Bobby Shantz vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Bobby Shantz and Bruce Sutter are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bobby Shantz played 1949–1964 as a pitcher; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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
Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) and Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — breaking in during the 1940s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bobby Shantz finished with 119 wins and 1,072 strikeouts; Bruce Sutter finished with 68 wins and 861 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bobby Shantz, with 1,072 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Bobby Shantz, with 1,935.2 to Bruce Sutter's 1,042.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bobby Shantz, with 15 to Bruce Sutter's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bobby Shantz, with 24,845 career Pitcher PIV to Bruce Sutter's 23,292.
Bobby Shantz
Bruce Sutter
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 1940s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bobby Shantz | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 119 | 68 |
| Losses not scored | 99 | 71 |
| Games | 537 | Leads: 661 |
| Games Started | Leads: 171 | 0 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 78 | 0 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 15 | 0 |
| Saves | 48 | Leads: 300 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,072 | 861 |
| Walks not scored | 643 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,795 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 151 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,935.2 | 1,042.0 |
| ERA | 3.38 | Leads: 2.83 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 4.98 | Leads: 7.44 |
| BB/9 | 2.99 | Leads: 2.67 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bobby Shantz edges Bruce Sutter 24,845 to 23,292 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bobby Shantz played 19 seasons to Bruce Sutter's 12, while Bruce Sutter carries the higher per-season figure (1,941 to 1,308). 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).
Bobby Shantz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bobby Shantz leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Bruce Sutter owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bobby Shantz. PIV agrees: Bobby Shantz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bobby Shantz and Bruce Sutter careers compare
Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) was finished before Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) arrived, so they never shared a league. The two careers are close in length, 537 games for Bobby Shantz and 661 for Bruce Sutter across 19 and 12 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Bobby Shantz struck out 4.98 and walked 2.99 per nine innings; Bruce Sutter struck out 7.44 and walked 2.67. Their roles differ: Bobby Shantz split time between starting and relief (171 starts in 537 games); Bruce Sutter worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 661 games, 300 saves). Complete games (78 to 0) show how differently the two eras used starters.
Bobby Shantz vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Bobby Shantz, with 119 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bobby Shantz, with 1,072 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.