Don Newcombe vs Paul Skenes: Career Stats Comparison
Don Newcombe 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). Don Newcombe played 1949–1960 as a pitcher; Paul Skenes has played 2024–present 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
Don Newcombe (1949–1960) and Paul Skenes (2024–present) — breaking in during the 1940s and the 2020s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Don Newcombe finished with 153 wins and 1,185 strikeouts; Paul Skenes has 31 wins and 586 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Paul Skenes, with 2.62 to Don Newcombe's 3.57.
- Who won more games? Don Newcombe, with 153 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Don Newcombe, with 1,185 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP? Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Don Newcombe's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Don Newcombe, with 2,247.0 to Paul Skenes's 495.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Newcombe, with 24 to Paul Skenes's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Don Newcombe, with 20,184 career Pitcher PIV to Paul Skenes's 14,331.
Don Newcombe
Paul Skenes
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 1940s and the 2020s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Paul Skenes is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Don Newcombe | Paul Skenes |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 153 | 31 |
| Losses not scored | 96 | 24 |
| Games | Leads: 359 | 87 |
| Games Started | Leads: 305 | 87 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 145 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 24 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,185 | 586 |
| Walks not scored | 528 | 123 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,185 | 376 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 255 | 41 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,247.0 | 495.0 |
| ERA | 3.57 | Leads: 2.62 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.01 |
| K/9 | 4.75 | Leads: 10.65 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.11 | 2.24 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Don Newcombe outpaces Paul Skenes 20,184 to 14,331 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Don Newcombe played 14 seasons to Paul Skenes's 2, while Paul Skenes carries the higher per-season figure (7,166 to 1,442). 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).
Don Newcombe — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Paul Skenes — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Don Newcombe leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Paul Skenes owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Don Newcombe. PIV agrees: Don Newcombe grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Don Newcombe and Paul Skenes careers compare
No season is shared: Don Newcombe played 1949–1960, Paul Skenes 2024–present. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Don Newcombe appeared in 359 games to Paul Skenes's 87. Paul Skenes's edges on the table are ERA (2.62 to 3.57), WHIP (1.01 to 1.21), and strikeouts per nine (10.65 to 4.75). By rate, Don Newcombe struck out 4.75 and walked 2.11 per nine innings; Paul Skenes struck out 10.65 and walked 2.24. Both had the same role: Don Newcombe was mainly a starter (305 starts in 359 games); Paul Skenes was mainly a starter (87 starts in 87 games). Because Paul Skenes is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Don Newcombe vs Paul Skenes: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Don Newcombe or Paul Skenes?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Don Newcombe leads Paul Skenes in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Paul Skenes, with 2.62 to Don Newcombe's 3.57.
- Who won more games?
- Don Newcombe, with 153 to Paul Skenes's 31.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Don Newcombe, with 1,185 to Paul Skenes's 586.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Paul Skenes, with 1.01 to Don Newcombe's 1.21.