Lindy McDaniel vs Don Mossi: Career Stats Comparison
Lindy McDaniel and Don Mossi are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Lindy McDaniel played 1955–1975 as a pitcher; Don Mossi played 1954–1965 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
Lindy McDaniel (1955–1975) and Don Mossi (1954–1965) — both came up during the 1950s, so the matchup is a direct one. Lindy McDaniel finished with 141 wins and 1,361 strikeouts; Don Mossi finished with 101 wins and 932 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Don Mossi, with 3.43 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Don Mossi's 101.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Don Mossi's 932.
- Who had the better WHIP? Don Mossi, with 1.21 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Lindy McDaniel, with 2,139.1 to Don Mossi's 1,548.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Mossi, with 8 to Lindy McDaniel's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lindy McDaniel, with 27,834 career Pitcher PIV to Don Mossi's 18,473.
Lindy McDaniel
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lindy McDaniel | Don Mossi |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 141 | 101 |
| Losses not scored | 119 | 80 |
| Games | Leads: 987 | 460 |
| Games Started | 74 | Leads: 165 |
| Complete Games | 18 | Leads: 55 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 8 |
| Saves | Leads: 172 | 50 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,361 | 932 |
| Walks not scored | 623 | 385 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,099 | 1,493 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 172 | 156 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,139.1 | 1,548.0 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 3.43 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.73 | 5.42 |
| BB/9 | 2.62 | Leads: 2.24 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lindy McDaniel outpaces Don Mossi 27,834 to 18,473 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Lindy McDaniel played 22 seasons to Don Mossi's 12, while Don Mossi carries the higher per-season figure (1,539 to 1,265). 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)
Don Mossi — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lindy McDaniel leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Don Mossi owns ERA and WHIP. 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 Don Mossi careers compare
From 1955 through 1965, Lindy McDaniel and Don Mossi were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Lindy McDaniel appeared in 987 games to Don Mossi's 460. By rate, Lindy McDaniel struck out 5.73 and walked 2.62 per nine innings; Don Mossi struck out 5.42 and walked 2.24. Lindy McDaniel worked mostly in relief (74 starts in 987 games, 172 saves), while Don Mossi split time between starting and relief (165 starts in 460 games). Complete games (18 to 55) show how differently the two eras used starters. Don Mossi allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.21 WHIP to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
Lindy McDaniel vs Don Mossi: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Don Mossi, with 3.43 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Don Mossi's 101.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Don Mossi's 932.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Don Mossi, with 1.21 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.