Max Lanier vs Curt Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Max Lanier (1938–1953) and Curt Simmons (1947–1967) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Lanier compiled 108 wins and 821 strikeouts; Curt Simmons put up 193 wins and 1,697 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Curt Simmons
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 | Max Lanier | Curt Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 108 | 193 |
| Losses | 82 | 183 |
| Games | 327 | 569 |
| Games Started | 204 | 462 |
| Complete Games | 91 | 163 |
| Shutouts | 21 | 36 |
| Saves | 17 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 821 | 1,697 |
| Walks | 611 | 1,063 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,490 | 3,313 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 65 | 255 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,619 | 3,348 |
| ERA | 3.01 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.30 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | 4.56 | 4.56 |
| BB/9 | 3.40 | 2.86 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Simmons outpaces Max Lanier 32,211 to 23,060 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,400 vs 1,537 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).
Max Lanier — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Curt Simmons — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Curt Simmons leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Max Lanier owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Curt Simmons. PIV agrees: Curt Simmons grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.