Warren Spahn vs Clayton Kershaw Comparison (Through Seven Seasons)
Head-to-head comparison of MLB Hall of Famer Warren Spahn and current major league pitcher Clayton Kershaw that includes stats, World Series, and awards. This comparison is through the first two full seasons of their career and will be updated after the 2015 season. Go to our Player Comparison page to check out other comparisons.
Team, Position and Height
Teams
Warren Spahn – 1 (Boston Braves)
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Position
Warren Spahn – Left Handed Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw – Left Handed Pitcher
Height
Warren Spahn – 6’0″
Clayton Kershaw – 6’3″
Major League Debut Age
Warren Spahn – 21
Clayton Kershaw – 20
Seasons in this Comparison
Warren Spahn – 7 (1942, 1946-1951 Served in Military from 1943-1945)
Clayton Kershaw – 7 (2008-Present)
World Series and Playoff Appearances
World Series
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 0
World Series Appearances
Warren Spahn – 1 (1948) 
Clayton Kershaw – 0
Playoff Appearances
Warren Spahn – 1 (1948)
Clayton Kershaw – 4 (2008-2009, 2013-2014)
World Series MVP
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 0
Awards and Honors
MVP
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (2014)
Cy Young Award
Warren Spahn – 0*
Clayton Kershaw – 3 (2011,2013-2014)
Gold Gloves
Warren Spahn –
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (2011)
Rookie of the Year
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 0
No Hitters or Perfect Games
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (No hitter on June 18, 2014)
All-Star Games
Warren Spahn – 4 (1947, 1949-1951)
Clayton Kershaw – 4 (2011-2014)
League Leader in Wins
Warren Spahn – 2 (1949, 1950)
Clayton Kershaw – 2 (2011, 2014)
League Leader in ERA
Warren Spahn – 1 (1947)
Clayton Kershaw – 4 (2011-2014)
League Leader in Strikeouts
Warren Spahn – 3 (1949-1951)
Clayton Kershaw – 2 (2011, 2013)
League Leader in WHIP
Warren Spahn – 1 (1947)
Clayton Kershaw – 4 (2011-2014)
League Leader in Complete Games
Warren Spahn – 2 (1949, 1951)
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (2014)
League Leader in Shutouts
Warren Spahn – 2 (1947, 1951)
Clayton Kershaw – 1 (2013)
* Cy Young Award did not start until 1956
Regular Season Pitching Stats
Games
Warren Spahn – 222
Clayton Kershaw – 211
Games Started
Warren Spahn – 201
Clayton Kershaw – 209
Wins
Warren Spahn – 108
Clayton Kershaw – 98
Losses
Warren Spahn – 72
Clayton Kershaw – 49
Win-Loss Percentage
Warren Spahn – .600
Clayton Kershaw – .667
ERA (Earned Run Average)
Warren Spahn – 3.05
Clayton Kershaw – 2.48
Strikeouts
Warren Spahn – 817
Clayton Kershaw – 1,445
Innings Pitched
Warren Spahn – 1,594
Clayton Kershaw – 1,378 1/3
Hits Allowed
Warren Spahn – 1,423
Clayton Kershaw – 1,035
Earned Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 541
Clayton Kershaw – 380
Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 622
Clayton Kershaw – 412
Home Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 109
Clayton Kershaw – 82
WHIP (Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched)
Warren Spahn – 1.22
Clayton Kershaw – 1.06
Batters Faced
Warren Spahn – 6,595
Clayton Kershaw – 5,489
Walks
Warren Spahn – 514
Clayton Kershaw – 424
Intentional Walks
Warren Spahn – 0*
Clayton Kershaw – 25
Hit by Pitch
Warren Spahn – 8
Clayton Kershaw – 22
Balks
Warren Spahn – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 11
Hits Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 8
Clayton Kershaw – 6.8
Strikeouts Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 4.6
Clayton Kershaw – 9.4
Home Runs Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 0.6
Clayton Kershaw – 0.5
Walks Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 2.9
Clayton Kershaw – 2.8
Complete Games
Warren Spahn – 123
Clayton Kershaw – 17
Shutouts
Warren Spahn – 22
Clayton Kershaw – 9
*Intentional Walks weren’t recorded until 1955
Defensive Stats
Fielding Percentage
Warren Spahn – .942
Clayton Kershaw – .981
Defensive Chances
Warren Spahn – 325
Clayton Kershaw – 257
Putouts
Warren Spahn – 42
Clayton Kershaw – 47
Assists
Warren Spahn – 264
Clayton Kershaw – 205
Errors
Warren Spahn – 19
Clayton Kershaw – 5
Double Plays
Warren Spahn – 10
Clayton Kershaw – 12
Pickoffs
Warren Spahn – 24
Clayton Kershaw – 48
Stolen Bases
Warren Spahn – 46
Clayton Kershaw – 51
Caught Stealing
Warren Spahn – 28
Clayton Kershaw – 46
Postseason Pitching Stats
Games
Warren Spahn – 3
Clayton Kershaw – 11
Games Started
Warren Spahn – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 8
Wins
Warren Spahn – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 1
Losses
Warren Spahn – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 5
Win-Loss Percentage
Warren Spahn – .500
Clayton Kershaw – .167
ERA (Earned Run Average)
Warren Spahn – 3.00
Clayton Kershaw – 5.12
Strikeouts
Warren Spahn – 12
Clayton Kershaw – 58
Innings Pitched
Warren Spahn – 12
Clayton Kershaw – 51
Hits Allowed
Warren Spahn – 10
Clayton Kershaw – 45
Earned Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 4
Clayton Kershaw – 29
Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 4
Clayton Kershaw – 32
Home Runs Allowed
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 6
WHIP (Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched)
Warren Spahn – 1.08
Clayton Kershaw – 1.24
Batters Faced
Warren Spahn – 48
Clayton Kershaw – 213
Walks
Warren Spahn – 3
Clayton Kershaw – 18
Intentional Walks
Warren Spahn – 1
Clayton Kershaw – 2
Hit by Pitch
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 1
Balks
Warren Spahn – 3
Clayton Kershaw – 0
Hits Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 7.5
Clayton Kershaw – 7.9
Strikeouts Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 9
Clayton Kershaw – 10.2
Home Runs Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 0
Clayton Kershaw – 1.1
Walks Per 9 Innings
Warren Spahn – 2.3
Clayton Kershaw – 3.2
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