Kid Nichols vs Rube Waddell: Career Stats Comparison
Kid Nichols has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Kid Nichols played 1890–1906 as a pitcher; Rube Waddell played 1897–1910 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
Kid Nichols (1890–1906) and Rube Waddell (1897–1910) — both came up during the 1890s, so the matchup is a direct one. Kid Nichols compiled 362 wins and 1,881 strikeouts; Rube Waddell put up 193 wins and 2,316 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rube Waddell, with 2.16 to Kid Nichols's 2.96.
- Who won more games? Kid Nichols, with 362 to Rube Waddell's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rube Waddell, with 2,316 to Kid Nichols's 1,881.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rube Waddell, with 1.10 to Kid Nichols's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Kid Nichols, with 5,067 to Rube Waddell's 2,961.
- Who threw more shutouts? Rube Waddell, with 50 to Kid Nichols's 48.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rube Waddell, with 69,450 career Pitcher PIV to Kid Nichols's 64,461.
Kid Nichols
Rube Waddell
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Kid Nichols | Rube Waddell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 362 | 193 |
| Losses | 208 | 143 |
| Games | Leads: 621 | 407 |
| Games Started | Leads: 562 | 340 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 532 | 261 |
| Shutouts | 48 | Leads: 50 |
| Saves | Leads: 16 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 1,881 | Leads: 2,316 |
| Walks | 1,272 | 803 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,929 | 2,460 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 156 | 37 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,067 | 2,961 |
| ERA | 2.96 | Leads: 2.16 |
| WHIP | 1.22 | Leads: 1.10 |
| K/9 | 3.34 | Leads: 7.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.26 | 2.44 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rube Waddell edges Kid Nichols 69,450 to 64,461 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,961 vs 4,029 per year). 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).
Kid Nichols — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Rube Waddell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rube Waddell leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Kid Nichols owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rube Waddell. PIV agrees: Rube Waddell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Kid Nichols vs Rube Waddell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Kid Nichols or Rube Waddell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Kid Nichols leads Rube Waddell in 7 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rube Waddell, with 2.16 to Kid Nichols's 2.96.
- Who won more games?
- Kid Nichols, with 362 to Rube Waddell's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rube Waddell, with 2,316 to Kid Nichols's 1,881.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rube Waddell, with 1.10 to Kid Nichols's 1.22.