Greg Maddux vs Phil Niekro: Career Stats Comparison
Greg Maddux (1986–2008) and Phil Niekro (1964–1987) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Greg Maddux compiled 355 wins and 3,371 strikeouts; Phil Niekro put up 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Greg Maddux
Phil Niekro
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 | Greg Maddux | Phil Niekro |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 355 | 318 |
| Losses | 227 | 274 |
| Games | 744 | 864 |
| Games Started | 740 | 716 |
| Complete Games | 109 | 245 |
| Shutouts | 35 | 45 |
| Saves | 0 | 29 |
| Strikeouts | 3,371 | 3,342 |
| Walks | 999 | 1,809 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,726 | 5,044 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 353 | 482 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,008 | 5,404 |
| ERA | 3.16 | 3.35 |
| WHIP | 1.14 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | 6.06 | 5.57 |
| BB/9 | 1.80 | 3.01 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Greg Maddux outpaces Phil Niekro 133,509 to 13,102 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,340 vs 504 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).
Greg Maddux — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Phil Niekro — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Greg Maddux leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Phil Niekro owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Greg Maddux. PIV agrees: Greg Maddux grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.