Bert Blyleven vs Gaylord Perry: Career Stats Comparison
Gaylord Perry has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bert Blyleven played 1970–1992 as a pitcher; Gaylord Perry played 1962–1983 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 Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) — they debuted in the 1970s and the 1960s respectively and share 14 seasons. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; Gaylord Perry finished with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Gaylord Perry, in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Gaylord Perry's 3,534.
- Who had the better WHIP? Gaylord Perry, with 1.18 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
- How many innings did each pitch? Bert Blyleven 4,970.0, Gaylord Perry 5,350.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to Gaylord Perry's 53.
Bert Blyleven
Gaylord Perry
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | Gaylord Perry |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 287 | Leads: 314 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 265 |
| Games not scored | 692 | 777 |
| Games Started not scored | 685 | 690 |
| Complete Games | 242 | Leads: 303 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 53 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 11 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 3,534 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 1,379 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 4,938 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 399 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,970.0 | 5,350.1 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 3.11 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.70 | 5.94 |
| BB/9 | 2.39 | Leads: 2.32 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gaylord Perry edges Bert Blyleven 78,312 to 74,910 — driven by per-season impact — 3,560 PIV per season to 3,405 — rather than by longevity, since Gaylord Perry played 22 seasons to Bert Blyleven's 22. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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)
Gaylord Perry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Gaylord Perry leads 5 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, ERA, WHIP, and others. Bert Blyleven leads 3: shutouts, strikeouts, and strikeouts per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gaylord Perry. PIV agrees: Gaylord Perry 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 Gaylord Perry careers compare
Bert Blyleven and Gaylord Perry were active at the same time between 1970 and 1983. With 692 games against 777 across 22 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Bert Blyleven's edges on the table are shutouts (60 to 53), strikeouts (3,701 to 3,534), and strikeouts per nine (6.70 to 5.94). By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Gaylord Perry struck out 5.94 and walked 2.32. Both had the same role: Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games); Gaylord Perry was mainly a starter (690 starts in 777 games). In WHIP, Gaylord Perry's 1.18 beats Bert Blyleven's 1.20.
Bert Blyleven vs Gaylord Perry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or Gaylord Perry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gaylord Perry leads Bert Blyleven in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Bert Blyleven's 287.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to Gaylord Perry's 3,534.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Gaylord Perry, with 1.18 to Bert Blyleven's 1.20.