CC Sabathia vs Bob Wickman: Career Stats Comparison
CC Sabathia 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). CC Sabathia played 2001–2019 as a pitcher; Bob Wickman played 1992–2007 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
CC Sabathia (2001–2019) and Bob Wickman (1992–2007) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1990s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. CC Sabathia finished with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts; Bob Wickman finished with 63 wins and 785 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Wickman, with 3.57 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games? CC Sabathia, with 251 to Bob Wickman's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Bob Wickman's 785.
- Who had the better WHIP? CC Sabathia, with 1.26 to Bob Wickman's 1.40.
- Who pitched more innings? CC Sabathia, with 3,577.1 to Bob Wickman's 1,059.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? CC Sabathia, with 12 to Bob Wickman's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? CC Sabathia, with 43,212 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Wickman's 13,515.
CC Sabathia
Bob Wickman
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 2000s and the 1990s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | CC Sabathia | Bob Wickman |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 251 | 63 |
| Losses not scored | 161 | 61 |
| Games | 561 | Leads: 835 |
| Games Started | Leads: 560 | 28 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 38 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 12 | 1 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 267 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,093 | 785 |
| Walks not scored | 1,099 | 432 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,404 | 1,051 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 382 | 80 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,577.1 | 1,059.0 |
| ERA | 3.74 | Leads: 3.57 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.26 | 1.40 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.78 | 6.67 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.76 | 3.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), CC Sabathia outpaces Bob Wickman 43,212 to 13,515 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,161 PIV per season to 711, across 20 seasons to 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).
CC Sabathia — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Wickman — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, CC Sabathia leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Bob Wickman owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to CC Sabathia. PIV agrees: CC Sabathia grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the CC Sabathia and Bob Wickman careers compare
From 2001 through 2007, CC Sabathia and Bob Wickman were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 561 games for CC Sabathia and 835 for Bob Wickman across 20 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Bob Wickman comes out ahead, it is in games (835 to 561), saves (267 to 0), and ERA (3.57 to 3.74). By rate, CC Sabathia struck out 7.78 and walked 2.76 per nine innings; Bob Wickman struck out 6.67 and walked 3.67. CC Sabathia was mainly a starter (560 starts in 561 games), while Bob Wickman worked mostly in relief (28 starts in 835 games, 267 saves).
CC Sabathia vs Bob Wickman: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, CC Sabathia or Bob Wickman?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, CC Sabathia leads Bob Wickman in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Wickman, with 3.57 to CC Sabathia's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- CC Sabathia, with 251 to Bob Wickman's 63.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- CC Sabathia, with 3,093 to Bob Wickman's 785.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- CC Sabathia, with 1.26 to Bob Wickman's 1.40.