Don Drysdale vs Randy Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Don Drysdale and Randy Johnson are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Don Drysdale played 1956–1969 as a pitcher; Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 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
Don Drysdale (1956–1969) and Randy Johnson (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Don Drysdale finished with 209 wins and 2,486 strikeouts; Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Don Drysdale, with 2.95 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP? Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Don Drysdale's 3,432.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Drysdale, with 49 to Randy Johnson's 37.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Don Drysdale's 57,464.
Don Drysdale
Randy Johnson
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 1950s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Don Drysdale | Randy Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 209 | Leads: 303 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 166 |
| Games | 518 | Leads: 618 |
| Games Started | 465 | Leads: 603 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 167 | 100 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 37 |
| Saves | Leads: 6 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,486 | Leads: 4,875 |
| Walks not scored | 855 | 1,497 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,084 | 3,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 280 | 411 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,432.0 | Leads: 4,135.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.95 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.15 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | 6.52 | Leads: 10.61 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.24 | 3.26 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Don Drysdale 122,530 to 57,464 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 4,105, across 24 seasons to 14. 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).
Don Drysdale — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Don Drysdale owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Don Drysdale and Randy Johnson careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Don Drysdale's ended in 1969, and Randy Johnson debuted in 1988. With 518 games against 618 across 14 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Don Drysdale struck out 6.52 and walked 2.24 per nine innings; Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26. Don Drysdale was mainly a starter (465 starts in 518 games), and Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games). In WHIP, Don Drysdale's 1.15 beats Randy Johnson's 1.17.
Don Drysdale vs Randy Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Don Drysdale, with 2.95 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.