Sandy Koufax vs CC Sabathia: Career Stats Comparison
Sandy Koufax and CC Sabathia are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 as a pitcher; CC Sabathia played 2001–2019 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
Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) and CC Sabathia (2001–2019) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts; CC Sabathia finished with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games? CC Sabathia, with 251 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? CC Sabathia, with 3,577.1 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to CC Sabathia's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to CC Sabathia's 43,212.
Sandy Koufax
CC Sabathia
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 1950s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Sandy Koufax | CC Sabathia |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 165 | Leads: 251 |
| Losses not scored | 87 | 161 |
| Games | 397 | Leads: 561 |
| Games Started | 314 | Leads: 560 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 137 | 38 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 40 | 12 |
| Saves | Leads: 9 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 2,396 | Leads: 3,093 |
| Walks not scored | 817 | 1,099 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,754 | 3,404 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 204 | 382 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,324.1 | Leads: 3,577.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.76 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.28 | 7.78 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.76 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces CC Sabathia 63,020 to 43,212 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 2,161 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to CC Sabathia's 20. 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).
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while CC Sabathia owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. PIV agrees: Sandy Koufax grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Sandy Koufax and CC Sabathia careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Sandy Koufax's ended in 1966, and CC Sabathia debuted in 2001. With 397 games against 561 across 12 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 9.28 strikeouts and 3.16 walks for Sandy Koufax, 7.78 and 2.76 for CC Sabathia. Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games), and CC Sabathia was mainly a starter (560 starts in 561 games). The complete-game row, 137 against 38, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Sandy Koufax allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.11 WHIP to CC Sabathia's 1.26.
Sandy Koufax vs CC Sabathia: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- CC Sabathia, with 251 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to CC Sabathia's 1.26.