Joe Niekro vs. Brian Van Belle — Career Comparison

Joe Niekro
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Brian Van Belle
MillenialFloridaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaTampa Bay RaysAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Joe Niekro built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Van Belle as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Niekro posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.59 and WHIP 1.339 compared to 5.4 and 1.560 for Brian Van Belle. By the career numbers, Joe Niekro had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Niekro and Brian Van Belle

Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4.32
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
221
0.55
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
1.08
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
204
0.51
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
52
52
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
0.27
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.07
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.04
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1431
3.59
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
5.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.59
3.59
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.4
5.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.61
3.61
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.01
7.01
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.14
4.14
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.68
4.68
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.254
0.254
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.361
0.361
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.1
9
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3466
8.7
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
14.04
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.7
8.7
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
14.04
14.04
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
276
0.69
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
2.16
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.69
0.69
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.16
2.16
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.39
0.39
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.5
0.5
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
1262
3.17
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
71
0.18
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.17
3.17
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1747
4.39
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6.48
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.39
4.39
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.48
6.48
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.49
2.49
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.5
1.5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.84
0.84
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.72
0.72
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
172
0.43
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
1.08
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
65
0.16
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.02
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15166
38.08
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
38.88
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
93
0.23
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
2.16
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1620
4.07
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
5.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.07
4.07
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.4
5.4
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
106
0.27
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
96
0.24
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
200
0.5
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
2.16
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.319
1.319
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.56
1.56
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13637
34.24
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
38.88
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.31
2.31
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.25
1.25
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.275
0.275
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.393
0.393
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.08
38.08
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.88
38.88

Fielding Stats for Joe Niekro and Brian Van Belle

Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4.32
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.1
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
253
0.64
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
532
1.34
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.06
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
810
2.03
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
785
1.97
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.91
96.91
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.118
1.118
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.1
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Niekro and Brian Van Belle

Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
22
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
1
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
706
363.61
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1165
600
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
973
501.12
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.156
0.156
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.47
0.47
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
152
78.28
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
124
63.86
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
13.39
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
14.42
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.184
0.184
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.001
0.001
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32.52
16.75
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
183
94.25
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
191
98.37
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.376
0.376
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.131
0.131
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.266
0.266
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.211
0.211
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
55
28.33
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
72
37.08
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
126
64.89
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21.46
11.05
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
38
19.57
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
262
134.94
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.45
4.45
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
147
75.71
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
3.09
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
17
8.76
Brian Van Belle
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100
Brian Van Belle
Career
Per 600 PA