Jimmy Key vs Mike Mussina: Career Stats Comparison
Mike Mussina 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). Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 as a pitcher; Mike Mussina played 1991–2008 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
Jimmy Key (1984–1998) and Mike Mussina (1991–2008) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 strikeouts; Mike Mussina finished with 270 wins and 2,813 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games? Mike Mussina, with 270 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Mike Mussina, with 2,813 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Mussina, with 1.19 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Mike Mussina, with 3,562.2 to Jimmy Key's 2,591.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mike Mussina, with 23 to Jimmy Key's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mike Mussina, with 76,572 career Pitcher PIV to Jimmy Key's 19,114.
Jimmy Key
Mike Mussina
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 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jimmy Key | Mike Mussina |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 186 | Leads: 270 |
| Losses not scored | 117 | 153 |
| Games | 470 | Leads: 537 |
| Games Started | 389 | Leads: 536 |
| Complete Games | 34 | Leads: 57 |
| Shutouts | 13 | Leads: 23 |
| Saves | Leads: 10 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,538 | Leads: 2,813 |
| Walks not scored | 668 | 785 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,518 | 3,460 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 254 | 376 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,591.2 | Leads: 3,562.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.51 | 3.68 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.19 |
| K/9 | 5.34 | Leads: 7.11 |
| BB/9 | 2.32 | Leads: 1.98 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Mussina outpaces Jimmy Key 76,572 to 19,114 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,254 PIV per season to 1,274, across 18 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).
Jimmy Key — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Mike Mussina — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mike Mussina leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Jimmy Key owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mike Mussina. PIV agrees: Mike Mussina grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jimmy Key and Mike Mussina careers compare
From 1991 through 1998, Jimmy Key and Mike Mussina were in the majors together. With 470 games against 537 across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jimmy Key's edges on the table are saves (10 to 0) and ERA (3.51 to 3.68). By rate, Jimmy Key struck out 5.34 and walked 2.32 per nine innings; Mike Mussina struck out 7.11 and walked 1.98. Both had the same role: Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games); Mike Mussina was mainly a starter (536 starts in 537 games). Mike Mussina allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.19 WHIP to Jimmy Key's 1.23.
Jimmy Key vs Mike Mussina: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jimmy Key or Mike Mussina?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mike Mussina leads Jimmy Key in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games?
- Mike Mussina, with 270 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Mike Mussina, with 2,813 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Mussina, with 1.19 to Jimmy Key's 1.23.