Phil Niekro vs John Smoltz: Career Stats Comparison
Phil Niekro has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Phil Niekro played 1964–1987 as a pitcher; John Smoltz played 1988–2009 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
Phil Niekro (1964–1987) and John Smoltz (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Phil Niekro finished with 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts; John Smoltz finished with 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games? Phil Niekro, with 318 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to John Smoltz's 3,084.
- Who had the better WHIP? John Smoltz, with 1.18 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Phil Niekro, with 5,404.1 to John Smoltz's 3,473.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Phil Niekro, with 45 to John Smoltz's 16.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? John Smoltz, with 91,907 career Pitcher PIV to Phil Niekro's 13,102.
Phil Niekro
John Smoltz
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 1960s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Phil Niekro | John Smoltz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 318 | 213 |
| Losses not scored | 274 | 155 |
| Games | Leads: 864 | 723 |
| Games Started | Leads: 716 | 481 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 245 | 53 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 45 | 16 |
| Saves | 29 | Leads: 154 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,342 | 3,084 |
| Walks not scored | 1,809 | 1,010 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 5,044 | 3,074 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 482 | 288 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,404.1 | 3,473.0 |
| ERA | 3.35 | Leads: 3.33 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | 5.57 | Leads: 7.99 |
| BB/9 | 3.01 | Leads: 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Smoltz outpaces Phil Niekro 91,907 to 13,102 — driven by per-season impact — 4,178 PIV per season to 504 — rather than by longevity, since John Smoltz played 22 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).
Phil Niekro — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, John Smoltz leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Phil Niekro owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to John Smoltz. PIV agrees: John Smoltz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Phil Niekro and John Smoltz careers compare
No season is shared: Phil Niekro played 1964–1987, John Smoltz 1988–2009. With 864 games against 723 across 26 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Phil Niekro struck out 5.57 and walked 3.01 per nine innings; John Smoltz struck out 7.99 and walked 2.62. Their roles differ: Phil Niekro was mainly a starter (716 starts in 864 games); John Smoltz split time between starting and relief (481 starts in 723 games). The complete-game row, 245 against 53, reflects how much longer starters once stayed in games. John Smoltz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
Phil Niekro vs John Smoltz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Phil Niekro or John Smoltz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Phil Niekro leads John Smoltz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games?
- Phil Niekro, with 318 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to John Smoltz's 3,084.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- John Smoltz, with 1.18 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.