David Cone vs Mike Scott: Career Stats Comparison
David Cone 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). David Cone played 1986–2003 as a pitcher; Mike Scott played 1979–1991 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
David Cone (1986–2003) and Mike Scott (1979–1991) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. David Cone finished with 194 wins and 2,668 strikeouts; Mike Scott finished with 124 wins and 1,469 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? David Cone, with 3.46 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games? David Cone, with 194 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? David Cone, with 2,668 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Scott, with 1.20 to David Cone's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? David Cone, with 2,898.2 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 22.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? David Cone, with 47,099 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Scott's 28,073.
David Cone
Mike Scott
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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | David Cone | Mike Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 194 | 124 |
| Losses not scored | 126 | 108 |
| Games | Leads: 450 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 419 | 319 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 56 | 45 |
| Shutouts | 22 | 22 |
| Saves | 1 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,668 | 1,469 |
| Walks not scored | 1,137 | 627 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,504 | 1,858 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 258 | 173 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,898.2 | 2,068.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.46 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.28 | 6.39 |
| BB/9 | 3.53 | Leads: 2.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), David Cone outpaces Mike Scott 47,099 to 28,073 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,479 PIV per season to 2,159, across 19 seasons to 13. 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).
David Cone — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Mike Scott — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, David Cone leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Mike Scott owns WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to David Cone. PIV agrees: David Cone grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the David Cone and Mike Scott careers compare
From 1986 through 1991, David Cone and Mike Scott were in the majors together. With 450 games against 347 across 19 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Mike Scott's edges on the table are saves (3 to 1), WHIP (1.20 to 1.26), and walks per nine (2.73 to 3.53). By rate, David Cone struck out 8.28 and walked 3.53 per nine innings; Mike Scott struck out 6.39 and walked 2.73. Both had the same role: David Cone was mainly a starter (419 starts in 450 games); Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games). In WHIP, Mike Scott's 1.20 beats David Cone's 1.26.
David Cone vs Mike Scott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, David Cone or Mike Scott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, David Cone leads Mike Scott in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- David Cone, with 3.46 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- David Cone, with 194 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- David Cone, with 2,668 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Scott, with 1.20 to David Cone's 1.26.