Randy Johnson vs Jimmy Key: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 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
Randy Johnson (1988–2009) and Jimmy Key (1984–1998) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Jimmy Key's 3.51.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Jimmy Key's 2,591.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Jimmy Key's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Jimmy Key's 19,114.
Randy Johnson
Jimmy Key
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 | Randy Johnson | Jimmy Key |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 303 | 186 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 117 |
| Games | Leads: 618 | 470 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 389 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 100 | 34 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 13 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 10 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 1,538 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 668 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 2,518 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 254 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,135.1 | 2,591.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 3.51 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 5.34 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 2.32 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Jimmy Key 122,530 to 19,114 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 1,274, across 24 seasons to 15. 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).
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jimmy Key — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Jimmy Key owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Randy Johnson and Jimmy Key careers compare
Randy Johnson and Jimmy Key were active at the same time between 1988 and 1998. The two careers are close in length, 618 games for Randy Johnson and 470 for Jimmy Key across 24 and 15 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Jimmy Key's edges on the table are saves (10 to 2) and walks per nine (2.32 to 3.26). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; Jimmy Key struck out 5.34 and walked 2.32. Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games), and Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games).
Randy Johnson vs Jimmy Key: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Jimmy Key?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Jimmy Key in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Jimmy Key's 3.51.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.