Steve Carlton vs Jerry Koosman: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Jerry Koosman played 1967–1985 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
Steve Carlton (1965–1988) and Jerry Koosman (1967–1985) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Steve Carlton compiled 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Jerry Koosman put up 222 wins and 2,556 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Jerry Koosman's 3.36.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jerry Koosman's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jerry Koosman's 2,556.
- Who had the better WHIP? Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Jerry Koosman's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217 to Jerry Koosman's 3,839.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Jerry Koosman's 33.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Jerry Koosman's 42,939.
Steve Carlton
Jerry Koosman
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 | Steve Carlton | Jerry Koosman |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 222 |
| Losses | 244 | 209 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 612 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 527 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 140 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 33 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 17 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 2,556 |
| Walks | 1,833 | 1,198 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,672 | 3,635 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 414 | 290 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217 | 3,839 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.22 | 3.36 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.25 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 5.99 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.81 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton outpaces Jerry Koosman 76,502 to 42,939 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,833 vs 2,147 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jerry Koosman — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Jerry Koosman owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Carlton. PIV agrees: Steve Carlton grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Steve Carlton vs Jerry Koosman: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Jerry Koosman?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Jerry Koosman in 10 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Steve Carlton, with 3.22 to Jerry Koosman's 3.36.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jerry Koosman's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jerry Koosman's 2,556.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Steve Carlton, with 1.25 to Jerry Koosman's 1.26.