Mariano Rivera vs Hoyt Wilhelm: Career Stats Comparison
Mariano Rivera and Hoyt Wilhelm are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mariano Rivera played 1995–2013 as a pitcher; Hoyt Wilhelm played 1952–1972 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 Hoyt Wilhelm (1952–1972) — breaking in during the 1990s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mariano Rivera finished with 82 wins and 1,173 strikeouts; Hoyt Wilhelm finished with 143 wins and 1,610 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 Hoyt Wilhelm's 2.52.
- Who won more games? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 143 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 1,610 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Hoyt Wilhelm's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 2,254.1 to Mariano Rivera's 1,283.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Hoyt Wilhelm, with 5 to Mariano Rivera's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mariano Rivera, with 52,571 career Pitcher PIV to Hoyt Wilhelm's 40,894.
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. 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 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mariano Rivera | Hoyt Wilhelm |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 82 | Leads: 143 |
| Losses not scored | 60 | 122 |
| Games | Leads: 1,115 | 1,070 |
| Games Started | 10 | Leads: 52 |
| Complete Games | 0 | Leads: 20 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | Leads: 652 | 227 |
| Strikeouts | 1,173 | Leads: 1,610 |
| Walks not scored | 286 | 778 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 998 | 1,757 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 71 | 150 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,283.2 | Leads: 2,254.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.21 | 2.52 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.00 | 1.12 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.22 | 6.43 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.01 | 3.11 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mariano Rivera leads Hoyt Wilhelm 52,571 to 40,894 — driven by per-season impact — 2,767 PIV per season to 1,573 — rather than by longevity, since Mariano Rivera played 19 seasons to Hoyt Wilhelm'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).
Mariano Rivera
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
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.
Related Matchups
How the Mariano Rivera and Hoyt Wilhelm careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Hoyt Wilhelm's ended in 1972, and Mariano Rivera debuted in 1995. With 1,115 games against 1,070 across 19 and 26 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Mariano Rivera struck out 8.22 and walked 2.01 per nine innings; Hoyt Wilhelm struck out 6.43 and walked 3.11. Mariano Rivera worked mostly in relief (10 starts in 1,115 games, 652 saves), and Hoyt Wilhelm worked mostly in relief (52 starts in 1,070 games, 227 saves). In WHIP, Mariano Rivera's 1.00 beats Hoyt Wilhelm's 1.12. Mariano Rivera has no qualifying season for the peak list, while Hoyt Wilhelm's best is 1965.
Mariano Rivera vs Hoyt Wilhelm: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mariano Rivera, with 2.21 to Hoyt Wilhelm's 2.52.
- Who won more games?
- Hoyt Wilhelm, with 143 to Mariano Rivera's 82.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Hoyt Wilhelm, with 1,610 to Mariano Rivera's 1,173.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mariano Rivera, with 1.00 to Hoyt Wilhelm's 1.12.