Jim Bunning vs Bob Friend: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Bunning 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). Jim Bunning played 1955–1971 as a pitcher; Bob Friend played 1951–1966 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 Friend (1951–1966) — both debuted in the 1950s. Jim Bunning finished with 224 wins and 2,855 strikeouts; Bob Friend finished with 197 wins and 1,734 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Jim Bunning, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Bunning, with 3.27 to Bob Friend's 3.58.
- Who won more games? Jim Bunning, with 224 to Bob Friend's 197.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Bob Friend's 1,734.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Bunning, with 1.18 to Bob Friend's 1.29.
- How many innings did each pitch? Jim Bunning 3,760.1, Bob Friend 3,611.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Bunning, with 40 to Bob Friend's 36.
Jim Bunning
Bob Friend
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 | Jim Bunning | Bob Friend |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 224 | 197 |
| Losses not scored | 184 | 230 |
| Games not scored | 591 | 602 |
| Games Started not scored | 519 | 497 |
| Complete Games | 151 | Leads: 163 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 40 | 36 |
| Saves not scored | 16 | 11 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,855 | 1,734 |
| Walks not scored | 1,000 | 894 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,433 | 3,772 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 372 | 286 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,760.1 | 3,611.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.27 | 3.58 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.83 | 4.32 |
| BB/9 | 2.39 | Leads: 2.23 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Friend edges Jim Bunning 45,735 to 44,929 — driven by per-season impact — 2,858 PIV per season to 2,643 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Friend played 16 seasons to Jim Bunning's 17. 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).
Jim Bunning — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Friend — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Jim Bunning leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, and others. Bob Friend leads 2: complete games and walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Bunning. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Bob Friend higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Bunning and Bob Friend careers compare
From 1955 through 1966, Jim Bunning and Bob Friend were in the majors together. With 591 games against 602 across 17 and 16 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bob Friend comes out ahead, it is in complete games (163 to 151) and walks per nine (2.23 to 2.39). By rate, Jim Bunning struck out 6.83 and walked 2.39 per nine innings; Bob Friend struck out 4.32 and walked 2.23. Jim Bunning was mainly a starter (519 starts in 591 games), and Bob Friend was mainly a starter (497 starts in 602 games). Jim Bunning allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Bob Friend's 1.29.
Jim Bunning vs Bob Friend: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Bunning or Bob Friend?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Bunning leads Bob Friend in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Bunning, with 3.27 to Bob Friend's 3.58.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Bunning, with 224 to Bob Friend's 197.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Bob Friend's 1,734.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Bunning, with 1.18 to Bob Friend's 1.29.