Jimmy Key vs David Wells: Career Stats Comparison
David Wells 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). Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 as a pitcher; David Wells played 1987–2007 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 David Wells (1987–2007) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 strikeouts; David Wells finished with 239 wins and 2,201 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 David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? David Wells, with 239 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? David Wells, with 2,201 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? David Wells, with 3,439.0 to Jimmy Key's 2,591.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jimmy Key, with 13 to David Wells's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? David Wells, with 31,301 career Pitcher PIV to Jimmy Key's 19,114.
Jimmy Key
David Wells
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jimmy Key | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 186 | Leads: 239 |
| Losses not scored | 117 | 157 |
| Games | 470 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | 389 | Leads: 489 |
| Complete Games | 34 | Leads: 54 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 13 | 12 |
| Saves | 10 | Leads: 13 |
| Strikeouts | 1,538 | Leads: 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 668 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,518 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 254 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,591.2 | Leads: 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.51 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | 5.34 | Leads: 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 2.32 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), David Wells outpaces Jimmy Key 31,301 to 19,114 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,304 PIV per season to 1,274, across 24 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)
David Wells — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, David Wells leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Jimmy Key owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to David Wells. PIV agrees: David Wells 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 David Wells careers compare
Jimmy Key and David Wells were active at the same time between 1987 and 1998. With 470 games against 660 across 15 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Jimmy Key are shutouts (13 to 12), ERA (3.51 to 4.13), and WHIP (1.23 to 1.27). By rate, Jimmy Key struck out 5.34 and walked 2.32 per nine innings; David Wells struck out 5.76 and walked 1.88. Both had the same role: Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games); David Wells was mainly a starter (489 starts in 660 games). In WHIP, Jimmy Key's 1.23 beats David Wells's 1.27.
Jimmy Key vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jimmy Key or David Wells?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, David Wells leads Jimmy Key in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- David Wells, with 239 to Jimmy Key's 186.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- David Wells, with 2,201 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to David Wells's 1.27.