Bert Blyleven vs J. R. Richard: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; J. R. Richard played 1971–1980 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 J. R. Richard (1971–1980) — both debuted in the 1970s. Bert Blyleven finished with 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; J. R. Richard finished with 107 wins and 1,493 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Bert Blyleven, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? J. R. Richard, with 3.15 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games? Bert Blyleven, with 287 to J. R. Richard's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to J. R. Richard's 1,493.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to J. R. Richard's 1.24.
- How many innings did each pitch? Bert Blyleven 4,970.0, J. R. Richard 1,606.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to J. R. Richard's 19.
Bert Blyleven
J. R. Richard
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 | J. R. Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 287 | 107 |
| Losses not scored | 250 | 71 |
| Games not scored | 692 | 238 |
| Games Started not scored | 685 | 221 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 76 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 19 |
| Saves not scored | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 1,493 |
| Walks not scored | 1,322 | 770 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,632 | 1,227 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 430 | 73 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,970.0 | 1,606.0 |
| ERA | 3.31 | Leads: 3.15 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.20 | 1.24 |
| K/9 | 6.70 | Leads: 8.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 4.32 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bert Blyleven outpaces J. R. Richard 74,910 to 38,918 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bert Blyleven played 22 seasons to J. R. Richard's 10, while J. R. Richard carries the higher per-season figure (3,892 to 3,405). 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)
J. R. Richard — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Bert Blyleven leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. J. R. Richard leads 2: ERA and strikeouts per nine. 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 J. R. Richard careers compare
Bert Blyleven and J. R. Richard were active at the same time between 1971 and 1980. The table compares 692 games of Bert Blyleven with 238 of J. R. Richard across 22 and 10 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. J. R. Richard's edges on the table are ERA (3.15 to 3.31) and strikeouts per nine (8.37 to 6.70). By rate, Bert Blyleven struck out 6.70 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; J. R. Richard struck out 8.37 and walked 4.32. Both had the same role: Bert Blyleven was mainly a starter (685 starts in 692 games); J. R. Richard was mainly a starter (221 starts in 238 games).
Bert Blyleven vs J. R. Richard: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bert Blyleven or J. R. Richard?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bert Blyleven leads J. R. Richard in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- J. R. Richard, with 3.15 to Bert Blyleven's 3.31.
- Who won more games?
- Bert Blyleven, with 287 to J. R. Richard's 107.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bert Blyleven, with 3,701 to J. R. Richard's 1,493.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bert Blyleven, with 1.20 to J. R. Richard's 1.24.