Dean Chance vs Fergie Jenkins: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dean Chance played 1961–1971 as a pitcher; Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983 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
Dean Chance (1961–1971) and Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Dean Chance finished with 128 wins and 1,534 strikeouts; Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dean Chance, with 2.92 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Dean Chance's 128.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Dean Chance's 1,534.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Dean Chance's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Dean Chance's 2,147.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Dean Chance's 33.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Dean Chance's 30,038.
Dean Chance
Fergie Jenkins
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 | Dean Chance | Fergie Jenkins |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 128 | Leads: 284 |
| Losses not scored | 115 | 226 |
| Games | 406 | Leads: 664 |
| Games Started | 294 | Leads: 594 |
| Complete Games | 83 | Leads: 267 |
| Shutouts | 33 | Leads: 49 |
| Saves | Leads: 23 | 7 |
| Strikeouts | 1,534 | Leads: 3,192 |
| Walks not scored | 739 | 997 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,864 | 4,142 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 122 | 484 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,147.1 | Leads: 4,500.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.92 | 3.34 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.43 | 6.38 |
| BB/9 | 3.10 | Leads: 1.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Dean Chance 40,614 to 30,038 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Dean Chance's 12, while Dean Chance carries the higher per-season figure (2,503 to 2,031). 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).
Dean Chance — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fergie Jenkins — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fergie Jenkins leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Dean Chance owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fergie Jenkins. PIV agrees: Fergie Jenkins grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dean Chance and Fergie Jenkins careers compare
From 1965 through 1971, Dean Chance and Fergie Jenkins were in the majors together. The table compares 406 games of Dean Chance with 664 of Fergie Jenkins across 12 and 20 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Dean Chance's edges on the table are saves (23 to 7), ERA (2.92 to 3.34), and strikeouts per nine (6.43 to 6.38). By rate, Dean Chance struck out 6.43 and walked 3.10 per nine innings; Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99. Both had the same role: Dean Chance was mainly a starter (294 starts in 406 games); Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games).
Dean Chance vs Fergie Jenkins: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dean Chance or Fergie Jenkins?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Dean Chance in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dean Chance, with 2.92 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Dean Chance's 128.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Dean Chance's 1,534.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Dean Chance's 1.21.