Steve Howe vs Gregg Olson: Career Stats Comparison
Gregg Olson has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Howe played 1980–1996 as a pitcher; Gregg Olson played 1988–2001 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
Steve Howe (1980–1996) and Gregg Olson (1988–2001) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Steve Howe finished with 47 wins and 328 strikeouts; Gregg Olson finished with 40 wins and 588 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Steve Howe, with 3.03 to Gregg Olson's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Steve Howe, with 47 to Gregg Olson's 40.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gregg Olson, with 588 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Howe, with 1.20 to Gregg Olson's 1.38.
- Who pitched more innings? Gregg Olson, with 672.0 to Steve Howe's 606.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Howe, with 12,134 career Pitcher PIV to Gregg Olson's 10,029.
Gregg Olson
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Howe | Gregg Olson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 47 | 40 |
| Losses not scored | 41 | 39 |
| Games | 497 | Leads: 622 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 91 | Leads: 217 |
| Strikeouts | 328 | Leads: 588 |
| Walks not scored | 139 | 330 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 586 | 598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 32 | 46 |
| Innings Pitched | 606.0 | Leads: 672.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.03 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.38 |
| K/9 | 4.87 | Leads: 7.88 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.06 | 4.42 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Howe leads Gregg Olson 12,134 to 10,029 — driven by per-season impact — 933 PIV per season to 590 — rather than by longevity, since Steve Howe played 13 seasons to Gregg Olson'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).
Steve Howe
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Gregg Olson
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Howe leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while Gregg Olson owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Howe. PIV agrees: Steve Howe grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Steve Howe and Gregg Olson careers compare
Steve Howe and Gregg Olson were active at the same time between 1988 and 1996. With 497 games against 622 across 13 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Steve Howe's edges on the table are wins (47 to 40), ERA (3.03 to 3.46), and WHIP (1.20 to 1.38). By rate, Steve Howe struck out 4.87 and walked 2.06 per nine innings; Gregg Olson struck out 7.88 and walked 4.42. Steve Howe worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 497 games, 91 saves), and Gregg Olson worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 622 games, 217 saves). In WHIP, Steve Howe's 1.20 beats Gregg Olson's 1.38.
Steve Howe vs Gregg Olson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Howe or Gregg Olson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gregg Olson leads Steve Howe in 5 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Howe, with 3.03 to Gregg Olson's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Howe, with 47 to Gregg Olson's 40.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gregg Olson, with 588 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Howe, with 1.20 to Gregg Olson's 1.38.