Mike Mussina vs Phil Niekro: Career Stats Comparison
Phil Niekro has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mike Mussina played 1991–2008 as a pitcher; Phil Niekro played 1964–1987 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
Mike Mussina (1991–2008) and Phil Niekro (1964–1987) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mike Mussina finished with 270 wins and 2,813 strikeouts; Phil Niekro finished with 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Phil Niekro, with 3.35 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games? Phil Niekro, with 318 to Mike Mussina's 270.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Mike Mussina's 2,813.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mike Mussina, with 1.19 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Phil Niekro, with 5,404.1 to Mike Mussina's 3,562.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Phil Niekro, with 45 to Mike Mussina's 23.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mike Mussina, with 76,572 career Pitcher PIV to Phil Niekro's 13,102.
Mike Mussina
Phil Niekro
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 1990s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mike Mussina | Phil Niekro |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 270 | Leads: 318 |
| Losses not scored | 153 | 274 |
| Games | 537 | Leads: 864 |
| Games Started | 536 | Leads: 716 |
| Complete Games | 57 | Leads: 245 |
| Shutouts | 23 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | 2,813 | Leads: 3,342 |
| Walks not scored | 785 | 1,809 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,460 | 5,044 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 376 | 482 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,562.2 | Leads: 5,404.1 |
| ERA | 3.68 | Leads: 3.35 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.19 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.11 | 5.57 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.98 | 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mike Mussina outpaces Phil Niekro 76,572 to 13,102 — driven by per-season impact — 4,254 PIV per season to 504 — rather than by longevity, since Mike Mussina played 18 seasons to Phil Niekro's 26. 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).
Mike Mussina — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Phil Niekro — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Phil Niekro leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Mike Mussina owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Phil Niekro. Note that PIV actually grades Mike Mussina ahead, which means Phil Niekro's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Mussina and Phil Niekro careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Phil Niekro's ended in 1987, and Mike Mussina debuted in 1991. The table compares 537 games of Mike Mussina with 864 of Phil Niekro across 18 and 26 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Mike Mussina's edges on the table are WHIP (1.19 to 1.27), strikeouts per nine (7.11 to 5.57), and walks per nine (1.98 to 3.01). The per-nine rows read 7.11 strikeouts and 1.98 walks for Mike Mussina, 5.57 and 3.01 for Phil Niekro. Mike Mussina was mainly a starter (536 starts in 537 games), and Phil Niekro was mainly a starter (716 starts in 864 games).
Mike Mussina vs Phil Niekro: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Mussina or Phil Niekro?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Phil Niekro leads Mike Mussina in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Phil Niekro, with 3.35 to Mike Mussina's 3.68.
- Who won more games?
- Phil Niekro, with 318 to Mike Mussina's 270.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Mike Mussina's 2,813.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mike Mussina, with 1.19 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.