Curt Schilling vs David Wells: Career Stats Comparison
Curt Schilling 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). Curt Schilling played 1988–2007 as a pitcher; David Wells played 1987–2007 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
Curt Schilling (1988–2007) and David Wells (1987–2007) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Curt Schilling finished with 216 wins and 3,116 strikeouts; David Wells finished with 239 wins and 2,201 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Curt Schilling, with 3.46 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games? David Wells, with 239 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Curt Schilling, with 3,116 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP? Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to David Wells's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? David Wells, with 3,439.0 to Curt Schilling's 3,261.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Curt Schilling, with 20 to David Wells's 12.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Curt Schilling, with 98,246 career Pitcher PIV to David Wells's 31,301.
Curt Schilling
David Wells
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Curt Schilling | David Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 216 | Leads: 239 |
| Losses not scored | 146 | 157 |
| Games | 569 | Leads: 660 |
| Games Started | 436 | Leads: 489 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 83 | 54 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 20 | 12 |
| Saves | Leads: 22 | 13 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,116 | 2,201 |
| Walks not scored | 711 | 719 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,998 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 347 | 407 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,261.0 | Leads: 3,439.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.46 | 4.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.60 | 5.76 |
| BB/9 | 1.96 | Leads: 1.88 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Schilling outpaces David Wells 98,246 to 31,301 — driven by per-season impact — 4,678 PIV per season to 1,304 — rather than by longevity, since Curt Schilling played 21 seasons to David Wells's 24. 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).
Curt Schilling — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
David Wells — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Curt Schilling leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while David Wells owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Curt Schilling. PIV agrees: Curt Schilling grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Curt Schilling and David Wells careers compare
Curt Schilling and David Wells were active at the same time between 1988 and 2007. With 569 games against 660 across 21 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Curt Schilling struck out 8.60 and walked 1.96 per nine innings; David Wells struck out 5.76 and walked 1.88. Both had the same role: Curt Schilling was mainly a starter (436 starts in 569 games); David Wells was mainly a starter (489 starts in 660 games). Curt Schilling allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to David Wells's 1.27.
Curt Schilling vs David Wells: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Curt Schilling or David Wells?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Curt Schilling leads David Wells in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Curt Schilling, with 3.46 to David Wells's 4.13.
- Who won more games?
- David Wells, with 239 to Curt Schilling's 216.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Curt Schilling, with 3,116 to David Wells's 2,201.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Curt Schilling, with 1.14 to David Wells's 1.27.