Randy Johnson vs Dave Stieb: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Dave Stieb played 1979–1998 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 Dave Stieb (1979–1998) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts; Dave Stieb finished with 176 wins and 1,669 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 Dave Stieb's 3.44.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Dave Stieb's 176.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Dave Stieb's 1,669.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Dave Stieb's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Dave Stieb's 2,895.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Dave Stieb's 30.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Dave Stieb's 4,282.
Randy Johnson
Dave Stieb
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 | Randy Johnson | Dave Stieb |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 303 | 176 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 137 |
| Games | Leads: 618 | 443 |
| Games Started | Leads: 603 | 412 |
| Complete Games | 100 | Leads: 103 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 37 | 30 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,875 | 1,669 |
| Walks not scored | 1,497 | 1,034 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,346 | 2,572 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 411 | 225 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,135.1 | 2,895.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.29 | 3.44 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.61 | 5.19 |
| BB/9 | 3.26 | Leads: 3.21 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Dave Stieb 122,530 to 4,282 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 268, across 24 seasons to 16. 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)
Dave Stieb — 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 Dave Stieb 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 Dave Stieb careers compare
Randy Johnson and Dave Stieb were active at the same time between 1988 and 1998. With 618 games against 443 across 24 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Dave Stieb comes out ahead, it is in complete games (103 to 100), saves (3 to 2), and walks per nine (3.21 to 3.26). By rate, Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26 per nine innings; Dave Stieb struck out 5.19 and walked 3.21. Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games), and Dave Stieb was mainly a starter (412 starts in 443 games). Randy Johnson allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Dave Stieb's 1.25.
Randy Johnson vs Dave Stieb: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Randy Johnson or Dave Stieb?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Dave Stieb in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Dave Stieb's 3.44.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Dave Stieb's 176.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Dave Stieb's 1,669.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Dave Stieb's 1.25.