Bert Blyleven vs Bob Gibson: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven 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). Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 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
Bert Blyleven (1970–1992) and Bob Gibson (1959–1975) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Bert Blyleven, with 287 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Bob Gibson's 3,117.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bob Gibson, with 1.19 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Bert Blyleven, with 4,970.0 to Bob Gibson's 3,884.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to Bob Gibson's 56.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bert Blyleven, with 74,910 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Gibson's 69,720.
Bert Blyleven
Bob Gibson
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 1970s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | Bob Gibson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 287 | 251 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 174 |
| Games | Leads: 692 | 528 |
| Games Started | Leads: 685 | 482 |
| Complete Games | 242 | Leads: 255 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 56 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 6 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 3,117 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 1,336 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 3,279 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 257 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,970.0 | 3,884.1 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 2.91 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.19 |
| K/9 | 6.70 | Leads: 7.22 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 3.10 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bert Blyleven edges Bob Gibson 74,910 to 69,720 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bert Blyleven played 24 seasons to Bob Gibson's 17, while Bob Gibson carries the higher per-season figure (4,101 to 3,121). 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).
Bert Blyleven — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Gibson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bert Blyleven leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Bob Gibson owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bert Blyleven. PIV agrees: Bert Blyleven grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bert Blyleven and Bob Gibson careers compare
From 1970 through 1975, Bert Blyleven and Bob Gibson were in the majors together. With 692 games against 528 across 24 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Bob Gibson struck out 7.22 and walked 3.10. Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games), and Bob Gibson was mainly a starter (482 starts in 528 games). Bob Gibson allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.19 WHIP to Bert Blyleven's 1.20. Bob Gibson owns the better peak by ERA: 2.52 ERA in 1973 for Bert Blyleven against 1.12 ERA in 1968 for Bob Gibson.
Bert Blyleven vs Bob Gibson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or Bob Gibson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bert Blyleven leads Bob Gibson in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Bert Blyleven, with 287 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Bob Gibson's 3,117.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bob Gibson, with 1.19 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.