Bert Blyleven vs J. R. Richard: Career Stats Comparison
Bert Blyleven has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 11 statistical categories compared on this page. 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 came up during the 1970s, so the matchup is a direct one. Bert Blyleven compiled 287 wins and 3,701 strikeouts; J. R. Richard put up 107 wins and 1,493 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- 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.
- Who pitched more innings? Bert Blyleven, with 4,970 to J. R. Richard's 1,606.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bert Blyleven, with 60 to J. R. Richard's 19.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bert Blyleven, with 74,910 career Pitcher PIV to J. R. Richard's 38,918.
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Bert Blyleven | J. R. Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 287 | 107 |
| Losses | 250 | 71 |
| Games | Leads: 692 | 238 |
| Games Started | Leads: 685 | 221 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 242 | 76 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 60 | 19 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,701 | 1,493 |
| Walks | 1,322 | 770 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,632 | 1,227 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 430 | 73 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,970 | 1,606 |
| 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 gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,121 vs 3,892 per year). 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
On the head-to-head card, Bert Blyleven leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while J. R. Richard owns ERA 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
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 9 of 11 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.