Josh Hader vs Bobby Shantz: Career Stats Comparison
Bobby Shantz 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). Josh Hader has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Bobby Shantz played 1949–1964 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
Josh Hader (2017–present) and Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Josh Hader has 38 wins and 884 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Bobby Shantz finished with 119 wins and 1,072 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bobby Shantz, with 1,072 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP? Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Bobby Shantz, with 1,935.2 to Josh Hader's 557.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bobby Shantz, with 15 to Josh Hader's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bobby Shantz, with 24,845 career Pitcher PIV to Josh Hader's 17,542.
Bobby Shantz
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 2010s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Josh Hader is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Josh Hader | Bobby Shantz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 38 | Leads: 119 |
| Losses not scored | 33 | 99 |
| Games | 513 | Leads: 537 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 171 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 78 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | Leads: 253 | 48 |
| Strikeouts | 884 | Leads: 1,072 |
| Walks not scored | 213 | 643 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 301 | 1,795 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 66 | 151 |
| Innings Pitched | 557.0 | Leads: 1,935.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.50 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 0.92 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 14.28 | 4.98 |
| BB/9 | 3.44 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Shantz outpaces Josh Hader 24,845 to 17,542 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bobby Shantz played 19 seasons to Josh Hader's 10, while Josh Hader carries the higher per-season figure (1,754 to 1,308). 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).
Josh Hader
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Bobby Shantz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Shantz leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Josh Hader owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bobby Shantz. PIV agrees: Bobby Shantz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Josh Hader and Bobby Shantz careers compare
No season is shared: Bobby Shantz played 1949–1964, Josh Hader 2017–present. The two careers are close in length, 513 games for Josh Hader and 537 for Bobby Shantz across 10 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Josh Hader comes out ahead, it is in saves (253 to 48), ERA (2.50 to 3.38), and WHIP (0.92 to 1.26). By rate, Josh Hader struck out 14.28 and walked 3.44 per nine innings; Bobby Shantz struck out 4.98 and walked 2.99. Josh Hader worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 513 games, 253 saves), while Bobby Shantz split time between starting and relief (171 starts in 537 games). Josh Hader's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Josh Hader vs Bobby Shantz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Josh Hader or Bobby Shantz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bobby Shantz leads Josh Hader in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Josh Hader, with 2.50 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Josh Hader's 38.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bobby Shantz, with 1,072 to Josh Hader's 884.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Josh Hader, with 0.92 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.