Mariano Rivera vs Bobby Shantz: Career Stats Comparison
Mariano Rivera 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). Mariano Rivera played 1995–2013 as a pitcher; Bobby Shantz played 1949–1964 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
Mariano Rivera (1995–2013) and Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mariano Rivera finished with 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts; Bobby Shantz finished with 119 wins and 1,072 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Mariano Rivera, with 1,173 to Bobby Shantz's 1,072.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Bobby Shantz, with 1,935.2 to Mariano Rivera's 1,283.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bobby Shantz, with 15 to Mariano Rivera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mariano Rivera, with 52,571 career Pitcher PIV to Bobby Shantz's 24,845.
Mariano Rivera
Bobby Shantz
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mariano Rivera | Bobby Shantz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 82 | Leads: 119 |
| Losses not scored | 60 | 99 |
| Games | Leads: 1,115 | 537 |
| Games Started | 10 | Leads: 171 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 78 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | Leads: 652 | 48 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,173 | 1,072 |
| Walks not scored | 286 | 643 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 998 | 1,795 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 71 | 151 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,283.2 | Leads: 1,935.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.21 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.22 | 4.98 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.01 | 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mariano Rivera outpaces Bobby Shantz 52,571 to 24,845 — driven by per-season impact — 2,767 PIV per season to 1,308 — rather than by longevity, since Mariano Rivera played 19 seasons to Bobby Shantz's 19. 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).
Mariano Rivera
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Bobby Shantz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mariano Rivera leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Bobby Shantz owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mariano Rivera. PIV agrees: Mariano Rivera grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mariano Rivera and Bobby Shantz careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Bobby Shantz's ended in 1964, and Mariano Rivera debuted in 1995. Mariano Rivera has the far longer record, 1,115 games against 537 across 19 and 19 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. By rate, Mariano Rivera struck out 8.22 and walked 2.01 per nine innings; Bobby Shantz struck out 4.98 and walked 2.99. Their roles differ: Mariano Rivera worked mostly in relief (10 starts in 1,115 games, 652 saves); Bobby Shantz split time between starting and relief (171 starts in 537 games). Complete games (0 to 78) show how differently the two eras used starters. Mariano Rivera allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.00 WHIP to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
Mariano Rivera vs Bobby Shantz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mariano Rivera or Bobby Shantz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mariano Rivera leads Bobby Shantz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1,173 to Bobby Shantz's 1,072.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.