Clayton Kershaw vs Christy Mathewson: Career Stats Comparison
Clayton Kershaw (2008–present) and Christy Mathewson (1900–1916) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1900s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Clayton Kershaw compiled 223 wins and 3,052 strikeouts; Christy Mathewson put up 373 wins and 2,507 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Clayton Kershaw
Christy Mathewson
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Clayton Kershaw | Christy Mathewson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 223 | 373 |
| Losses | 96 | 188 |
| Games | 455 | 636 |
| Games Started | 451 | 552 |
| Complete Games | 25 | 435 |
| Shutouts | 15 | 79 |
| Saves | 0 | 29 |
| Strikeouts | 3,052 | 2,507 |
| Walks | 713 | 848 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,193 | 4,219 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 90 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,855 | 4,788 |
| ERA | 2.53 | 2.13 |
| WHIP | 1.02 | 1.06 |
| K/9 | 9.62 | 4.71 |
| BB/9 | 2.25 | 1.59 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Clayton Kershaw leads Christy Mathewson 93,455 to 82,446 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,192 vs 4,580 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).
Clayton Kershaw — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Christy Mathewson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Clayton Kershaw leads in strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Christy Mathewson owns wins, ERA, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Clayton Kershaw. PIV agrees: Clayton Kershaw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.