Dizzy Dean vs Paul Derringer: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Derringer has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Dizzy Dean played 1930–1947 as a pitcher; Paul Derringer played 1931–1945 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
Dizzy Dean (1930–1947) and Paul Derringer (1931–1945) — both came up during the 1930s, so the matchup is a direct one. Dizzy Dean compiled 150 wins and 1,163 strikeouts; Paul Derringer put up 223 wins and 1,507 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dizzy Dean, with 3.02 to Paul Derringer's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Paul Derringer, with 223 to Dizzy Dean's 150.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Paul Derringer, with 1,507 to Dizzy Dean's 1,163.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dizzy Dean, with 1.21 to Paul Derringer's 1.28.
- Who pitched more innings? Paul Derringer, with 3,645 to Dizzy Dean's 1,967.
- Who threw more shutouts? Paul Derringer, with 32 to Dizzy Dean's 26.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Paul Derringer, with 67,059 career Pitcher PIV to Dizzy Dean's 47,994.
Dizzy Dean
Paul Derringer
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Dizzy Dean | Paul Derringer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 150 | Leads: 223 |
| Losses | 83 | 212 |
| Games | 317 | Leads: 579 |
| Games Started | 230 | Leads: 445 |
| Complete Games | 154 | Leads: 251 |
| Shutouts | 26 | Leads: 32 |
| Saves | Leads: 30 | 29 |
| Strikeouts | 1,163 | Leads: 1,507 |
| Walks | 453 | 761 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,919 | 3,912 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 95 | 158 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,967 | Leads: 3,645 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.02 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.21 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.32 | 3.72 |
| BB/9 | 2.07 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Derringer outpaces Dizzy Dean 67,059 to 47,994 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,191 vs 4,000 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Dizzy Dean — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Paul Derringer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Paul Derringer leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Dizzy Dean owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Derringer. PIV agrees: Paul Derringer grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Dizzy Dean vs Paul Derringer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dizzy Dean or Paul Derringer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Derringer leads Dizzy Dean in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dizzy Dean, with 3.02 to Paul Derringer's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Paul Derringer, with 223 to Dizzy Dean's 150.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Paul Derringer, with 1,507 to Dizzy Dean's 1,163.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dizzy Dean, with 1.21 to Paul Derringer's 1.28.