Randy Johnson vs Greg Maddux: Career Stats Comparison
Greg Maddux has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Greg Maddux played 1986–2008 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 Greg Maddux (1986–2008) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Randy Johnson compiled 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Greg Maddux put up 355 wins and 3,371 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Greg Maddux, with 3.16 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Greg Maddux, with 355 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Greg Maddux's 3,371.
- Who had the better WHIP? Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Greg Maddux, with 5,008 to Randy Johnson's 4,135.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Greg Maddux's 35.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Greg Maddux, with 133,509 career Pitcher PIV to Randy Johnson's 122,530.
Randy Johnson
Greg Maddux
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Randy Johnson | Greg Maddux |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 303 | Leads: 355 |
| Losses | 166 | 227 |
| Games | 618 | Leads: 744 |
| Games Started | 603 | Leads: 740 |
| Complete Games | 100 | Leads: 109 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 35 |
| Saves | Leads: 2 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 3,371 |
| Walks | 1,497 | 999 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,346 | 4,726 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 411 | 353 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,135 | Leads: 5,008 |
| ERA | 3.29 | Leads: 3.16 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 6.06 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 1.80 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Greg Maddux leads Randy Johnson 133,509 to 122,530 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,340 vs 5,105 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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)
Greg Maddux — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Greg Maddux leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Randy Johnson owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Greg Maddux. PIV agrees: Greg Maddux grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Randy Johnson vs Greg Maddux: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Greg Maddux?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Greg Maddux leads Randy Johnson in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Greg Maddux, with 3.16 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Greg Maddux, with 355 to Randy Johnson's 303.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Greg Maddux's 3,371.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Randy Johnson's 1.17.