Jim Kaat vs Don Sutton: Career Stats Comparison
Don Sutton has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 as a pitcher; Don Sutton played 1966–1988 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
Jim Kaat (1959–1983) and Don Sutton (1966–1988) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 18 seasons. Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts; Don Sutton finished with 324 wins and 3,574 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Don Sutton, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Don Sutton, with 3.26 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Don Sutton, with 324 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Don Sutton, with 3,574 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP? Don Sutton, with 1.14 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- How many innings did each pitch? Jim Kaat 4,530.1, Don Sutton 5,282.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Sutton, with 58 to Jim Kaat's 31.
Jim Kaat
Don Sutton
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Jim Kaat | Don Sutton |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 283 | Leads: 324 |
| Losses not scored | 237 | 256 |
| Games not scored | 898 | 774 |
| Games Started not scored | 625 | 756 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 180 | 178 |
| Shutouts | 31 | Leads: 58 |
| Saves not scored | 18 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 2,461 | Leads: 3,574 |
| Walks not scored | 1,083 | 1,343 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,620 | 4,692 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 395 | 472 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,530.1 | 5,282.1 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 3.26 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 4.89 | Leads: 6.09 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.15 | 2.29 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Don Sutton outpaces Jim Kaat 63,310 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 2,753 PIV per season to 1,072 — rather than by longevity, since Don Sutton played 23 seasons to Jim Kaat's 25. 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).
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Don Sutton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Don Sutton leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, and others. Jim Kaat leads 2: complete games and walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Don Sutton. PIV agrees: Don Sutton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Kaat and Don Sutton careers compare
From 1966 through 1983, Jim Kaat and Don Sutton were in the majors together. With 898 games against 774 across 25 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Jim Kaat are complete games (180 to 178) and walks per nine (2.15 to 2.29). The per-nine rows read 4.89 strikeouts and 2.15 walks for Jim Kaat, 6.09 and 2.29 for Don Sutton. Their roles differ: Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games); Don Sutton was mainly a starter (756 starts in 774 games). In WHIP, Don Sutton's 1.14 beats Jim Kaat's 1.26.
Jim Kaat vs Don Sutton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Kaat or Don Sutton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Don Sutton leads Jim Kaat in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Don Sutton, with 3.26 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Don Sutton, with 324 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Don Sutton, with 3,574 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Don Sutton, with 1.14 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.