Dennis Eckersley vs Billy Wagner: Career Stats Comparison
Dennis Eckersley (1975–1998) and Billy Wagner (1995–2010) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Dennis Eckersley compiled 197 wins and 2,401 strikeouts; Billy Wagner put up 47 wins and 1,196 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Dennis Eckersley
Billy Wagner
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Dennis Eckersley | Billy Wagner |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 197 | 47 |
| Losses | 171 | 40 |
| Games | 1,071 | 853 |
| Games Started | 361 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 100 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 20 | 0 |
| Saves | 390 | 422 |
| Strikeouts | 2,401 | 1,196 |
| Walks | 738 | 300 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,076 | 601 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 347 | 82 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,285 | 903 |
| ERA | 3.50 | 2.31 |
| WHIP | 1.16 | 1.00 |
| K/9 | 6.58 | 11.92 |
| BB/9 | 2.02 | 2.99 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dennis Eckersley edges Billy Wagner 41,139 to 38,470 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,646 vs 2,263 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).
Dennis Eckersley — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Billy Wagner — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dennis Eckersley leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Billy Wagner owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dennis Eckersley. PIV agrees: Dennis Eckersley grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.