 to 2,803) and strikeouts per nine (8.55 to 3.43). By rate, Roger Clemens struck out 8.55 and walked 2.89 per nine innings; Cy Young struck out 3.43 and walked 1.49. Both had the same role: Roger Clemens was mainly a starter (707 starts in 709 games); Cy Young was mainly a starter (815 starts in 906 games).
Roger Clemens vs Cy Young: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Roger Clemens or Cy Young?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cy Young leads Roger Clemens in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Cy Young, with 2.63 to Roger Clemens's 3.12.
- Who won more games?
- Cy Young, with 511 to Roger Clemens's 354.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Roger Clemens, with 4,672 to Cy Young's 2,803.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cy Young, with 1.13 to Roger Clemens's 1.17.