Jim Bunning vs Bob Feller: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Bunning and Bob Feller are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jim Bunning played 1955–1971 as a pitcher; Bob Feller played 1936–1956 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
Jim Bunning (1955–1971) and Bob Feller (1936–1956) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1930s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jim Bunning finished with 224 wins and 2,855 strikeouts; Bob Feller finished with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Jim Bunning's 3.27.
- Who won more games? Bob Feller, with 266 to Jim Bunning's 224.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Bob Feller's 2,581.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Bunning, with 1.18 to Bob Feller's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Bob Feller, with 3,827.0 to Jim Bunning's 3,760.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Feller, with 44 to Jim Bunning's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Feller, with 48,739 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Bunning's 44,929.
Jim Bunning
Bob Feller
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 1950s and the 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jim Bunning | Bob Feller |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 224 | Leads: 266 |
| Losses not scored | 184 | 162 |
| Games | Leads: 591 | 570 |
| Games Started | Leads: 519 | 484 |
| Complete Games | 151 | Leads: 279 |
| Shutouts | 40 | Leads: 44 |
| Saves | 16 | Leads: 21 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,855 | 2,581 |
| Walks not scored | 1,000 | 1,764 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,433 | 3,271 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 372 | 224 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,760.1 | Leads: 3,827.0 |
| ERA | 3.27 | Leads: 3.25 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.83 | 6.07 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.39 | 4.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Feller edges Jim Bunning 48,739 to 44,929 — driven by per-season impact — 2,708 PIV per season to 2,496 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Feller played 18 seasons to Jim Bunning's 18. 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).
Jim Bunning — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Feller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Feller leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Jim Bunning owns strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bob Feller. PIV agrees: Bob Feller grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Bunning and Bob Feller careers compare
Jim Bunning and Bob Feller were active at the same time between 1955 and 1956. With 591 games against 570 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Jim Bunning struck out 6.83 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Bob Feller struck out 6.07 and walked 4.15. Jim Bunning was mainly a starter (519 starts in 591 games), and Bob Feller was mainly a starter (484 starts in 570 games). In WHIP, Jim Bunning's 1.18 beats Bob Feller's 1.32. On the peak-season lists, Jim Bunning's best year is 1967 at 2.29 ERA and Bob Feller's is 1946 at 2.18 ERA; Bob Feller has the stronger single season.
Jim Bunning vs Bob Feller: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Jim Bunning's 3.27.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Feller, with 266 to Jim Bunning's 224.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Bob Feller's 2,581.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Bunning, with 1.18 to Bob Feller's 1.32.