Mariano Rivera vs Hoyt Wilhelm: Career Stats Comparison
Mariano Rivera (1995–2013) and Hoyt Wilhelm (1952–1972) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mariano Rivera compiled 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts; Hoyt Wilhelm put up 143 wins and 1,610 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Mariano Rivera
Hoyt Wilhelm
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Mariano Rivera | Hoyt Wilhelm |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 82 | 143 |
| Losses | 60 | 122 |
| Games | 1,115 | 1,070 |
| Games Started | 10 | 52 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 20 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 5 |
| Saves | 652 | 227 |
| Strikeouts | 1,173 | 1,610 |
| Walks | 286 | 778 |
| Hits Allowed | 998 | 1,757 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 71 | 150 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,283 | 2,254 |
| ERA | 2.21 | 2.52 |
| WHIP | 1.00 | 1.12 |
| K/9 | 8.22 | 6.43 |
| BB/9 | 2.01 | 3.11 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mariano Rivera leads Hoyt Wilhelm 52,571 to 40,894 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,767 vs 1,573 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).
Mariano Rivera — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Hoyt Wilhelm — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mariano Rivera leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Hoyt Wilhelm owns wins, strikeouts, 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.