Bartolo Colon vs Tom Glavine: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Glavine has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bartolo Colon played 1997–2018 as a pitcher; Tom Glavine played 1987–2008 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
Bartolo Colon (1997–2018) and Tom Glavine (1987–2008) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bartolo Colon finished with 247 wins and 2,535 strikeouts; Tom Glavine finished with 305 wins and 2,607 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tom Glavine, with 3.54 to Bartolo Colon's 4.12.
- Who won more games? Tom Glavine, with 305 to Bartolo Colon's 247.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Bartolo Colon's 2,535.
- Who had the better WHIP? Neither — both are at 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Glavine, with 4,413.1 to Bartolo Colon's 3,461.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Glavine, with 25 to Bartolo Colon's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tom Glavine, with 40,421 career Pitcher PIV to Bartolo Colon's 11,835.
Bartolo Colon
Tom Glavine
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 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bartolo Colon | Tom Glavine |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 247 | Leads: 305 |
| Losses not scored | 188 | 203 |
| Games | 565 | Leads: 682 |
| Games Started | 552 | Leads: 682 |
| Complete Games | 38 | Leads: 56 |
| Shutouts | 13 | Leads: 25 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,535 | Leads: 2,607 |
| Walks not scored | 948 | 1,500 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,593 | 4,298 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 439 | 356 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,461.2 | Leads: 4,413.1 |
| ERA | 4.12 | Leads: 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.31 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.59 | 5.32 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.46 | 3.06 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Glavine outpaces Bartolo Colon 40,421 to 11,835 — driven by per-season impact — 1,837 PIV per season to 515 — rather than by longevity, since Tom Glavine played 22 seasons to Bartolo Colon's 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).
Bartolo Colon — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tom Glavine — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tom Glavine leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Bartolo Colon owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Glavine. PIV agrees: Tom Glavine grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bartolo Colon and Tom Glavine careers compare
Bartolo Colon and Tom Glavine were active at the same time between 1997 and 2008. With 565 games against 682 across 23 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Bartolo Colon are WHIP (1.31 to 1.31), strikeouts per nine (6.59 to 5.32), and walks per nine (2.46 to 3.06). By rate, Bartolo Colon struck out 6.59 and walked 2.46 per nine innings; Tom Glavine struck out 5.32 and walked 3.06. Bartolo Colon was mainly a starter (552 starts in 565 games), and Tom Glavine was mainly a starter (682 starts in 682 games). In WHIP, Bartolo Colon's 1.31 beats Tom Glavine's 1.31.
Bartolo Colon vs Tom Glavine: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bartolo Colon or Tom Glavine?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tom Glavine leads Bartolo Colon in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tom Glavine, with 3.54 to Bartolo Colon's 4.12.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Glavine, with 305 to Bartolo Colon's 247.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Bartolo Colon's 2,535.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Neither — both are at 1.31.