Stu Miller vs Billy O'Dell: Career Stats Comparison
Billy O'Dell has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Stu Miller played 1952–1968 as a pitcher; Billy O'Dell played 1954–1967 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
Stu Miller (1952–1968) and Billy O'Dell (1954–1967) — both came up during the 1950s, so the matchup is a direct one. Stu Miller finished with 105 wins and 1,164 strikeouts; Billy O'Dell finished with 105 wins and 1,133 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Stu Miller, with 3.24 to Billy O'Dell's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Neither — both are at 105.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Stu Miller, with 1,164 to Billy O'Dell's 1,133.
- Who had the better WHIP? Billy O'Dell, with 1.24 to Stu Miller's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Billy O'Dell, with 1,817.0 to Stu Miller's 1,694.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Billy O'Dell, with 13 to Stu Miller's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Billy O'Dell, with 23,766 career Pitcher PIV to Stu Miller's 20,349.
Stu Miller
Billy O'Dell
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 | Stu Miller | Billy O'Dell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 105 | 105 |
| Losses not scored | 103 | 100 |
| Games | Leads: 704 | 479 |
| Games Started | 93 | Leads: 199 |
| Complete Games | 24 | Leads: 63 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 13 |
| Saves | Leads: 154 | 48 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,164 | 1,133 |
| Walks not scored | 600 | 556 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,522 | 1,697 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 140 | 137 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,694.0 | Leads: 1,817.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.24 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.24 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.18 | 5.61 |
| BB/9 | 3.19 | Leads: 2.75 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy O'Dell leads Stu Miller 23,766 to 20,349 — driven by per-season impact — 1,698 PIV per season to 1,197 — rather than by longevity, since Billy O'Dell played 14 seasons to Stu Miller's 17. 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).
Stu Miller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Billy O'Dell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Stu Miller leads in strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Billy O'Dell owns WHIP and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Stu Miller. Note that PIV actually grades Billy O'Dell ahead, which means Stu Miller's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Stu Miller and Billy O'Dell careers compare
From 1954 through 1967, Stu Miller and Billy O'Dell were in the majors together. With 704 games against 479 across 17 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.18 strikeouts and 3.19 walks for Stu Miller, 5.61 and 2.75 for Billy O'Dell. Their roles differ: Stu Miller worked mostly in relief (93 starts in 704 games, 154 saves); Billy O'Dell split time between starting and relief (199 starts in 479 games). Billy O'Dell allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.24 WHIP to Stu Miller's 1.25.
Stu Miller vs Billy O'Dell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Stu Miller or Billy O'Dell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Billy O'Dell leads Stu Miller in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Stu Miller, with 3.24 to Billy O'Dell's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Neither — both are at 105.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Stu Miller, with 1,164 to Billy O'Dell's 1,133.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Billy O'Dell, with 1.24 to Stu Miller's 1.25.