Steve Carlton vs Jim Palmer: Career Stats Comparison
Steve Carlton has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 as a pitcher; Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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 Jim Palmer (1965–1984) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts; Jim Palmer finished with 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Jim Palmer's 3,948.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Steve Carlton, with 55 to Jim Palmer's 53.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
Steve Carlton
Jim Palmer
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Steve Carlton | Jim Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 329 | 268 |
| Losses not scored | 244 | 152 |
| Games | Leads: 741 | 558 |
| Games Started | Leads: 709 | 521 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 254 | 211 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 53 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 4 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 4,136 | 2,212 |
| Walks not scored | 1,833 | 1,311 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,672 | 3,349 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 414 | 303 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,217.1 | 3,948.0 |
| ERA | 3.22 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.25 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.13 | 5.04 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton outpaces Jim Palmer 76,502 to 19,502 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,833 PIV per season to 1,026, across 27 seasons to 19. 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).
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Palmer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Jim Palmer owns ERA and WHIP. 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
How the Steve Carlton and Jim Palmer careers compare
From 1965 through 1984, Steve Carlton and Jim Palmer were in the majors together. With 741 games against 558 across 27 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jim Palmer comes out ahead, it is in saves (4 to 2), ERA (2.86 to 3.22), and WHIP (1.18 to 1.25). By rate, Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16 per nine innings; Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99. Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games), and Jim Palmer was mainly a starter (521 starts in 558 games). Jim Palmer allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
Steve Carlton vs Jim Palmer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Steve Carlton or Jim Palmer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Steve Carlton leads Jim Palmer in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Steve Carlton, with 329 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.