John Smoltz vs Frank Tanana: Career Stats Comparison
John Smoltz 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). John Smoltz played 1988–2009 as a pitcher; Frank Tanana played 1973–1993 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
John Smoltz (1988–2009) and Frank Tanana (1973–1993) — breaking in during the 1980s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. John Smoltz finished with 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts; Frank Tanana finished with 240 wins and 2,773 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Frank Tanana's 3.66.
- Who won more games? Frank Tanana, with 240 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Frank Tanana's 2,773.
- Who had the better WHIP? John Smoltz, with 1.18 to Frank Tanana's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Frank Tanana, with 4,188.1 to John Smoltz's 3,473.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Frank Tanana, with 34 to John Smoltz's 16.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? John Smoltz, with 91,907 career Pitcher PIV to Frank Tanana's 5,624.
John Smoltz
Frank Tanana
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 1980s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | John Smoltz | Frank Tanana |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 213 | Leads: 240 |
| Losses not scored | 155 | 236 |
| Games | Leads: 723 | 638 |
| Games Started | 481 | Leads: 616 |
| Complete Games | 53 | Leads: 143 |
| Shutouts | 16 | Leads: 34 |
| Saves | Leads: 154 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,084 | 2,773 |
| Walks not scored | 1,010 | 1,255 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,074 | 4,063 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 288 | 448 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,473.0 | Leads: 4,188.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.33 | 3.66 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.99 | 5.96 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.62 | 2.70 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), John Smoltz outpaces Frank Tanana 91,907 to 5,624 — driven by per-season impact — 4,178 PIV per season to 245 — rather than by longevity, since John Smoltz played 22 seasons to Frank Tanana's 23. 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).
John Smoltz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Frank Tanana — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, John Smoltz leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Frank Tanana owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to John Smoltz. PIV agrees: John Smoltz grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the John Smoltz and Frank Tanana careers compare
From 1988 through 1993, John Smoltz and Frank Tanana were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 723 games for John Smoltz and 638 for Frank Tanana across 22 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The per-nine rows read 7.99 strikeouts and 2.62 walks for John Smoltz, 5.96 and 2.70 for Frank Tanana. John Smoltz split time between starting and relief (481 starts in 723 games), while Frank Tanana was mainly a starter (616 starts in 638 games). John Smoltz allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Frank Tanana's 1.27.
John Smoltz vs Frank Tanana: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, John Smoltz or Frank Tanana?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, John Smoltz leads Frank Tanana in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- John Smoltz, with 3.33 to Frank Tanana's 3.66.
- Who won more games?
- Frank Tanana, with 240 to John Smoltz's 213.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- John Smoltz, with 3,084 to Frank Tanana's 2,773.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- John Smoltz, with 1.18 to Frank Tanana's 1.27.