Hal Newhouser vs Bob Rush: Career Stats Comparison
Hal Newhouser has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Hal Newhouser played 1939–1955 as a pitcher; Bob Rush played 1948–1960 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
Hal Newhouser (1939–1955) and Bob Rush (1948–1960) — they debuted in the 1930s and the 1940s respectively and share 8 seasons. Hal Newhouser finished with 207 wins and 1,796 strikeouts; Bob Rush finished with 127 wins and 1,244 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Hal Newhouser, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Hal Newhouser, with 3.06 to Bob Rush's 3.65.
- Who won more games? Hal Newhouser, with 207 to Bob Rush's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Hal Newhouser, with 1,796 to Bob Rush's 1,244.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bob Rush, with 1.29 to Hal Newhouser's 1.31.
- How many innings did each pitch? Hal Newhouser 2,993.0, Bob Rush 2,410.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Hal Newhouser, with 33 to Bob Rush's 16.
Hal Newhouser
Bob Rush
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Hal Newhouser | Bob Rush |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 207 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 150 | 152 |
| Games not scored | 488 | 417 |
| Games Started not scored | 374 | 321 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 212 | 118 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 33 | 16 |
| Saves not scored | 26 | 8 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,796 | 1,244 |
| Walks not scored | 1,249 | 789 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,674 | 2,327 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 137 | 177 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 2,993.0 | 2,410.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.06 | 3.65 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.29 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.40 | 4.64 |
| BB/9 | 3.76 | Leads: 2.95 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hal Newhouser leads Bob Rush 43,492 to 35,739 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Hal Newhouser played 17 seasons to Bob Rush's 13, while Bob Rush carries the higher per-season figure (2,749 to 2,558). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Hal Newhouser — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Rush — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Hal Newhouser leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Bob Rush leads 2: WHIP and walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Hal Newhouser. PIV agrees: Hal Newhouser grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Hal Newhouser and Bob Rush careers compare
The careers of Hal Newhouser (1939–1955) and Bob Rush (1948–1960) overlapped from 1948 to 1955, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 488 games against 417 across 17 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bob Rush comes out ahead, it is in WHIP (1.29 to 1.31) and walks per nine (2.95 to 3.76). By rate, Hal Newhouser struck out 5.40 and walked 3.76 per nine innings; Bob Rush struck out 4.64 and walked 2.95. Both had the same role: Hal Newhouser was mainly a starter (374 starts in 488 games); Bob Rush was mainly a starter (321 starts in 417 games).
Hal Newhouser vs Bob Rush: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Hal Newhouser or Bob Rush?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Hal Newhouser leads Bob Rush in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Hal Newhouser, with 3.06 to Bob Rush's 3.65.
- Who won more games?
- Hal Newhouser, with 207 to Bob Rush's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Hal Newhouser, with 1,796 to Bob Rush's 1,244.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bob Rush, with 1.29 to Hal Newhouser's 1.31.