Tom Glavine vs Warren Spahn: Career Stats Comparison
Warren Spahn has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Warren Spahn played 1942–1965 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 Warren Spahn (1942–1965) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Tom Glavine finished with 305 wins and 2,607 strikeouts; Warren Spahn finished with 363 wins and 2,583 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Warren Spahn, with 363 to Tom Glavine's 305.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Warren Spahn's 2,583.
- Who had the better WHIP? Warren Spahn, with 1.19 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Warren Spahn, with 5,243.2 to Tom Glavine's 4,413.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Warren Spahn, with 63 to Tom Glavine's 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Warren Spahn, with 63,558 career Pitcher PIV to Tom Glavine's 40,421.
Tom Glavine
Warren Spahn
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Tom Glavine | Warren Spahn |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 305 | Leads: 363 |
| Losses not scored | 203 | 245 |
| Games | 682 | Leads: 750 |
| Games Started | Leads: 682 | 665 |
| Complete Games | 56 | Leads: 382 |
| Shutouts | 25 | Leads: 63 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,607 | 2,583 |
| Walks not scored | 1,500 | 1,434 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,298 | 4,830 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 356 | 434 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,413.1 | Leads: 5,243.2 |
| ERA | 3.54 | Leads: 3.09 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.19 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.32 | 4.43 |
| BB/9 | 3.06 | Leads: 2.46 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Warren Spahn outpaces Tom Glavine 63,558 to 40,421 — driven by per-season impact — 2,889 PIV per season to 1,837 — rather than by longevity, since Warren Spahn played 22 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)
Warren Spahn — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Warren Spahn leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Tom Glavine owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Warren Spahn. PIV agrees: Warren Spahn 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 Warren Spahn careers compare
Warren Spahn (1942–1965) was finished before Tom Glavine (1987–2008) arrived, so they never shared a league. The two careers are close in length, 682 games for Tom Glavine and 750 for Warren Spahn across 22 and 22 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Tom Glavine comes out ahead, it is in starts (682 to 665), strikeouts (2,607 to 2,583), and strikeouts per nine (5.32 to 4.43). The per-nine rows read 5.32 strikeouts and 3.06 walks for Tom Glavine, 4.43 and 2.46 for Warren Spahn.
Tom Glavine vs Warren Spahn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tom Glavine or Warren Spahn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Warren Spahn leads Tom Glavine in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Warren Spahn, with 363 to Tom Glavine's 305.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Warren Spahn's 2,583.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Warren Spahn, with 1.19 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.