Eric Gagne vs Scot Shields: Career Stats Comparison
Eric Gagne has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; Scot Shields played 2001–2010 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 Scot Shields (2001–2010) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Eric Gagne finished with 33 wins and 718 strikeouts; Scot Shields finished with 46 wins and 631 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Scot Shields, with 3.18 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games? Scot Shields, with 46 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Eric Gagne, with 718 to Scot Shields's 631.
- Who had the better WHIP? Eric Gagne, with 1.16 to Scot Shields's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Scot Shields, with 697.0 to Eric Gagne's 643.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Eric Gagne, with 14,441 career Pitcher PIV to Scot Shields's 14,266.
Scot Shields
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 1990s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Eric Gagne | Scot Shields |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 33 | Leads: 46 |
| Losses not scored | 26 | 44 |
| Games | 402 | Leads: 491 |
| Games Started | Leads: 48 | 15 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 187 | 21 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 718 | 631 |
| Walks not scored | 226 | 278 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 518 | 589 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 76 | 55 |
| Innings Pitched | 643.2 | Leads: 697.0 |
| ERA | 3.47 | Leads: 3.18 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.16 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.04 | 8.15 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.16 | 3.59 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Eric Gagne edges Scot Shields 14,441 to 14,266 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Eric Gagne played 11 seasons to Scot Shields's 10, while Scot Shields carries the higher per-season figure (1,427 to 1,313). 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)
Scot Shields — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Eric Gagne leads in strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Scot Shields owns wins, ERA, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Eric Gagne. PIV agrees: Eric Gagne 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 Scot Shields careers compare
Eric Gagne and Scot Shields were active at the same time between 2001 and 2008. With 402 games against 491 across 11 and 10 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Scot Shields comes out ahead, it is in wins (46 to 33), games (491 to 402), and innings (697.0 to 643.2). By rate, Eric Gagne struck out 10.04 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Scot Shields struck out 8.15 and walked 3.59. Both had the same role: Eric Gagne worked mostly in relief (48 starts in 402 games, 187 saves); Scot Shields worked mostly in relief (15 starts in 491 games, 21 saves).
Eric Gagne vs Scot Shields: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eric Gagne or Scot Shields?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Eric Gagne leads Scot Shields in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Scot Shields, with 3.18 to Eric Gagne's 3.47.
- Who won more games?
- Scot Shields, with 46 to Eric Gagne's 33.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Eric Gagne, with 718 to Scot Shields's 631.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Eric Gagne, with 1.16 to Scot Shields's 1.24.