Lindy McDaniel vs Tug McGraw: Career Stats Comparison
Lindy McDaniel has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Lindy McDaniel played 1955–1975 as a pitcher; Tug McGraw played 1965–1984 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
Lindy McDaniel (1955–1975) and Tug McGraw (1965–1984) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Lindy McDaniel finished with 141 wins and 1,361 strikeouts; Tug McGraw finished with 96 wins and 1,109 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tug McGraw, with 3.14 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Tug McGraw's 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Tug McGraw's 1,109.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tug McGraw, with 1.25 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Lindy McDaniel, with 2,139.1 to Tug McGraw's 1,514.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Lindy McDaniel, with 2 to Tug McGraw's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lindy McDaniel, with 27,834 career Pitcher PIV to Tug McGraw's 16,151.
Lindy McDaniel
Tug McGraw
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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lindy McDaniel | Tug McGraw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 141 | 96 |
| Losses not scored | 119 | 92 |
| Games | Leads: 987 | 824 |
| Games Started | Leads: 74 | 39 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 18 | 5 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 2 | 1 |
| Saves | 172 | Leads: 180 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,361 | 1,109 |
| Walks not scored | 623 | 582 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,099 | 1,318 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 172 | 108 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,139.1 | 1,514.2 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 3.14 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | Leads: 1.25 |
| K/9 | 5.73 | Leads: 6.59 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.62 | 3.46 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lindy McDaniel outpaces Tug McGraw 27,834 to 16,151 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,265 PIV per season to 850, across 22 seasons to 19. 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).
Lindy McDaniel — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tug McGraw
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lindy McDaniel leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Tug McGraw owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lindy McDaniel. PIV agrees: Lindy McDaniel grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lindy McDaniel and Tug McGraw careers compare
Lindy McDaniel and Tug McGraw were active at the same time between 1965 and 1975. With 987 games against 824 across 22 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Tug McGraw's edges on the table are saves (180 to 172), ERA (3.14 to 3.45), and WHIP (1.25 to 1.27). By rate, Lindy McDaniel struck out 5.73 and walked 2.62 per nine innings; Tug McGraw struck out 6.59 and walked 3.46. Both had the same role: Lindy McDaniel worked mostly in relief (74 starts in 987 games, 172 saves); Tug McGraw worked mostly in relief (39 starts in 824 games, 180 saves).
Lindy McDaniel vs Tug McGraw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lindy McDaniel or Tug McGraw?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lindy McDaniel leads Tug McGraw in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tug McGraw, with 3.14 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Tug McGraw's 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Tug McGraw's 1,109.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tug McGraw, with 1.25 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.