1979–1998 · P

Dave Stieb

6' 0", 185 lbs·Lived to 69·Bats R / Throws R

All-Star

The Almanac's Take

Dave Stieb was Toronto's ace for nearly two decades, a workhorse right-hander who compiled 176 wins and a 3.44 ERA across his Blue Jays tenure. His peak was genuinely elite: in 1985 he posted a 2.48 ERA with 167 strikeouts, earning an ERA+ of 157, and he made seven All-Star teams despite playing in relative obscurity on a small-market franchise. Stieb's 1,669 strikeouts came at a time when 200-inning seasons were routine, and his 110 career ERA+ confirms he pitched well above league average throughout the 1980s and into his forties.

Career Highs

2.48

Best ERA · 1985

Most W · 1990

198

Most K · 1984

1.135

Best WHIP · 1984

Career Arc · ERA

16 seasons

Statistical Comps

Stephen Kolek

98%

2025 season

K/9 6.2 · BB/9 2.5 · HR/9 0.72 · SP · FB 93.8 mph · Whiff% 16

Brayan Bello

98%

2025 season

K/9 6.7 · BB/9 3.2 · HR/9 0.86 · SP · FB 95.2 mph · Whiff% 19

Adrian Houser

98%

2025 season

K/9 6.6 · BB/9 2.7 · HR/9 0.72 · SP · FB 94.6 mph · Whiff% 17

Career · Pitching

16 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1979	TOR	18	129.3	8	8	4.31	93	52	1.446
1980	TOR	34	242.7	12	15	3.71	103	108	1.298
1981	TOR	25	183.7	11	10	3.19	112	89	1.138
1982	TOR	38	288.3	17	14	3.25	118	141	1.200
1983	TOR	36	278.0	17	12	3.04	127	187	1.137
1984	TOR	35	267.0	16	8	2.83	135	198	1.135
1985	TOR	36	265.0	14	13	2.48	157	167	1.140
1986	TOR	37	205.0	7	12	4.74	84	127	1.590
1987	TOR	33	185.0	13	9	4.09	105	115	1.357
1988	TOR	32	207.3	16	8	3.04	122	147	1.138
1989	TOR	33	206.7	17	8	3.35	110	101	1.161
1990	TOR	33	208.7	18	6	2.93	131	125	1.165
1991	TOR	9	59.7	4	3	3.17	123	29	1.257
1992	TOR	21	96.3	4	6	5.04	74	45	1.464
1993	CWS	4	22.3	1	3	6.04	69	11	1.836
1998	TOR	19	50.3	1	2	4.83	92	27	1.490
Career		443	2895.3	176	137	—	—	1669	—

Ask The Almanac about Dave Stieb.

Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.

Start a conversation →