Vida Blue vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Sandy Koufax 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). Vida Blue played 1969–1986 as a pitcher; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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
Vida Blue (1969–1986) and Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Vida Blue finished with 209 wins and 2,175 strikeouts; Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Vida Blue's 3.27.
- Who won more games? Vida Blue, with 209 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Vida Blue's 2,175.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Vida Blue's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Vida Blue, with 3,343.1 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Vida Blue's 37.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Vida Blue's 26,790.
Vida Blue
Sandy Koufax
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 1960s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Vida Blue | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 209 | 165 |
| Losses not scored | 161 | 87 |
| Games | Leads: 502 | 397 |
| Games Started | Leads: 473 | 314 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 143 | 137 |
| Shutouts | 37 | Leads: 40 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 9 |
| Strikeouts | 2,175 | Leads: 2,396 |
| Walks not scored | 1,185 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 263 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,343.1 | 2,324.1 |
| ERA | 3.27 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 5.85 | Leads: 9.28 |
| BB/9 | 3.19 | Leads: 3.16 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Vida Blue 63,020 to 26,790 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 1,576 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to Vida Blue's 17. 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).
Vida Blue — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Vida Blue owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. PIV agrees: Sandy Koufax grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Vida Blue and Sandy Koufax careers compare
No season is shared: Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966, Vida Blue 1969–1986. With 502 games against 397 across 17 and 12 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 5.85 strikeouts and 3.19 walks for Vida Blue, 9.28 and 3.16 for Sandy Koufax. Both had the same role: Vida Blue was mainly a starter (473 starts in 502 games); Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Vida Blue's 1.23. Best seasons: 1971 for Vida Blue (1.82 ERA, 24-8, 301 K in 312 IP) and 1966 for Sandy Koufax (1.73 ERA, 27-9, 317 K in 323 IP).
Vida Blue vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Vida Blue or Sandy Koufax?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Sandy Koufax leads Vida Blue in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Vida Blue's 3.27.
- Who won more games?
- Vida Blue, with 209 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Vida Blue's 2,175.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Vida Blue's 1.23.