Bartolo Colon vs Greg Maddux: Career Stats Comparison
Greg Maddux 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). Bartolo Colon played 1997–2018 as a pitcher; Greg Maddux played 1986–2008 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 Greg Maddux (1986–2008) — 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; Greg Maddux finished with 355 wins and 3,371 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Greg Maddux, with 3.16 to Bartolo Colon's 4.12.
- Who won more games? Greg Maddux, with 355 to Bartolo Colon's 247.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Greg Maddux, with 3,371 to Bartolo Colon's 2,535.
- Who had the better WHIP? Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Bartolo Colon's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Greg Maddux, with 5,008.1 to Bartolo Colon's 3,461.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Greg Maddux, with 35 to Bartolo Colon's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Greg Maddux, with 133,509 career Pitcher PIV to Bartolo Colon's 11,835.
Bartolo Colon
Greg Maddux
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 | Greg Maddux |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 247 | Leads: 355 |
| Losses not scored | 188 | 227 |
| Games | 565 | Leads: 744 |
| Games Started | 552 | Leads: 740 |
| Complete Games | 38 | Leads: 109 |
| Shutouts | 13 | Leads: 35 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,535 | Leads: 3,371 |
| Walks not scored | 948 | 999 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,593 | 4,726 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 439 | 353 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,461.2 | Leads: 5,008.1 |
| ERA | 4.12 | Leads: 3.16 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.59 | 6.06 |
| BB/9 | 2.46 | Leads: 1.80 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Greg Maddux outpaces Bartolo Colon 133,509 to 11,835 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,340 PIV per season to 515, across 25 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).
Bartolo Colon — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Greg Maddux — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Greg Maddux leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Bartolo Colon owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Greg Maddux. PIV agrees: Greg Maddux 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 Greg Maddux careers compare
From 1997 through 2008, Bartolo Colon and Greg Maddux were in the majors together. With 565 games against 744 across 23 and 25 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bartolo Colon's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (6.59 to 6.06). The per-nine rows read 6.59 strikeouts and 2.46 walks for Bartolo Colon, 6.06 and 1.80 for Greg Maddux. Both had the same role: Bartolo Colon was mainly a starter (552 starts in 565 games); Greg Maddux was mainly a starter (740 starts in 744 games). Greg Maddux allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Bartolo Colon's 1.31.
Bartolo Colon vs Greg Maddux: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bartolo Colon or Greg Maddux?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Greg Maddux leads Bartolo Colon in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Greg Maddux, with 3.16 to Bartolo Colon's 4.12.
- Who won more games?
- Greg Maddux, with 355 to Bartolo Colon's 247.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Greg Maddux, with 3,371 to Bartolo Colon's 2,535.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Bartolo Colon's 1.31.