Cole Hamels vs Andy Pettitte: Career Stats Comparison
Cole Hamels 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; Andy Pettitte played 1995–2013 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 Andy Pettitte (1995–2013) — 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; Andy Pettitte finished with 256 wins and 2,448 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 Andy Pettitte's 3.85.
- Who won more games? Andy Pettitte, with 256 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Andy Pettitte's 2,448.
- Who had the better WHIP? Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.
- Who pitched more innings? Andy Pettitte, with 3,316.0 to Cole Hamels's 2,698.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Cole Hamels, with 7 to Andy Pettitte's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Andy Pettitte, with 57,293 career Pitcher PIV to Cole Hamels's 32,591.
Cole Hamels
Andy Pettitte
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 | Andy Pettitte |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 163 | Leads: 256 |
| Losses not scored | 122 | 153 |
| Games | 423 | Leads: 531 |
| Games Started | 422 | Leads: 521 |
| Complete Games | 17 | Leads: 26 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 7 | 4 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,560 | 2,448 |
| Walks not scored | 767 | 1,031 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,424 | 3,448 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 310 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,698.0 | Leads: 3,316.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.43 | 3.85 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.35 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.54 | 6.64 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.56 | 2.80 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Andy Pettitte outpaces Cole Hamels 57,293 to 32,591 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,183 PIV per season to 1,917, across 18 seasons to 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)
Andy Pettitte — 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 Andy Pettitte 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 Andy Pettitte 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 Andy Pettitte careers compare
From 2006 through 2013, Cole Hamels and Andy Pettitte were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 423 games for Cole Hamels and 531 for Andy Pettitte across 17 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The per-nine rows read 8.54 strikeouts and 2.56 walks for Cole Hamels, 6.64 and 2.80 for Andy Pettitte. Cole Hamels was mainly a starter (422 starts in 423 games), and Andy Pettitte was mainly a starter (521 starts in 531 games). Cole Hamels allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.
Cole Hamels vs Andy Pettitte: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Cole Hamels or Andy Pettitte?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Cole Hamels leads Andy Pettitte in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Cole Hamels, with 3.43 to Andy Pettitte's 3.85.
- Who won more games?
- Andy Pettitte, with 256 to Cole Hamels's 163.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Cole Hamels, with 2,560 to Andy Pettitte's 2,448.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Cole Hamels, with 1.18 to Andy Pettitte's 1.35.