Steve Howe vs Dan Quisenberry: Career Stats Comparison
Dan Quisenberry 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). Steve Howe played 1980–1996 as a pitcher; Dan Quisenberry played 1979–1990 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 Dan Quisenberry (1979–1990) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Steve Howe finished with 47 wins and 328 strikeouts; Dan Quisenberry finished with 56 wins and 379 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Steve Howe's 3.03.
- Who won more games? Dan Quisenberry, with 56 to Steve Howe's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Dan Quisenberry, with 379 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Steve Howe's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Dan Quisenberry, with 1,043.1 to Steve Howe's 606.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dan Quisenberry, with 16,859 career Pitcher PIV to Steve Howe's 12,134.
Dan Quisenberry
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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Howe | Dan Quisenberry |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 47 | Leads: 56 |
| Losses not scored | 41 | 46 |
| Games | 497 | Leads: 674 |
| Games Started | 0 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 91 | Leads: 244 |
| Strikeouts | 328 | Leads: 379 |
| Walks not scored | 139 | 162 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 586 | 1,064 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 32 | 59 |
| Innings Pitched | 606.0 | Leads: 1,043.1 |
| ERA | 3.03 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 4.87 | 3.27 |
| BB/9 | 2.06 | Leads: 1.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dan Quisenberry outpaces Steve Howe 16,859 to 12,134 — driven by per-season impact — 1,297 PIV per season to 933 — rather than by longevity, since Dan Quisenberry played 13 seasons to Steve Howe's 13. 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.
Dan Quisenberry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Dan Quisenberry leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Steve Howe owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Dan Quisenberry. PIV agrees: Dan Quisenberry 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 Dan Quisenberry careers compare
From 1980 through 1990, Steve Howe and Dan Quisenberry were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 497 games for Steve Howe and 674 for Dan Quisenberry across 13 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Steve Howe's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (4.87 to 3.27). By rate, Steve Howe struck out 4.87 and walked 2.06 per nine innings; Dan Quisenberry struck out 3.27 and walked 1.40. Steve Howe worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 497 games, 91 saves), and Dan Quisenberry worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 674 games, 244 saves). In WHIP, Dan Quisenberry's 1.18 beats Steve Howe's 1.20.
Steve Howe vs Dan Quisenberry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Howe or Dan Quisenberry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dan Quisenberry leads Steve Howe in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Steve Howe's 3.03.
- Who won more games?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 56 to Steve Howe's 47.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 379 to Steve Howe's 328.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Steve Howe's 1.20.