Troy Percival vs Lee Smith: Career Stats Comparison
Lee Smith has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Troy Percival played 1995–2009 as a pitcher; Lee Smith played 1980–1997 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
Troy Percival (1995–2009) and Lee Smith (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Troy Percival finished with 35 wins and 781 strikeouts; Lee Smith finished with 71 wins and 1,251 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Lee Smith, with 3.03 to Troy Percival's 3.17.
- Who won more games? Lee Smith, with 71 to Troy Percival's 35.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lee Smith, with 1,251 to Troy Percival's 781.
- Who had the better WHIP? Troy Percival, with 1.11 to Lee Smith's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Lee Smith, with 1,289.1 to Troy Percival's 708.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lee Smith, with 33,335 career Pitcher PIV to Troy Percival's 10,919.
Troy Percival
Lee Smith
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 1990s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Troy Percival | Lee Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 35 | Leads: 71 |
| Losses not scored | 43 | 92 |
| Games | 703 | Leads: 1,022 |
| Games Started | 1 | Leads: 6 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 358 | Leads: 478 |
| Strikeouts | 781 | Leads: 1,251 |
| Walks not scored | 306 | 486 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 479 | 1,133 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 85 | 89 |
| Innings Pitched | 708.2 | Leads: 1,289.1 |
| ERA | 3.17 | Leads: 3.03 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.92 | 8.73 |
| BB/9 | 3.89 | Leads: 3.39 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lee Smith outpaces Troy Percival 33,335 to 10,919 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,587 PIV per season to 780, across 21 seasons to 14. 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).
Troy Percival
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Lee Smith
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lee Smith leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Troy Percival owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lee Smith. PIV agrees: Lee Smith grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Troy Percival and Lee Smith careers compare
From 1995 through 1997, Troy Percival and Lee Smith were in the majors together. With 703 games against 1,022 across 14 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Troy Percival's edges on the table are WHIP (1.11 to 1.26) and strikeouts per nine (9.92 to 8.73). By rate, Troy Percival struck out 9.92 and walked 3.89 per nine innings; Lee Smith struck out 8.73 and walked 3.39. Both had the same role: Troy Percival worked mostly in relief (1 starts in 703 games, 358 saves); Lee Smith worked mostly in relief (6 starts in 1,022 games, 478 saves). Troy Percival allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.11 WHIP to Lee Smith's 1.26.
Troy Percival vs Lee Smith: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Troy Percival or Lee Smith?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lee Smith leads Troy Percival in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Lee Smith, with 3.03 to Troy Percival's 3.17.
- Who won more games?
- Lee Smith, with 71 to Troy Percival's 35.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lee Smith, with 1,251 to Troy Percival's 781.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Troy Percival, with 1.11 to Lee Smith's 1.26.