Joe McGinnity vs Kid Nichols: Career Stats Comparison
Kid Nichols 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). Joe McGinnity played 1899–1908 as a pitcher; Kid Nichols played 1890–1906 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
Joe McGinnity (1899–1908) and Kid Nichols (1890–1906) — both came up during the 1890s, so the matchup is a direct one. Joe McGinnity finished with 246 wins and 1,068 strikeouts; Kid Nichols finished with 362 wins and 1,881 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Joe McGinnity, with 2.66 to Kid Nichols's 2.96.
- Who won more games? Kid Nichols, with 362 to Joe McGinnity's 246.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Kid Nichols, with 1,881 to Joe McGinnity's 1,068.
- Who had the better WHIP? Joe McGinnity, with 1.19 to Kid Nichols's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Kid Nichols, with 5,067.1 to Joe McGinnity's 3,441.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Kid Nichols, with 48 to Joe McGinnity's 32.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Kid Nichols, with 64,461 career Pitcher PIV to Joe McGinnity's 3,283.
Joe McGinnity
Kid Nichols
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 | Joe McGinnity | Kid Nichols |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 246 | Leads: 362 |
| Losses not scored | 142 | 208 |
| Games | 465 | Leads: 621 |
| Games Started | 381 | Leads: 562 |
| Complete Games | 314 | Leads: 532 |
| Shutouts | 32 | Leads: 48 |
| Saves | Leads: 24 | 16 |
| Strikeouts | 1,068 | Leads: 1,881 |
| Walks not scored | 812 | 1,272 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,276 | 4,929 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 52 | 156 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,441.1 | Leads: 5,067.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.66 | 2.96 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.19 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | 2.79 | Leads: 3.34 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.12 | 2.26 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Kid Nichols outpaces Joe McGinnity 64,461 to 3,283 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,029 PIV per season to 298, across 16 seasons to 11. 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).
Joe McGinnity — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Kid Nichols — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Kid Nichols leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Joe McGinnity owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Kid Nichols. PIV agrees: Kid Nichols grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Joe McGinnity and Kid Nichols careers compare
From 1899 through 1906, Joe McGinnity and Kid Nichols were in the majors together. With 465 games against 621 across 11 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Joe McGinnity comes out ahead, it is in saves (24 to 16), ERA (2.66 to 2.96), and WHIP (1.19 to 1.22). The per-nine rows read 2.79 strikeouts and 2.12 walks for Joe McGinnity, 3.34 and 2.26 for Kid Nichols. Both had the same role: Joe McGinnity was mainly a starter (381 starts in 465 games); Kid Nichols was mainly a starter (562 starts in 621 games). In WHIP, Joe McGinnity's 1.19 beats Kid Nichols's 1.22.
Joe McGinnity vs Kid Nichols: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Joe McGinnity or Kid Nichols?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Kid Nichols leads Joe McGinnity in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Joe McGinnity, with 2.66 to Kid Nichols's 2.96.
- Who won more games?
- Kid Nichols, with 362 to Joe McGinnity's 246.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Kid Nichols, with 1,881 to Joe McGinnity's 1,068.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Joe McGinnity, with 1.19 to Kid Nichols's 1.22.