Don Carlsen vs. Joe Grzenda — Career Comparison

Don Carlsen
Greatest GenerationIllinoisThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueStarting Pitcher
Joe Grzenda
Silent GenerationPennsylvaniaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaWashington SenatorsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Don Carlsen built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Grzenda as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Grzenda posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4 and WHIP 1.562 compared to 6 and 1.778 for Don Carlsen. By the career numbers, Joe Grzenda had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Don Carlsen and Joe Grzenda

Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
2.17
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
219
6.4
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.17
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.09
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.33
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.41
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.67
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.38
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
33.33
33.33
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.85
51.85
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
53.85
53.85
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.37
1.37
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.33
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.41
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
36
6
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
137
4
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.39
6.39
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.03
4.03
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.57
4.57
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.99
3.99
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.326
0.326
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.273
0.273
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
162
27
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
924
27
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
9
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
308
9
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
75
12.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
323
9.44
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
12.5
12.5
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.44
9.44
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.83
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
20
0.58
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.83
0.83
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.58
0.58
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.38
0.38
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
3.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
120
3.51
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
38
1.11
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.5
3.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.51
3.51
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
3.83
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
173
5.06
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.83
3.83
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.06
5.06
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.77
1.77
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.79
0.79
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.815
0.815
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.951
0.951
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
22
0.64
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.17
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.29
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.12
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
252
42
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1329
38.83
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.17
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77
2.25
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
39
6.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
150
4.38
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.5
6.5
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.32
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.18
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.778
1.778
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.438
1.438
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
230
38.33
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1182
34.54
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.68
0.68
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.347
0.347
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.306
0.306
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
42
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.83
38.83

Fielding Stats for Don Carlsen and Joe Grzenda

Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
219
6.4
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.09
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
924
27
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
308
9
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.18
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
1.93
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
2.1
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
2.1
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.329
0.329
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.37
1.37
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.09
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Don Carlsen and Joe Grzenda

Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
3
3
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
8
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
13
410.53
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
219
3864.71
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
19
600
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
34
600
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PAverified
19
600
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
30
529.41
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.263
0.263
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.067
0.067
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.526
0.526
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.265
0.265
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
157.89
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
157.89
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.2
37.76
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
4.66
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
157.89
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
157.89
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
4
70.59
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.263
0.263
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.125
0.125
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.263
0.263
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.067
0.067
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.526
0.526
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.192
0.192
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.184
0.184
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.073
0.073
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.357
0.357
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.278
0.278
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0.182
0.182
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
1
17.65
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
1
17.65
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
63.16
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.6
50.66
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
-1.14
-20.16
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
19
335.29
Don Carlsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
19
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
1.79
1.79
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.11
0.11
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Don Carlsen
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA