Sandy Koufax vs Dazzy Vance: Career Stats Comparison
Dazzy Vance has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 as a pitcher; Dazzy Vance played 1915–1935 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 Dazzy Vance (1915–1935) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1910s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts; Dazzy Vance finished with 197 wins and 2,045 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 Dazzy Vance's 3.24.
- Who won more games? Dazzy Vance, with 197 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Dazzy Vance's 2,045.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Dazzy Vance's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Dazzy Vance, with 2,966.2 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Dazzy Vance's 29.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dazzy Vance, with 70,553 career Pitcher PIV to Sandy Koufax's 63,020.
Sandy Koufax
Dazzy Vance
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 1910s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Sandy Koufax | Dazzy Vance |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 165 | Leads: 197 |
| Losses not scored | 87 | 140 |
| Games | 397 | Leads: 442 |
| Games Started | 314 | Leads: 347 |
| Complete Games | 137 | Leads: 216 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 40 | 29 |
| Saves | 9 | Leads: 11 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,396 | 2,045 |
| Walks not scored | 817 | 840 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,754 | 2,809 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 204 | 132 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,324.1 | Leads: 2,966.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.76 | 3.24 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.23 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.28 | 6.20 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.55 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dazzy Vance leads Sandy Koufax 70,553 to 63,020 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Dazzy Vance played 18 seasons to Sandy Koufax's 12, while Sandy Koufax carries the higher per-season figure (5,252 to 3,920). 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)
Dazzy Vance — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Dazzy Vance owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. Note that PIV actually grades Dazzy Vance ahead, which means Sandy Koufax's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Sandy Koufax and Dazzy Vance careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Dazzy Vance's ended in 1935, and Sandy Koufax debuted in 1955. With 397 games against 442 across 12 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Sandy Koufax struck out 9.28 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Dazzy Vance struck out 6.20 and walked 2.55. Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games), and Dazzy Vance was mainly a starter (347 starts in 442 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Dazzy Vance's 1.23. Sandy Koufax owns the better peak by ERA: 1.73 ERA in 1966 for Sandy Koufax against 2.09 ERA in 1928 for Dazzy Vance.
Sandy Koufax vs Dazzy Vance: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Sandy Koufax or Dazzy Vance?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Dazzy Vance leads Sandy Koufax in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Dazzy Vance's 3.24.
- Who won more games?
- Dazzy Vance, with 197 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Dazzy Vance's 2,045.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Dazzy Vance's 1.23.