Greg Maddux vs Warren Spahn: Career Stats Comparison
Warren Spahn 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). Greg Maddux played 1986–2008 as a pitcher; Warren Spahn played 1942–1965 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
Greg Maddux (1986–2008) and Warren Spahn (1942–1965) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Greg Maddux finished with 355 wins and 3,371 strikeouts; Warren Spahn finished with 363 wins and 2,583 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Greg Maddux's 3.16.
- Who won more games? Warren Spahn, with 363 to Greg Maddux's 355.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Greg Maddux, with 3,371 to Warren Spahn's 2,583.
- Who had the better WHIP? Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Warren Spahn, with 5,243.2 to Greg Maddux's 5,008.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Warren Spahn, with 63 to Greg Maddux's 35.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Greg Maddux, with 133,509 career Pitcher PIV to Warren Spahn's 63,558.
Greg Maddux
Warren Spahn
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 1980s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Greg Maddux | Warren Spahn |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 355 | Leads: 363 |
| Losses not scored | 227 | 245 |
| Games | 744 | Leads: 750 |
| Games Started | Leads: 740 | 665 |
| Complete Games | 109 | Leads: 382 |
| Shutouts | 35 | Leads: 63 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,371 | 2,583 |
| Walks not scored | 999 | 1,434 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,726 | 4,830 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 353 | 434 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,008.1 | Leads: 5,243.2 |
| ERA | 3.16 | Leads: 3.09 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.06 | 4.43 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.80 | 2.46 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Greg Maddux outpaces Warren Spahn 133,509 to 63,558 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,340 PIV per season to 2,889, across 25 seasons to 22. 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).
Greg Maddux — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Warren Spahn — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Greg Maddux leads in strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Warren Spahn owns wins, ERA, and 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.
Related Matchups
How the Greg Maddux and Warren Spahn careers compare
Warren Spahn (1942–1965) was finished before Greg Maddux (1986–2008) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 744 games against 750 across 25 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.06 strikeouts and 1.80 walks for Greg Maddux, 4.43 and 2.46 for Warren Spahn. Greg Maddux was mainly a starter (740 starts in 744 games), and Warren Spahn was mainly a starter (665 starts in 750 games). The complete-game row, 109 against 382, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. Greg Maddux allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Warren Spahn's 1.19.
Greg Maddux vs Warren Spahn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Greg Maddux or Warren Spahn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Warren Spahn leads Greg Maddux in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Greg Maddux's 3.16.
- Who won more games?
- Warren Spahn, with 363 to Greg Maddux's 355.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Greg Maddux, with 3,371 to Warren Spahn's 2,583.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Greg Maddux, with 1.14 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.