Tom Glavine vs CC Sabathia: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Glavine has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Tom Glavine played 1987–2008 as a pitcher; CC Sabathia played 2001–2019 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
Tom Glavine (1987–2008) and CC Sabathia (2001–2019) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Tom Glavine finished with 305 wins and 2,607 strikeouts; CC Sabathia finished with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tom Glavine, with 3.54 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games? Tom Glavine, with 305 to CC Sabathia's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Tom Glavine's 2,607.
- Who had the better WHIP? CC Sabathia, with 1.26 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Glavine, with 4,413.1 to CC Sabathia's 3,577.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Glavine, with 25 to CC Sabathia's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? CC Sabathia, with 43,212 career Pitcher PIV to Tom Glavine's 40,421.
Tom Glavine
CC Sabathia
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 1980s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Tom Glavine | CC Sabathia |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 305 | 251 |
| Losses not scored | 203 | 161 |
| Games | Leads: 682 | 561 |
| Games Started | Leads: 682 | 560 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 56 | 38 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 25 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,607 | Leads: 3,093 |
| Walks not scored | 1,500 | 1,099 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,298 | 3,404 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 356 | 382 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,413.1 | 3,577.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.54 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.26 |
| K/9 | 5.32 | Leads: 7.78 |
| BB/9 | 3.06 | Leads: 2.76 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), CC Sabathia edges Tom Glavine 43,212 to 40,421 — driven by per-season impact — 2,161 PIV per season to 1,837 — rather than by longevity, since CC Sabathia played 20 seasons to Tom Glavine's 22. 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).
Tom Glavine — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, CC Sabathia leads in strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Tom Glavine owns wins, ERA, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to CC Sabathia. PIV agrees: CC Sabathia grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Tom Glavine and CC Sabathia careers compare
Tom Glavine and CC Sabathia were active at the same time between 2001 and 2008. The two careers are close in length, 682 games for Tom Glavine and 561 for CC Sabathia across 22 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for CC Sabathia are strikeouts (3,093 to 2,607), WHIP (1.26 to 1.31), and strikeouts per nine (7.78 to 5.32). By rate, Tom Glavine struck out 5.32 and walked 3.06 per nine innings; CC Sabathia struck out 7.78 and walked 2.76.
Tom Glavine vs CC Sabathia: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tom Glavine or CC Sabathia?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tom Glavine leads CC Sabathia in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tom Glavine, with 3.54 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Glavine, with 305 to CC Sabathia's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Tom Glavine's 2,607.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- CC Sabathia, with 1.26 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.