Doug Drabek vs Jimmy Key: Career Stats Comparison
Jimmy Key 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). Doug Drabek played 1986–1998 as a pitcher; Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 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
Doug Drabek (1986–1998) and Jimmy Key (1984–1998) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Doug Drabek finished with 155 wins and 1,594 strikeouts; Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Doug Drabek's 3.73.
- Who won more games? Jimmy Key, with 186 to Doug Drabek's 155.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Doug Drabek, with 1,594 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to Doug Drabek's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Jimmy Key, with 2,591.2 to Doug Drabek's 2,535.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Doug Drabek, with 21 to Jimmy Key's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jimmy Key, with 19,114 career Pitcher PIV to Doug Drabek's 18,199.
Doug Drabek
Jimmy Key
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Doug Drabek | Jimmy Key |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 155 | Leads: 186 |
| Losses not scored | 134 | 117 |
| Games | 398 | Leads: 470 |
| Games Started | 387 | Leads: 389 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 53 | 34 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 21 | 13 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 10 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,594 | 1,538 |
| Walks not scored | 704 | 668 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,448 | 2,518 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 246 | 254 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,535.0 | Leads: 2,591.2 |
| ERA | 3.73 | Leads: 3.51 |
| WHIP | 1.24 | Leads: 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.66 | 5.34 |
| BB/9 | 2.50 | Leads: 2.32 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jimmy Key edges Doug Drabek 19,114 to 18,199 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Jimmy Key played 15 seasons to Doug Drabek's 13, while Doug Drabek carries the higher per-season figure (1,400 to 1,274). 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).
Doug Drabek — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jimmy Key — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jimmy Key leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Doug Drabek owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jimmy Key. PIV agrees: Jimmy Key grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Doug Drabek and Jimmy Key careers compare
Doug Drabek and Jimmy Key were active at the same time between 1986 and 1998. The two careers are close in length, 398 games for Doug Drabek and 470 for Jimmy Key across 13 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Doug Drabek's edges on the table are complete games (53 to 34), shutouts (21 to 13), and strikeouts (1,594 to 1,538). By rate, Doug Drabek struck out 5.66 and walked 2.50 per nine innings; Jimmy Key struck out 5.34 and walked 2.32. Doug Drabek was mainly a starter (387 starts in 398 games), and Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games).
Doug Drabek vs Jimmy Key: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Doug Drabek or Jimmy Key?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jimmy Key leads Doug Drabek in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Doug Drabek's 3.73.
- Who won more games?
- Jimmy Key, with 186 to Doug Drabek's 155.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Doug Drabek, with 1,594 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to Doug Drabek's 1.24.