Eric Gagne vs Mariano Rivera: Career Stats Comparison
Mariano Rivera 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). Eric Gagne played 1999–2008 as a pitcher; Mariano Rivera played 1995–2013 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
Eric Gagne (1999–2008) and Mariano Rivera (1995–2013) — both came up during the 1990s, so the matchup is a direct one. Eric Gagne finished with 33 wins and 718 strikeouts; Mariano Rivera finished with 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games? Mariano Rivera, with 82 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Mariano Rivera, with 1,173 to Eric Gagne's 718.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Eric Gagne's 1.16.
- Who pitched more innings? Mariano Rivera, with 1,283.2 to Eric Gagne's 643.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mariano Rivera, with 52,571 career Pitcher PIV to Eric Gagne's 14,441.
Mariano Rivera
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 | Eric Gagne | Mariano Rivera |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 33 | Leads: 82 |
| Losses not scored | 26 | 60 |
| Games | 402 | Leads: 1,115 |
| Games Started | Leads: 48 | 10 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 187 | Leads: 652 |
| Strikeouts | 718 | Leads: 1,173 |
| Walks not scored | 226 | 286 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 518 | 998 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 76 | 71 |
| Innings Pitched | 643.2 | Leads: 1,283.2 |
| ERA | 3.47 | Leads: 2.21 |
| WHIP | 1.16 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.04 | 8.22 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mariano Rivera outpaces Eric Gagne 52,571 to 14,441 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,767 PIV per season to 1,313, across 19 seasons to 11. 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).
Eric Gagne — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Mariano Rivera
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mariano Rivera leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Eric Gagne owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mariano Rivera. PIV agrees: Mariano Rivera grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Eric Gagne and Mariano Rivera careers compare
From 1999 through 2008, Eric Gagne and Mariano Rivera were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Eric Gagne appeared in 402 games to Mariano Rivera's 1,115. Eric Gagne's edges on the table are starts (48 to 10) and strikeouts per nine (10.04 to 8.22). By rate, Eric Gagne struck out 10.04 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Mariano Rivera struck out 8.22 and walked 2.01. Both had the same role: Eric Gagne worked mostly in relief (48 starts in 402 games, 187 saves); Mariano Rivera worked mostly in relief (10 starts in 1,115 games, 652 saves).
Eric Gagne vs Mariano Rivera: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eric Gagne or Mariano Rivera?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mariano Rivera leads Eric Gagne in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games?
- Mariano Rivera, with 82 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1,173 to Eric Gagne's 718.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Eric Gagne's 1.16.