Gregg Olson vs Troy Percival: Career Stats Comparison
Troy Percival 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). Gregg Olson played 1988–2001 as a pitcher; Troy Percival played 1995–2009 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
Gregg Olson (1988–2001) and Troy Percival (1995–2009) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Gregg Olson finished with 40 wins and 588 strikeouts; Troy Percival finished with 35 wins and 781 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Troy Percival, with 3.17 to Gregg Olson's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Gregg Olson, with 40 to Troy Percival's 35.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Troy Percival, with 781 to Gregg Olson's 588.
- Who had the better WHIP? Troy Percival, with 1.11 to Gregg Olson's 1.38.
- Who pitched more innings? Troy Percival, with 708.2 to Gregg Olson's 672.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Troy Percival, with 10,919 career Pitcher PIV to Gregg Olson's 10,029.
Gregg Olson
Troy Percival
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 1980s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Gregg Olson | Troy Percival |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 40 | 35 |
| Losses not scored | 39 | 43 |
| Games | 622 | Leads: 703 |
| Games Started | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 217 | Leads: 358 |
| Strikeouts | 588 | Leads: 781 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 306 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 598 | 479 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 46 | 85 |
| Innings Pitched | 672.0 | Leads: 708.2 |
| ERA | 3.46 | Leads: 3.17 |
| WHIP | 1.38 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 7.88 | Leads: 9.92 |
| BB/9 | 4.42 | Leads: 3.89 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Troy Percival leads Gregg Olson 10,919 to 10,029 — driven by per-season impact — 780 PIV per season to 590 — rather than by longevity, since Troy Percival played 14 seasons to Gregg Olson's 17. 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).
Gregg Olson
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Troy Percival
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Troy Percival leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Gregg Olson owns wins. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Troy Percival. PIV agrees: Troy Percival grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gregg Olson and Troy Percival careers compare
From 1995 through 2001, Gregg Olson and Troy Percival were in the majors together. With 622 games against 703 across 17 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Gregg Olson's edges on the table are wins (40 to 35). The per-nine rows read 7.88 strikeouts and 4.42 walks for Gregg Olson, 9.92 and 3.89 for Troy Percival. Both had the same role: Gregg Olson worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 622 games, 217 saves); Troy Percival worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 703 games, 358 saves). In WHIP, Troy Percival's 1.11 beats Gregg Olson's 1.38.
Gregg Olson vs Troy Percival: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gregg Olson or Troy Percival?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Troy Percival leads Gregg Olson in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Troy Percival, with 3.17 to Gregg Olson's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Gregg Olson, with 40 to Troy Percival's 35.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Troy Percival, with 781 to Gregg Olson's 588.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Troy Percival, with 1.11 to Gregg Olson's 1.38.