Carl Hubbell vs Bret Saberhagen: Career Stats Comparison
Carl Hubbell 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). Carl Hubbell played 1928–1943 as a pitcher; Bret Saberhagen played 1984–2001 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
Carl Hubbell (1928–1943) and Bret Saberhagen (1984–2001) — breaking in during the 1920s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Carl Hubbell finished with 253 wins and 1,677 strikeouts; Bret Saberhagen finished with 167 wins and 1,715 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Carl Hubbell, with 2.98 to Bret Saberhagen's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Carl Hubbell, with 253 to Bret Saberhagen's 167.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bret Saberhagen, with 1,715 to Carl Hubbell's 1,677.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bret Saberhagen, with 1.14 to Carl Hubbell's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Carl Hubbell, with 3,590.1 to Bret Saberhagen's 2,562.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Carl Hubbell, with 36 to Bret Saberhagen's 16.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Carl Hubbell, with 54,753 career Pitcher PIV to Bret Saberhagen's 53,065.
Carl Hubbell
Bret Saberhagen
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 1920s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Carl Hubbell | Bret Saberhagen |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 253 | 167 |
| Losses not scored | 154 | 117 |
| Games | Leads: 535 | 399 |
| Games Started | Leads: 431 | 371 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 260 | 76 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 36 | 16 |
| Saves | Leads: 33 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 1,677 | Leads: 1,715 |
| Walks not scored | 725 | 471 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,461 | 2,452 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 227 | 218 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,590.1 | 2,562.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.98 | 3.34 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 4.20 | Leads: 6.02 |
| BB/9 | 1.82 | Leads: 1.65 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Carl Hubbell edges Bret Saberhagen 54,753 to 53,065 — driven by per-season impact — 3,422 PIV per season to 3,122 — rather than by longevity, since Carl Hubbell played 16 seasons to Bret Saberhagen'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).
Carl Hubbell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bret Saberhagen — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Carl Hubbell leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Bret Saberhagen owns strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Carl Hubbell. PIV agrees: Carl Hubbell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Carl Hubbell and Bret Saberhagen careers compare
No season is shared: Carl Hubbell played 1928–1943, Bret Saberhagen 1984–2001. With 535 games against 399 across 16 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bret Saberhagen comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (1,715 to 1,677), WHIP (1.14 to 1.17), and strikeouts per nine (6.02 to 4.20). By rate, Carl Hubbell struck out 4.20 and walked 1.82 per nine innings; Bret Saberhagen struck out 6.02 and walked 1.65. Carl Hubbell was mainly a starter (431 starts in 535 games), and Bret Saberhagen was mainly a starter (371 starts in 399 games). The complete-game row, 260 against 76, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games.
Carl Hubbell vs Bret Saberhagen: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Carl Hubbell or Bret Saberhagen?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Carl Hubbell leads Bret Saberhagen in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Carl Hubbell, with 2.98 to Bret Saberhagen's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Carl Hubbell, with 253 to Bret Saberhagen's 167.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bret Saberhagen, with 1,715 to Carl Hubbell's 1,677.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bret Saberhagen, with 1.14 to Carl Hubbell's 1.17.