Cole Hamels vs Tim Hudson: Career Stats Comparison
Tim Hudson 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). Cole Hamels played 2006–2020 as a pitcher; Tim Hudson played 1999–2015 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
Cole Hamels (2006–2020) and Tim Hudson (1999–2015) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Cole Hamels finished with 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts; Tim Hudson finished with 222 wins and 2,080 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Cole Hamels, with 3.43 to Tim Hudson's 3.49.
- Who won more games? Tim Hudson, with 222 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Tim Hudson's 1.24.
- Who pitched more innings? Tim Hudson, with 3,126.2 to Cole Hamels's 2,698.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tim Hudson, with 13 to Cole Hamels's 7.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tim Hudson, with 40,402 career Pitcher PIV to Cole Hamels's 32,591.
Cole Hamels
Tim Hudson
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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Cole Hamels | Tim Hudson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | Leads: 222 |
| Losses not scored | 122 | 133 |
| Games | 423 | Leads: 482 |
| Games Started | 422 | Leads: 479 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 26 |
| Shutouts | 7 | Leads: 13 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,560 | 2,080 |
| Walks not scored | 767 | 917 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,424 | 2,957 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 310 | 248 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,698.0 | Leads: 3,126.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.43 | 3.49 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.54 | 5.99 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.56 | 2.64 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tim Hudson leads Cole Hamels 40,402 to 32,591 — driven by per-season impact — 2,377 PIV per season to 1,917 — rather than by longevity, since Tim Hudson played 17 seasons to Cole Hamels's 17. 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).
Cole Hamels — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tim Hudson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Cole Hamels leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Tim Hudson owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Cole Hamels. Note that PIV actually grades Tim Hudson ahead, which means Cole Hamels's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Cole Hamels and Tim Hudson careers compare
From 2006 through 2015, Cole Hamels and Tim Hudson were in the majors together. With 423 games against 482 across 17 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Cole Hamels struck out 8.54 and walked 2.56 per nine innings; Tim Hudson struck out 5.99 and walked 2.64. Cole Hamels was mainly a starter (422 starts in 423 games), and Tim Hudson was mainly a starter (479 starts in 482 games). In WHIP, Cole Hamels's 1.18 beats Tim Hudson's 1.24. Best seasons: 2014 for Cole Hamels (2.46 ERA, 9-9, 198 K in 204 IP) and 2003 for Tim Hudson (2.70 ERA, 16-7, 162 K in 240 IP).
Cole Hamels vs Tim Hudson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cole Hamels or Tim Hudson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tim Hudson leads Cole Hamels in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Cole Hamels, with 3.43 to Tim Hudson's 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Tim Hudson, with 222 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Tim Hudson's 2,080.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Tim Hudson's 1.24.